In short
Seogwan Myeonok Hongdae serves Pyongyang-style naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles in a clear beef broth) made with 100% Jeju buckwheat, about a 10-minute walk from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 1. Cold noodle dishes cost ₩17,000–19,000 (about $12–14). It is open daily 11:00–21:00 with a 15:00–17:00 break, has 1 hour of free parking, and the classic dishes are not spicy.
If you have only had the sweet, tangy cold noodles sold at Korean BBQ restaurants abroad, Pyongyang naengmyeon will surprise you. It is quiet, clean and subtle, and Seoul has a devoted fan club for it. Seogwan Myeonok (서관면옥) in Hongdae is a comfortable place to try it for the first time: a big, bright dining room, buckwheat noodles made from Jeju buckwheat, and a menu that also has easier options if the classic bowl is too plain for you.
I came here on a weekend with my parents and my child, so this review is also about how it works for a three-generation family meal.
Quick facts
- Korean name서관면옥 홍대점 (Seogwan Myeonok, Hongdae branch)
- Address41 World Cup-buk-ro 5-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Units 106–107 (ground floor of the NUDEET Hongdae building)
서울 마포구 월드컵북로5길 41 106호~107호 - SubwayHongik Univ. Station Exit 1, about a 10-minute walk. Hapjeong Station Exit 2 also works.
- HoursDaily 11:00–21:00, break 15:00–17:00. Last order 14:40 (lunch) and 20:30 (dinner)
- PriceCold noodles ₩17,000–19,000 (about $12–14)
- Good forFamilies with grandparents and kids, a light summer lunch, first-time naengmyeon eaters
- Phone+82 507-1379-5735
- ExtrasBuilding parking with 1 hour free, wheelchair access, reservations on Naver
- MapOpen in Naver Map
Finding it
The restaurant is on the ground floor of the NUDEET Hongdae building (누디트 홍대), behind the Terarosa coffee shop. From Hongik Univ. Station Exit 1, walk toward Line Friends, turn right, and keep going straight past the Megacoffee and Paris Baguette crossings toward the Amanti Hotel. It is roughly a 10-minute walk.
If you come by car, the building has a large underground car park with 1 hour free, and an elevator goes straight up. With a young child and grandparents in the group, this made the day much easier.
📍 Seogwan Myeonok (서관면옥 홍대점), 41 World Cup-buk-ro 5-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul · Naver Map · Google Maps
Inside it is much bigger than I expected: high ceilings, wide windows and long wooden tables, so groups do not feel squeezed. We arrived around 2 p.m. on a weekend and it was still busy. A board on the wall says the beef is Korean hanwoo and the other ingredients are domestic, and the noodles are made with 100% Jeju buckwheat.
Two small details I liked: each table has both cold and warm water, and staff handed out hair ties when we sat down. Anyone with long hair who has ever slurped noodles will understand why.
What is Pyongyang naengmyeon?
Naengmyeon (냉면) means “cold noodles”. The Pyongyang style comes from North Korea and is made with buckwheat noodles in a chilled, clear broth, usually beef-based. It is not spicy and only lightly seasoned. The noodles are softer and break more easily than the chewy, starchy kind you may know.
Many first-timers describe the broth as “bland”. That is normal. Take a few sips before adding anything; the beefy, nutty flavor of the buckwheat comes through slowly. Locals argue a lot about whether to add vinegar or mustard. My advice: try it plain first, then add a little.
What we ordered
1. Matbaki Naengmyeon (맛박이냉면, mat-bak-i naengmyeon)
This is the classic Pyongyang naengmyeon with much more beef on top, served in a large brass bowl. The portion was big. The beef broth tasted deep and savory without being salty, and the sliced beef made it filling enough for a proper meal. If you are only ordering one bowl and want to taste the “real” style, this is the one I would pick.
2. Goldong Naengmyeon (골동냉면, gol-dong naengmyeon)
This was my own order and my favorite. It is a dry, mixed noodle dish: buckwheat noodles with mushrooms, sesame powder, whole perilla seeds, seaweed and seasoned radish, which you mix with perilla oil and soy sauce. The perilla oil smells wonderful, nutty and toasty, and I liked it so much I asked for a bit more oil halfway through.
