Kalguksu (칼국수)

5. Kalguksu (칼국수)

Kalguksu is a traditional noodle dish with knife-cut wheat flour noodles, broth, and other ingredients.
There are many different recipes for the broth out there. And, the taste usually depends on the broth. But, I would like to say there are roughly three types of the broth.

Type 1 - Chicken-based broth
Restaurant name : Myeong-dong gyoja (명동교자)
Without a doubt, the most famous Kalguksu restaurant in Seoul. The broth is chicken broth. So, it is rich and flavorful. Their kimchi may be the reason many people love this place. The kimchi is great. Some don't like it because it's too garlicky. But if you are a kimchi lover, you should try. This place is the hottest restaurant in seoul among Japanese travelers.

Type 2 - Beef-based broth
Restaurant name : Daeryeonjip (대련집)
VS Yeonheedong Kalguksu (연희동 칼국수)
Actually, the broth is made from beef-bones. So, the broth is light. If you tried Sul-lung-tang before, you might remember the taste. It's same. Personally, I like this type of Kalguksu becasue of the depth of the broth.

Type 3 - Seafood-based broth
Restaurant name : Halmeonie Kalguksu (할머니 칼국수)
VS. Chanyangjip (찬양집)
It has been controversial which restaurant is better for the past several decades. Each restaurant has lots of loyal fans. Since the broth are made from seafoods, you can have the smell of sea. Of course, it's tasty, and makes you feel refreshed.
If you go there, you would see they give you a big plastic bowl with Kalguksu. Are you wondering what it is? Go there and give it a shot!

Location : hard to get there. but think of this. "No pain, no gain."

- Myeong-dong gyoja (명동교자) : Get out through exit 8 of myeongdong station. Make a left on the corner of Crown Bakery. Keep walking until you see 명동교자 sign.

- Daeryeonjip (대련집) : Walk to Cheonggyecheon(청계천) from exit 14 of Jongro 3 ga station. Make a right on Cheonggyecheon ro (청계천로). Don't cross the bridge. Walk until Hana bank in red brick building. Walk 30 meters more and make a quick right. It's right by the corner.

- Yeonheedong Kalguksu (연희동 칼국수) : No subway station around it. You're better off taking taxi, or you could take neighrhood bus 4 (마을버스 4). address : 서울 서대문구 연희동 132-29. (they have a quite big parking lot)

- Halmeonie Kalguksu (할머니 칼국수)
- Chanyangjip (찬양집)
: Get out through exit 6 of Jongro 3 ga station (5 line, purple line). Walk straight and make a big right turn on the first little back street. If you can see 희망상회 when turning, it's a correct turn. Walk into the narrow street. You can find Chanyangjip first and Halmeonie Kalguksu second.