Noryangjin Healing

It is always a delight to find a restaurant with consistent quality. Jungin Myeonok is one such place; it has quietly maintained the flavors of its dishes across generations in rapidly changing times. Jungin Myeonok exclusively uses three-year-old natural sea salt and Korean beef to maintain the flavor of the broth for their signature Pyongyang naengmyeon. The subtly flavored noodles made only from buckwheat are another key feature of this restaurant. The hanu foreshank suyuk and mandu pair perfectly with the cold noodles. Expect a long wait during lunch hours as it is located in Yeouido.

In the realm of Korean comfort food, there is little else more quintessential than seolleongtang — a hearty bowl of soup made by boiling ox bones and beef for hours until the broth turns almost milky white. Mapo Ok, which opened its doors in 1949, makes its signature dish by boiling brisket and ox bones until slightly opaque. The ox bone soup is served with thick slices of tender brisket and rice already mixed into the piping hot broth. Ask for a side of kimchi juice to season your soup for that extra dimension of flavor.

Base is Nice gives vegetables center stage. The meal follows the basic structure of Korean cuisine made with ordinary local produce, and the comforting, wholesome flavors attract loyal diners. The restaurant embodies the “art of slow living”: from the leisurely wait for each dish, the owner’s calm demeanor, down to the minimalist decoration and atmospheric music playing in the background. Be sure to make a reservation as this restaurant is run alone.

The gomtang at Neungdong Minari is topped with a pile of minari so tall that at a glance, it doesn’t look like a tang at all. The clear, clean broth is made from fresh hanwoo beef that was slaughtered on the day, which is topped with piquant minari that was grown in clear freshwater for added freshness. You should expect a wait, but you will think it is well worth it once you take your first bite.

Zero Complex has consistently presented innovative interpretations of the ingredients since its opening. Despite relocating twice, the flavours and creativity of the dishes have never wavered. The restaurant showcases the delightfully bouncy texture and rich, smoky flavour of sea mustard through one of their signature dishes—Pacific geoduck served with sides of chewy barley, sea spaghetti, and sea mustard mouse. Although the restaurant, located in a quiet residential area, might be a challenge to find, tasting the dishes while admiring the quiet garden will make it worth your while.

The regulars at Oilje return for one dish: the perilla seed miyeok-guk. The clean broth and nutty perilla seeds pair perfectly to create a flavourful soup. Simple banchan—such as soy sauce for dipping miyeok, nakji-jeotgal, and gat kimchi—round out a well-balanced meal alongside freshly cooked rice. Diners can view the soup and rice being cooked in the gamasot in the spotless open kitchen. The restaurant offers special birthday meals every Friday to guests celebrating their special days.

Chef Young-chul Kang has spent years studying and refining the craft of soba making, driven by a single aim: to serve soba that matches the quality found in its birthplace. At Subaru, the soba follows the classic nihachi style and is made fresh using traditional Edo-period methods. Signature dishes include zaru soba, prized for its clean, pure flavour; soba with umami-rich duck and green onion; and soba with perilla oil. Diners can also enjoy foot-kneaded udon noodles, made in-house for a satisfyingly chewy texture.