As you may know by now, nengmyun (cold buckwheat noodles in a chilled beef broth) is my death row dish. My last supper, if I were to know it would be my last.

And of all the nengmyun spots in Korea, my favourite is Pildong Myeonok. They serve traditional North Korean Pyongyang-style nengmyun. Elegant and simple, there is no need to douse your soup with vinegar and mustard, no need for unsightly scissors to show up at your table.

My Dad used to bring me here throughout my young adulthood.

He would drive his big fancy car and park it askew right along the walls of the restaurant, to be watched over by the staff through their always open front door. The staff would greet us pleasantly and grumpily at the same time, just like family. And we always ordered the same thing: two mul-nengmyun (nengmyun in chilled beef broth, vs a dry, spicy bean paste), one wang-mandoo (king-sized North Korean style dumplings), and half a platter of soo-yuk (slivers of boiled beef with a scallion and soy dipping sauce on the side).

One day I imagine this restaurant will only be in my memory, like my Dad. But until then, every time I go to Korea, I never skip a trip to Pildong Myeonok.

DISTINCTION

Recent winner of a Michelin Bib Gourmand

ADDRESS

26 Seoae-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul

CONTACT

ph: +82 2-2266-2611

LEAD-IN IMAGE

Vector by Freepik