What is the best non-spicy food near Hongik Univ. Station?

Baekri Gomtang, about 220 m from Exit 7, serves clear hanwoo beef soup with no spice at all. Seogwan Myeonok, about 10 minutes from Exit 1, serves Pyongyang naengmyeon, a mild cold buckwheat noodle soup.

Where can I eat cheaply around Hongdae and Sinchon?

Sammi Tantanmyeon in Sinchon has chashu dan dan noodles for ₩10,500, and Baekri Gomtang's beef soup is ₩12,000. Lacoon Pizza in Mapo has half-and-half pizzas from ₩20,800 to share.

Which of these Hongdae-area restaurants have a break time?

Baekri Gomtang and Seogwan Myeonok both close from 15:00 to 17:00. Sammi Tantanmyeon (11:00–22:20) and Lacoon Pizza (11:00–midnight) stay open through the afternoon.

Are these Hongdae restaurants good for kids?

Yes. We ate at Seogwan Myeonok, Sammi Tantanmyeon and Lacoon Pizza with our kids, and Baekri Gomtang's soup is completely non-spicy. Skip the spicy dan dan noodles for little ones.

Seoul Table Notes

Tag: Sinchon

Where to Eat in Hongdae, Sinchon and Mapo: 4 Restaurants I’d Go Back To
In short

Four places I have eaten at around Hongdae, Sinchon and Mapo, all within a few minutes of a subway exit: Baekri Gomtang (clear beef soup, ₩12,000), Seogwan Myeonok (Pyongyang cold noodles, ₩17,000–19,000), Sammi Tantanmyeon (dan dan noodles, ₩10,500) and Lacoon Pizza (half-and-half pizza and beer). Two serve completely non-spicy Korean dishes, and we tried three of the four with our kids.

Hongdae is full of trendy cafés and late-night chicken, but finding a good, honest meal can be harder than you’d think. These are the places in the Hongdae, Sinchon and Mapo area that I have actually eaten at and would go back to. Each one links to my full guide with photos, menu prices, opening hours and how to order.

Quick picks
- Non-spicy soupBaekri Gomtang, Hongik Univ. Station Exit 7
- Cold noodlesSeogwan Myeonok, Hongik Univ. Station Exit 1
- Spicy noodlesSammi Tantanmyeon, Sinchon Station Exit 3
- Pizza and beerLacoon Pizza, Mapo Station Exit 1
1. Baekri Gomtang (백리곰탕): clear hanwoo beef soup

A small soup restaurant about 220 m from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 7. The hanwoo gomtang (₩12,000) is a clear, non-spicy beef broth with plenty of tender beef and a ginseng sprout on top. It comes lightly seasoned on purpose, so salt it at the table. The beef tartare bibimbap (₩13,000) is a good second dish. Open 11:00–22:00 with a 15:00–17:00 break.

📍 40-18 Wausan-ro 29-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 1F
서울 마포구 와우산로29길 40-18 1층 1호
Naver Map · Google Maps

Read my full guide: Baekri Gomtang in Hongdae →

2. Seogwan Myeonok (서관면옥): Pyongyang cold noodles

About a 10-minute walk from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 1, this big, bright room serves Pyongyang-style naengmyeon made with 100% Jeju buckwheat in a clear beef broth (₩17,000–19,000). Taste the broth before adding vinegar. If it feels too plain, try the perilla-oil goldong naengmyeon. There is a car park with 1 hour free. Open daily 11:00–21:00, break 15:00–17:00.

📍 41 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
Naver Map · Google Maps

Read my full guide: Seogwan Myeonok Hongdae →

3. Sammi Tantanmyeon (삼미탄탄면): dan dan noodles in Sinchon

A roomy Chinese noodle shop about 270 m from Sinchon Station Exit 3. The signature chashu dan dan noodles (₩10,500) have a real kick, while the honey sauce chashu lo mein (₩13,000) is mild and was a hit with our kids. Open 11:00–22:20 daily, with no afternoon break.

