Sinsuk in Seocho: Clean Kalguksu Near the Supreme Court
There are surprisingly few good restaurants near Seocho Station. Unlike Gyodae Station or Nambu Bus Terminal where many hidden gems exist, it's hard to find a decent place here—whether they just aren't famous or truly don't exist. Picking a lunch menu at work is a real struggle. Maybe that's why my company even took recommendations for nearby restaurants, filmed them, and put them on YouTube. My company can be more eccentric than me sometimes, but I never thought they'd make something like that...
We headed to Sinsuk, a place recommended by the company and loved by the people on our floor.
The female owner running the place is Japanese, or maybe she learned in Japan? (Someone told me, but I forgot.) Either way, the exterior and interior have a Japanese feel. As I walked in, I couldn't help but worry a bit that this place might suffer some backlash since Japan keeps picking fights with us lately. Plus, the restaurants I like always seem to go out of business so easily, sigh...
The kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) seem to have buckwheat mixed into the dough, giving them a distinct bite. You slurp them up just like buckwheat noodles! But the real weapon of this restaurant's kalguksu is the broth. I don't know what's in it, but it has an incredibly clean yet refreshing taste. It's not an overwhelmingly spicy and salty flavor that knocks you out, but rather a calm flavor that helps you focus. It's a really great meal to have in the middle of the workday.
The only side dishes are this regular kimchi and gat-kimchi (mustard leaf kimchi). It might seem lacking, but as you eat, you realize you don't need anything else. While other restaurants serve kimchi that tastes like it was just made yesterday, Sinsuk's kimchi has a deeply aged flavor. It has a bit of a kick compared to the mild kalguksu, but it's still quite subdued compared to other places. All the food here feels dignified, almost like you're eating at a noble family's house. Their jeon (Korean pancakes) are also famous, but since I always come here to cure a hangover the day after drinking, I've never been able to stomach the greasy pancakes. It's right in front of my office, so I'll have to add a picture next time I try them.