If you find the cold broth too subtle, goldong naengmyeon is the easiest way into buckwheat noodles. It is not spicy either.
3. Laengban (랭반, laeng-ban)
Laengban is Pyongyang naengmyeon served with a small bowl of rice. When you finish the noodles, you put the rice into the remaining cold broth and eat it with a spoon. It sounds odd, but it turns the last of the broth into a mild, refreshing rice soup. My child said this was the best dish on the table.
4. Dotjeyuk (돝제육, dot-je-yuk)
Dotjeyuk is boiled pork served cold. Because it is chilled, the meat is firm and pleasantly chewy rather than soft. It goes well with the kimchi on the side, and we also wrapped noodles around slices of pork, which worked surprisingly well. It is a good side to share between three or four people.
We finished with a glass of makgeolli (Korean rice wine) because a slow family lunch deserves one.
Menu and prices (October 2026)
Prices have gone up since my visit, so the table below uses the current menu on the restaurant’s Naver listing.
*USD figures are rough estimates at about ₩1,400 to $1. The menu also includes set meals for one, eobok-jaengban (a beef hot pot for 2–4 people) and tteokgalbi (grilled beef or pork patties). Prices can change.
Tips for visitors
- Try the broth first. Sip it before adding vinegar or mustard, then adjust.
- Not a fan of plain flavors? Order goldong naengmyeon (nutty, savory) or seonbi naengmyeon (spicy-sweet sauce).
- Check the lunch specials. The tteokgalbi + naengmyeon set (₩25,000) and the limited Seogwan myeonsang (₩19,000) are lunch-only.
- Mind the break time. The kitchen is closed 15:00–17:00, and lunch last order is 14:40.
- Reserve for groups. Naver reservations are available for 2–4 people and for groups of 5 or more.
- Ordering phrase: “Pyeongyang naengmyeon hana juseyo” means “One Pyongyang naengmyeon, please.”
Is it kid-friendly?
Yes. The room is spacious, there is an elevator from the car park, and nothing we ordered was spicy. Buckwheat noodles are soft and easy for children to eat, and laengban (noodles plus rice in broth) was a hit with my child.
My verdict
Seogwan Myeonok is a friendly introduction to Pyongyang naengmyeon. The broth is clean and beefy, the buckwheat noodles are fragrant, and the perilla-oil goldong naengmyeon is worth ordering even if you think cold noodles are not for you. With easy parking, lots of space and nothing spicy on our table, it is one of the more comfortable family meals I have had near Hongdae.
Seogwan Myeonok FAQ
Is the Pyongyang naengmyeon at Seogwan Myeonok spicy?
No. The classic version is a mild, cold beef broth with buckwheat noodles. Only the seonbi naengmyeon uses a spicy-sweet sauce.
How do I get to Seogwan Myeonok from Hongik Univ. Station?
Take Exit 1 and walk about 10 minutes toward the Amanti Hotel. The restaurant is on the ground floor of the NUDEET Hongdae building, behind Terarosa.
What are Seogwan Myeonok Hongdae’s opening hours?
Every day from 11:00 to 21:00, with a break from 15:00 to 17:00. Last orders are 14:40 for lunch and 20:30 for dinner.
How much does a meal at Seogwan Myeonok cost?
Cold noodle dishes cost ₩17,000–19,000 (about $12–14). With a shared side, expect around ₩25,000–30,000 per person.
Is there parking at Seogwan Myeonok Hongdae?
Yes, in the building’s underground car park, with the first hour free.
Hungry for more in the area? See my Baekri Gomtang guide for hot beef soup near Hongik Univ. Station, or browse all Seoul restaurant guides.
More places nearby
Visited: early 2024. Prices and hours last checked: October 15, 2026, on Naver. Please check Naver Map before you go.
This post is based on my own visit and photos. I used AI tools to help with the English wording.
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