📍 1F, 16 Myeongmul-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
서울 서대문구 명물길 16 1층
Naver Map · Google Maps

Read my full guide: Sammi Tantanmyeon Sinchon →

4. Lacoon Pizza (라쿤피자): pizza and beer in Mapo

A red, retro diner-style pizza and beer place about 3 to 4 minutes from Mapo Station Exit 1 (Line 5). A regular half-and-half pizza is ₩20,800 and a 300 ml draft beer is ₩2,900. It gets lively in the evening, with a wait around 7 pm. Open daily 11:00 to midnight.

📍 1F, 307 Tojeong-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
서울 마포구 토정로 307 1층
Naver Map · Google Maps

Read my full guide: Lacoon Pizza Mapo →

Tips for eating around Hongdae
- Plan around break times. Many smaller restaurants close from 15:00 to 17:00; go for lunch or after 5 pm.
- Use Naver Map. It is far more accurate than Google for small Korean restaurants and shows current hours.
- Mix spicy and mild. If you are with someone who avoids spice, gomtang and naengmyeon are safe; dan dan noodles are not.
Hongdae, Sinchon and Mapo restaurant FAQ

What is the best non-spicy food near Hongik Univ. Station?

Baekri Gomtang, about 220 m from Exit 7, serves clear hanwoo beef soup with no spice at all. Seogwan Myeonok, about 10 minutes from Exit 1, serves Pyongyang naengmyeon, a mild cold buckwheat noodle soup.

Where can I eat cheaply around Hongdae and Sinchon?

Sammi Tantanmyeon in Sinchon has chashu dan dan noodles for ₩10,500, and Baekri Gomtang’s beef soup is ₩12,000. Lacoon Pizza in Mapo has half-and-half pizzas from ₩20,800 to share.

Which of these Hongdae-area restaurants have a break time?

Baekri Gomtang and Seogwan Myeonok both close from 15:00 to 17:00. Sammi Tantanmyeon (11:00–22:20) and Lacoon Pizza (11:00–midnight) stay open through the afternoon.

Are these Hongdae restaurants good for kids?

Yes. We ate at Seogwan Myeonok, Sammi Tantanmyeon and Lacoon Pizza with our kids, and Baekri Gomtang’s soup is completely non-spicy. Skip the spicy dan dan noodles for little ones.

Travelling with children? See my kid-friendly restaurants in Seoul, or browse all Seoul restaurant guides.

Hours and prices come from each restaurant’s Naver listing, checked when each full guide was written (October 2026). Please check Naver Map before you go.

Based on my own visits and photos. I used AI tools to help with the English wording.
October 28, 2026

Sammi Tantanmyeon Sinchon: Dan Dan Noodles & Honey Chashu Lo Mein

In short

Sammi Tantanmyeon (삼미탄탄면) Sinchon is a roomy Chinese noodle shop about 270 m from Sinchon Station Exit 3 (Line 2). The signature chashu dan dan noodles cost ₩10,500 (about $7.50), and the mild honey sauce chashu lo mein (₩13,000) is a hit with kids. It is open 11:00–22:20 daily and suits families, friends and solo diners who like a bit of heat.

When people in Korea think of Chinese food, they usually picture jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) and jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup). Sammi Tantanmyeon Sinchon is a nice change from that. The menu is built around dan dan noodles, lo mein, rice bowls and dim sum, and the shop says it aims for Sichuan-style dan dan noodles adjusted for Korean tastes.

We went for a weekend lunch with the kids after a long “what should we eat” debate. The first thing I noticed was the space: big, bright and comfortable, with an interior that honestly made me feel like I had stepped into a noodle shop in Taiwan. Even in the middle of busy Sinchon, it felt like a short trip abroad.

Quick facts

Korean name삼미탄탄면 신촌점 (Sammi Tantanmyeon, Sinchon branch)
Address1F, 16 Myeongmul-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
서울 서대문구 명물길 16 1층
SubwaySinchon Station (Line 2), Exit 3, about 270 m (3 to 4 minutes on foot)
HoursDaily 11:00–22:20, last order 22:00
PriceNoodles ₩9,500–13,000 (about $7–9), dim sum ₩9,500, larger dishes ₩13,000–26,000
Good forFamilies with kids, spicy-noodle fans, a casual lunch in Sinchon, solo meals
PhoneNot listed on Naver Place
NotesNo parking (use nearby paid lots). Group tables for 4 to 6. Takeout available. Wheelchair-accessible entrance.
MapOpen in Naver Map

Finding it

Come out of Sinchon Station Exit 3 and walk toward the Hyundai Department Store U-Plex building, which takes about two minutes. In front of U-Plex, look to your right and you will see an ABC-Mart shoe store. Sammi Tantanmyeon is right next to it, with a white sign showing its Chinese name, 三味担担面.

