Yujin Sikdang, Jongno: Cheap Seolleongtang & Naengmyeon

2019-08-04 · Updated: 2026-08-11 · Original (Korean)

This article was translated from the original Korean post with AI assistance. Read the original Korean post →

These days, a bowl of naengmyeon (cold noodles) easily costs over 10,000 KRW. And if it's a somewhat famous place, you have to pay at least 12,000 KRW for a bowl. I don't know why it's gotten so expensive, but it's no longer a dish you can just casually slurp down when it's hot. Still, there is a place that continues to operate with low prices: Yujin Sikdang in Jongno.

Located right behind Tapgol Park in Jongno 3-ga—an area with so many white-haired seniors you'd think every elderly person in the city gathered here—Yujin Sikdang is one of those shops that keeps its doors open without raising prices. A bowl of seolleongtang (ox bone soup) is a mere 5,000 KRW and naengmyeon is 8,000 KRW, which is half the price of the famous spots. The space is cramped with few seats and the lines get long, so it's not a great choice for a date course on a sweltering day. Also, since it's near Tapgol Park where there are many elderly people, riding a bike is an absolute no-go. Their hearing might be poor and their reaction times are naturally slower, so you must get off and walk your bike.

Extracting noodles from a metal naengmyeon (cold noodle) machine installed outside the restaurant

An employee wearing an apron working next to the naengmyeon (cold noodle) machine — Noodle boiling machines look the same everywhere, but here it gives off a strong retro vibe.

Menu for meals, bar snacks, and alcoholic beverages, along with a notice hanging on the wall — Closed on Mondays. They also have a break time. The prices are so cheap you might wonder if you're really in Seoul. However, you might feel that the service and cleanliness drop accordingly.

Yujin Sikdang (restaurant) menu hanging on the wall with a framed portrait photo next to it

Mul-naengmyeon (cold noodle soup) in a stainless steel bowl topped with meat, cucumber, radish, and half a boiled egg — Considering all naengmyeon out there, I wouldn't say it's exceptionally delicious, but it's the best tasting 8,000 KRW naengmyeon you can find.

Golden brown pan-fried nokdu-jijim (mung bean pancake) served on a white plate — Their nokdujeon (mung bean pancake) is a delicacy you absolutely must eat with naengmyeon or seolleongtang. However, you might not like it if you hate the smell of greasy cooking oil.

Thinly sliced suyuk (boiled meat slices) served on a white plate — Beef suyuk (boiled meat slices) I bought for the younger guys who rode bikes with me on a hot day. Many people say the pork suyuk is a bit better.

The price is the biggest advantage here, but the taste doesn't fall far behind other restaurants. It must have been introduced in foreign blogs or guidebooks because a lot of foreigners visit too. If you look at other blogs or comments, there are stories about unpleasant experiences or finding pieces of a scouring pad that ruined their mood, but I think that wouldn't be any different at any restaurant in Jongno 3-ga, especially those catering to the elderly. If you want a course where you can have a light lunch while soaking in a truly pre-1980s retro vibe, and then head right next door to Ikseon-dong for a cup of coffee, I highly recommend Yujin Sikdang for lunch. The space is cramped, so I don't recommend it for groups of four or more.

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