40 years of mastery in spicy and sour flavors, Yuchun Naengmyeon Main Branch in Pungnap-dong, Songpa: An Honest Guide

**That Taste That Instinctively Comes to Mind When the Weather Gets Hot** Even if the weather gets just a little warm, don't you instinctively think of refreshing naengmyeon? Honestly, there are naengmyeon restaurants everywhere. But finding a truly good place that perfectly suits your taste is surprisingly harder to find than you'd think. So today, I'd like to talk about the Pungnap-dong Yucheon Naengmyeon Main Branch, a place I've been going to since university – no, it's even much older than that, with a 40-year tradition. This place is incredibly famous. Blue Ribbon and Baeknyeon Gage marks are plastered all over the place. On a hot day, if you slurp down a bowl, you'll nod your head, thinking, 'Ah, this is why there are so many people.' It's that kind of place. **A Bit Far from the Subway Station, But Parking is Convenient** The location is 22, Gangdongdaero 3-gil, Pungnap-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul. If you go by subway, you need to exit from Exit 4 of Gangdong-gu Office Station on Line 8 and walk for about 8 minutes. If you come by car, there's a large dedicated parking tower right next to the store. When you finish your meal and pay, if you register your car, you get 1 hour free, so make sure to keep your receipt. **Closed on Mondays! Check the Break Time Before You Go** Business hours are from 10:30 AM to 9:00 PM. But every Monday is a regular day off, so definitely keep that in mind! It seems like there used to be a break time from 3 PM to 5 PM, but these days, it seems to be flexible depending on weekends or seasons? If you're planning to go during an ambiguous daytime hour on the weekend, call the store once before you leave. Waiting in line is standard. Since it's such a well-known place, the waiting line can be quite long during peak lunch hours on weekends. Still, because it's naengmyeon, tables clear quickly. **Prices Have Gone Up a Bit... But I Can't Give Up Mandu** If you glance at the menu, you'll probably think the prices are a bit high. - Mul Naengmyeon: 12,000 won - Bibim Naengmyeon: 13,000 won - Perilla Oil Buckwheat Noodles: 13,000 won - Half-and-Half Mandu (Meat·Kimchi 4 pcs): 7,000 won Inflation these days has truly risen frighteningly. Naengmyeon prices aren't what they used to be either. (Please note that prices may change depending on when you visit!) Looking at the counter, they also sell meal kits, sikhye, and sujeonggwa separately so you can eat it at home. You can also purchase them through their online shopping mall, but I find it tastes best when eaten at the store. **The Reason This Restaurant's Mul Naengmyeon is Exceptionally Refreshing** The reason this Mul Naengmyeon is exceptionally refreshing is because of the semi-frozen broth. The ice isn't in clumps but evenly spread like snowflakes, making it uniformly and incredibly refreshing from the first bite to the last. This smooth, icy broth is the real deal. And the pear slices on top are quite thick, you know? It's crunchy when you bite into it, and it sweetly balances out the sour and spicy seasoning, which is truly charming. The noodles are made from kudzu, so they're incredibly chewy! Two cuts with scissors are essential. They don't break easily. Actually, my true favorite is this mandu, more than the naengmyeon. The skin is so thin you can see the filling, and when you take a bite, the juicy filling bursts out, rivaling most mandu specialty restaurants. You can order a mix of half meat and half kimchi, so definitely order mandu with your meal. It's a must! And before the naengmyeon comes out, get some warm broth from the self-service corner and drink about two cups; it'll soothe your stomach and perfectly prepare you for the naengmyeon. It's a warm-cool, endless cycle. **Small Ordering Tips from a Regular** It's a system where you order at the kiosk on each table and pay immediately. It's convenient. If there's a tip when choosing your menu, it's that you can choose to ask for the seasoning paste (dadaegi) 'separately' when ordering naengmyeon! Yucheon Naengmyeon is generally on the spicier and stronger side, so if you can't handle spicy food well or are going with children, it's definitely best to get the seasoning paste separately. You can always taste it first and then add it, so there's no rush. For those who order Bibim Naengmyeon, mix it lightly at first and eat about half. Then, in the middle, pour in the cold broth that comes with it, just enough to cover. And voilà, Mul-Bibim Naengmyeon is complete! Eating it this way, you can feel like you're having two different dishes with one bowl. It's a great tip, isn't it? **Honestly, These Points Were a Bit Disappointing** Everything else is good, but when you get takeout, they charge an extra 1,000 won per bowl for packaging. In this day and age, charging separately for packaging feels a bit stingy for some reason. It leaves a strange feeling. And the sikhye or sujeonggwa sold as sides feel more expensive than buying them at the market, so I usually just skip them. Just stick to the naengmyeon and mandu. **A Perfect Place to Go in Summer When You Have No Appetite** Not the bland taste like Pyeongyang Naengmyeon! It's a place I unconditionally recommend when you crave that sour, sweet, and stimulating 'supreme, dignified naengmyeon of local market style' that perfectly suits your taste. The store is spacious and the turnover rate is fast, making it great for taking your parents or for a quick and easy meal with family on weekends. This weekend, go and enjoy a refreshing bowl.