📍 Sammi Tantanmyeon Sinchon (삼미탄탄면 신촌점), 1F, 16 Myeongmul-gil, Seodaemun-gu · Naver Map · Google Maps

Storefront of Sammi Tantanmyeon Sinchon with its Chinese sign 三味担担面 — The white sign reads 三味担担面, the Chinese name of Sammi Tantanmyeon.

Inside there are booths along wood-paneled walls plus plenty of tables, and the spacing is generous. Even with kids at a busy weekend lunch, it never felt cramped or noisy.

Booth seating and wood-paneled walls inside Sammi Tantanmyeon Sinchon — Booth seating along the wall.

Spacious dining room with tiled floor at Sammi Tantanmyeon Sinchon — The dining room is large, so groups and families fit easily.

What is dan dan noodles?

Dan dan noodles (担担面, tantanmyeon in Korean) are a Sichuan street noodle dish. The name comes from the shoulder pole vendors once used to carry their noodles around. Here the broth is red with chili oil and rounded out with peanut sauce, and the shop explains that its chashu is pork neck simmered in a house sauce and then rested so the flavor soaks in. The noodles are pulled when you order rather than prepared in advance.

What we ordered

We ordered three dishes and shared them: the chashu dan dan noodles, the honey sauce chashu lo mein and the pork and garlic scape rice bowl.

1. Chashu dan dan noodles (차슈탄탄면, chasyu tantanmyeon)

This one is genuinely spicy, and that is exactly why I liked it. The chili-oil broth clings to the noodles and I slurped through the bowl without stopping. The heat is strong but the finish is clean, not heavy or muddy, so you keep reaching for another bite. The chashu was tender with no gamey smell, and the pork flavor still came through the spicy broth.

Chashu dan dan noodles in red chili oil broth at Sammi Tantanmyeon Sinchon — Chashu dan dan noodles: red chili-oil broth, chashu and minced pork on top.

It is the bowl I would order on a day when I want something fiery to shake off stress. Next time I want to finish the leftover broth with rice, because it would work so well.

Lifting noodles and chashu pork from the spicy dan dan broth at Sammi Tantanmyeon — The chashu stays soft even sitting in the spicy broth.

2. Honey sauce chashu lo mein (허니소스 차슈 로미엔, heoni soseu chasyu romien)

This was the dish I fell for first. The chashu is sweet, salty and tender, with no porky smell at all, and the sauce coats medium-thick noodles evenly. One bite of the pork honestly made my eyes go wide. It looks bold and heavily sauced, yet it does not taste harsh, and I did not get tired of it all the way to the bottom of the bowl. Even the bok choy on the side was good enough that nothing was left.

The kids loved this one. One of mine is usually picky about meat, but asked for this before anything else. It is sweet without being greasy, so it works for adults too. If you are eating Chinese food in Sinchon with children, this is the bowl to order.

Close-up of glossy honey sauce chashu pork over lo mein noodles — Glossy honey-glazed chashu over the noodles.

3. Pork and garlic scape rice bowl (돼지고기 마늘쫑 덮밥, dwaejigogi maneuljjong deopbap)

The portion is generous on both the topping and the rice, so one bowl is a full meal. Like the other dishes, it looks intense but tastes clean right to the end. The garlic scapes keep their aroma and a nice crunch, and the minced pork is moist rather than dry, which makes it go perfectly with rice.

Pork and garlic scape rice bowl served on a tray at Sammi Tantanmyeon Sinchon — The pork and garlic scape rice bowl.

Minced pork with garlic scapes and red chili next to white rice — Minced pork, garlic scapes and red chili next to plain rice.

Mix the topping into the rice and take a big spoonful: the garlic scape fragrance and the savory pork come up together. It is a good pick if you do not feel like noodles or want something filling.

