Eat & drink · Budget eats
Myeongdong Kyoja
Opening hours
- Monday: 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Tuesday: 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Wednesday: 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Thursday: 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Friday: 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Images provided by Google Places
A legendary family-owned noodle shop serving handmade knife-cut noodles in a rich chicken broth alongside garlic-heavy kimchi.
- Signature
- Kalguksu (Knife-cut noodles) and Mandu (Steamed dumplings)
Reviews from Google
Delicious food, bustling atmosphere, an instant classic! Their menu is not big, but each dish is executed well. My favourite are the Mandu and of course their famous Kalguksu (hand cut noodle soup). Those two are must orders; the flavours are incredibly deep and taste so comforting (especially on a chilly day). So good I went twice on my 1 week stay! Also, their kimchi is super strong and garlicky which I loved! They can be busy but the turnover rate is quicker than expected. If you que just before they open that is also a good option!
Visited Myeongdong Kyoja in Seoul — a well-known spot that has been featured in the Michelin Guide for many years. The restaurant actually has two buildings, and we went to the main building. It’s quite tall with multiple storeys, so even though it’s popular, the queue moves quickly and we didn’t wait long. The menu is very simple with only four main items. We ordered the cold noodles, mandoo (dumplings), and noodle soup. Everything is straightforward, no-frills comfort food. Service is super efficient — self-service water, quick ordering, and fast food delivery. They accept both cash and card, which is convenient. The mandoo is hearty and satisfying, but the highlight for me was definitely the cold noodles — refreshing and flavorful, though it does come with a slight spicy kick. They also provide unlimited kimchi, which is very garlicky and addictive if you like strong flavors. Overall, simple menu but very well executed. Highly recommend the cold noodles if you’re visiting Seoul!
This might be one of the best value Michelin-recognized meals in the world. An absolute Seoul classic that lives up to the hype. Yes, there was a long line stretching down the stairs when we arrived, but don’t let that scare you off, it moves surprisingly fast, especially if you’re just two people like we were. The process is efficient and well-organized. We ordered the two top items on the menu: the dumplings and the signature noodle dish. Both were excellent. The dumplings were juicy, delicate, and full of flavor, clearly made with experience and consistency refined over decades. The noodles were comforting, deeply satisfying, and perfectly balanced. Simple food done exceptionally well. No unnecessary flair, just confidence in tradition and execution. The atmosphere is busy and no-nonsense, but that’s part of the charm, you’re here to eat, and they deliver. An iconic experience, incredibly affordable for the quality, and a must-visit when in Seoul. Highly recommended.
Don’t be deterred by the line since it moves pretty fast - probably because the menu only has a few items, the order comes out pretty fast and it’s not really the type of restaurant where you linger (and I don’t mean that in a bad way). We ordered their chopped noodles and soybean noodles. Both were good but I did prefer the chopped noodles.
We stumbled upon this address on TikTok and decided to try it out, we arrived way before opening time but were seated after a while. The food is extremely nice, the staff polite. It is very busy and it can feel pressuring sometimes. The dish we took was honestly so worth it tho. The price is very affordable and the quality is peak ! I would definitely recommend trying this and arriving early ! It was so worth it