Special Naengmyeon You Can Find in Gyeonggi Province, Not Seoul!
A hidden naengmyeon restaurant well-known among the locals!
"Okcheon Traditional Naengmyeon"
Adress >> 33, Okcheon-gil, Okcheon-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
The menu here is framed and hung on the wall. It's written only in Korean, with no English translations. This shows that it's a local favorite, mostly visited by locals, right?
Once you take your seat, the staff will bring you the basic side dishes. The side dishes included radish kimchi, garlic, gochujang, salted shrimp, and soy sauce. The soy sauce and salted shrimp were specifically provided because of the dish we ordered, and you'll soon find out why.
By the way, if you run out of radish kimchi, you can always help yourself to more!
Here we have Mul Naengmyeon, Bibim Naengmyeon, meatballs, and boiled pork slices. You can order the meatballs and boiled pork slices as a half-and-half combo, so if you want to try both, I highly recommend ordering the half-and-half option.
Let me give you a brief introduction to the dishes I ordered.
Mul Naengmyeon (Cold Buckwheat Noodles in Broth)
Mul Naengmyeon is a refreshing Korean dish featuring chewy buckwheat noodles served in a cold, tangy broth. It's perfect for cooling down on a hot day and is often garnished with slices of cucumber, Korean pear, boiled egg, and sometimes even cold beef or pork.
Bibim Naengmyeon (Spicy Cold Buckwheat Noodles)
Bibim Naengmyeon offers a spicy alternative to Mul Naengmyeon. The noodles are mixed with a spicy and sweet gochujang (Korean red chili paste) sauce, giving it a flavorful kick. It’s usually topped with fresh vegetables, a boiled egg, and sometimes slices of meat.
Gogi Wanja (Meatballs)
Gogi Wanja is Korean-style meatballs, usually made from ground beef or pork mixed with various seasonings and vegetables. They are slightly flattened and grilled to perfection.
Suyuk (Boiled Pork Slices)
Suyuk consists of tender slices of boiled pork. It’s usually served with various dipping sauces and sides like kimchi, making it a popular dish in Korean cuisine.
Actually, the suyuk here has a unique characteristic. There are two types of dishes made with boiled pork: pyeonyuk(편육) and suyuk(수육). They are similar, but the main difference is that pyeonyuk is served cold, while suyuk is served warm.
The suyuk here is served cold, so it’s listed as pyeonyuk on the menu. However, the texture felt more like suyuk to me, so I introduced it as suyuk. Keep in mind that there are so many types of food in Korea, it can be a bit confusing.
It looks so delicious! Can you see the anticipation on my face? The Mul Naengmyeon and Bibim Naengmyeon here are a bit different from other places. The buckwheat noodles are slightly thicker compared to other naengmyeon restaurants, but they are not too chewy and are quite soft. Additionally, the broth of the Mul Naengmyeon is very clean and clear, with a slightly sweet taste.
Time to use chopsticks to eat the Suyuk and Gogi Wanja! This is where the soy sauce and salted shrimp from the side dishes come in handy. Dipping the suyuk in the salted shrimp enhances its savory flavor. You can dip the meatballs in the soy sauce, but if you prefer less salty food, you can also enjoy them without the sauce.
Yangpyeong is located away from Seoul. Although it's in the same Gyeonggi Province, it's completely different from Incheon. During the summer, the green nature is incredibly beautiful. The entire journey to this restaurant is filled with fresh air and natural scenery, making it perfect for a drive and a healing experience.
I plan to visit many more delicious restaurants in the future! Look forward to many more Korean food delights with me!