A spoonful of rice mixed with pork and garlic scapes — Mixed and ready to eat.

Menu and prices

Dish	Price
Chashu dan dan noodles 차슈탄탄면	₩10,500 ~$7.50
Chashu dry dan dan noodles 차슈비빔면	₩9,500 ~$6.80
Honey sauce chashu lo mein 허니소스 차슈 로미엔	₩13,000 ~$9.30
Honey sauce chashu rice bowl 허니소스 차슈 덮밥	₩13,000 ~$9.30
Pork and garlic scape rice bowl 돼지고기 마늘쫑 덮밥	₩9,800 ~$7
Seafood chow mein 해물차우면	₩11,800 ~$8.40
Shumai / Xiaolongbao (dim sum) 쇼마이 / 소롱포	₩9,500 ~$6.80
Mapo tofu 마라두부	₩10,900 ~$7.80
Youlinji (fried chicken, lemon soy sauce) 유린기	₩15,000 ~$10.70
Steamed garlic shrimp with glass noodles 마늘새우찜	₩23,800 ~$17

*USD figures are rough estimates at about ₩1,400 to $1. Prices are from Naver Place (menu last updated by the shop in March 2026). Prices can change.

Tips for visitors

Pick your spice level by dish. The dan dan noodles are hot; the lo mein and the garlic scape rice bowl are much easier on sensitive palates.
Share. Ordering a spicy bowl and a mild bowl and swapping back and forth gives a nice balance.
Give the kitchen a little time. The shop says dishes are cooked to order and noodles are pulled fresh, so food can take a bit longer at busy times.
Take the subway. There is no parking; Sinchon Station Exit 3 is a few minutes away.
Late lunch or dinner is fine. There is no break time listed, and last order is 22:00.
Ordering phrase: “Igeo juseyo” (이거 주세요) means “This one, please.” Pointing at the menu works perfectly.

Is it kid-friendly?

For us, yes. The room is spacious, so we found seats easily even at weekend lunchtime, and the honey sauce chashu lo mein went down very well with the kids. Skip the dan dan noodles for little ones, since they are clearly spicy.

My verdict

All three dishes had one thing in common: they look intense, but they taste clean. Get the chashu dan dan noodles if you want heat, the honey sauce chashu lo mein if you are with kids, and the pork and garlic scape rice bowl if you want a hearty meal. Add the big, comfortable room with its Taiwan-like feel, and Sammi Tantanmyeon Sinchon made for a very satisfying weekend lunch. It is an easy recommendation for a family meal or lunch with friends, and we plan to go back to try more of the menu.

Sammi Tantanmyeon Sinchon FAQ

Where is Sammi Tantanmyeon Sinchon?

It is at 16 Myeongmul-gil, Seodaemun-gu, on the ground floor, about 270 m from Exit 3 of Sinchon Station (Line 2). Walk toward the Hyundai U-Plex building and look to the right for ABC-Mart; the restaurant is right next to it.

What are Sammi Tantanmyeon Sinchon’s opening hours?

Naver lists it as open every day from 11:00 to 22:20, with last order at 22:00. No break time is listed.

How spicy are the dan dan noodles at Sammi Tantanmyeon Sinchon?

The chashu dan dan noodles are properly spicy, built on chili oil and a peanut sauce. If you do not handle heat well, the honey sauce chashu lo mein or the pork and garlic scape rice bowl are much gentler choices.

What should I order at Sammi Tantanmyeon Sinchon?

For a first visit I would share the chashu dan dan noodles (₩10,500), the honey sauce chashu lo mein (₩13,000) and the pork and garlic scape rice bowl (₩9,800). Together they cover spicy, sweet-savory and filling.

Is Sammi Tantanmyeon Sinchon good for kids?

It worked well for us. The dining room is roomy, so we sat comfortably with the kids on a weekend lunch, and the honey sauce chashu lo mein is mild and sweet enough that they finished their bowls.

Exploring nearby? Try Seogwan Myeonok in Hongdae for Pyongyang cold noodles, or Hyunsuni in Yongsan for tteokbokki with kids. See all kid-friendly restaurant guides and Seoul restaurant guides.

More places nearby

Visited: September 2026. Prices and hours last checked: October 19, 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.

October 19, 2026