Yurimmyeon: Michelin Bib Gourmand Soba in Seoul
What should I feed my friend visiting from Cheongju to show them the taste of Seoul?
Even though I live in Seoul, I don't know the city that well, so I always struggle with where to eat when someone comes to visit. Today was no exception. Plus, I was so hungover from drinking too much yesterday that I couldn't stomach anything heavy or dry. Then, I thought of udon and soba (buckwheat noodles)—easy to swallow and perfect for a hangover. So, we decided to head to Yurimmyeon, a highly reputed soba place near Seoul Station.
Yurimmyeon isn't just a delicious restaurant; it's designated as a Seoul Future Heritage site by the city. On top of that, it recently made the Michelin Guide with a Bib Gourmand. You could say it's a guaranteed good spot. I had never been there before, but earning those two titles speaks for itself.
We wanted to try a bit of everything, so we ordered the memil guksu (cold buckwheat noodles), bibim memil (spicy mixed buckwheat noodles), and a naembi guksu (udon in a hot pot) for my hangover. There were a few empty seats, probably because of COVID. Once travel opens up again, this is the kind of place where you'd easily have to wait in line for an hour or two.
First off, the hot pot udon had a broth that was absolutely perfect for a hangover, along with wonderfully chewy noodles. It tastes a bit like the udon you'd get at a subway station or a pojangmacha (street tent), but with a much deeper flavor. The noodles, in particular, are definitely not instant. I slurped it down until I could see the bottom of the bowl, and then I started craving the soba.
I only ordered one tier (portion) to try, but their soba dipping sauce is truly unique. It's sweet but not cloying. When I dipped the chewy, perfectly firm buckwheat noodles into the sweet soy sauce, they disappeared in a flash. Even though I was super full from the noodles, it left me smacking my lips, wanting just a little more. If you have to order other dishes for whatever reason, I highly recommend trying at least one tier of the cold buckwheat noodles. There's a good reason they've been in business right in the middle of Seoul for 50 years.
From now on, whenever I ride my bike north to south, I'll have to stop by Yurimmyeon for some noodles in the middle of the ride, or at least grab a bowl on my way back. It's just that delicious.