Selected by those in search of the best restaurants in town, Jin Mi Pyongyang Naengmyeon (cold noodles) has been on the rise to fame starting this past summer. Although you wouldn’t really think of combining soju with Naengmyeon, with the added boiled meat slices, it made the perfect recipe for friends to gather together. Hidden in the back alleys of Gangnam’s main streets, it might be a little difficult to locate even with the help of Google Maps. Yet, come dinner time, the venue (lit with its white fluorescent lights) will be serving customers ranging from families, groups of white collar workers, and even Gangnam’s fashionistas. Don’t be surprised to catch a glimps of the ‘Asian Glow’ on those enthusiastically eating, drinking, and talking the night away.
Jin Mi Pyongyang Naengmyeon has a trustable history. With over 20 years of experience at the Uijeongbu Myeon-ok and Nonhyeon Myeon-ok, the founder of Jin Mi Pyongyang opened the restaurant’s doors this past March. To compare the Jin Mi’s noodles to Myeon-ok’s, it is a little bit more savory and flavorful. For those who favor the blander Myeon-ok’s noodles might find Jin Mi’s to be slightly saltier. The meat broth, made from beef brisket, beef shank and pork, is almost as clear as water, while the noodles get as chewy as it can be. The broth’s light yet savory taste and meat scent make it a clean dish to surrender to. From experience, 3 women will easily finish 2 bowls of Naengmyeon, 1 plate of boiled meat and 2 bottles of Soju. The boiled meat, made from pork belly, was also very clean. While there are too many restaurants out there these days that despite early hype end up being a disappointment. Jin Mi Pyongyan Naengmyeon certainly isn’t one of them—it's one that will garner frequent revisits.