📍 Baegunhoso-ro 5-gil, Uiwang, Gyeonggi · Map
📅 Visited: June 2026
💰 ₩10,000 per bowl (~$7)
⭐ Quiet and reliable — best after a morning at the lake
After an overnight at Hyewon Ian Pension, we spent the next morning looping around Baegun Lake on foot. By the time we finished, the sun was fully out and everyone was done.
If you\’re looking for Korean cold noodles outside the usual Seoul tourist spots, this Baegun Lake area in Uiwang (about 40 minutes from Gangnam by car) is a quieter alternative to crowded naengmyeon places. Mul makguksu (물막국수) is essentially buckwheat naengmyeon — same icy broth, same hot-summer relief, but with the nuttier flavor that comes from buckwheat.
We landed at Chuncheon Samidae Mat Dak-galbi & Memil (춘천3대맛 닭갈비&메밀), a small restaurant a short walk from the lake.
The name references Chuncheon — the city in Gangwon Province famous for dak-galbi and buckwheat noodles. The actual restaurant is in Uiwang, just outside Seoul.
What I ordered
The menu is short and focused. I went with 물막국수 (mul makguksu — cold buckwheat noodles in broth) at ₩10,000.
If you want something nuttier, 들기름막국수 (perilla oil noodles) is the same price. For spicy, 양념장막국수 (bibim-style) is also ₩10,000.
For something more filling, the 닭갈비 1인 (Chuncheon-style marinated chicken on an iron plate) is ₩16,000.
The bowl arrived clean and minimal, just like in the photo — pale buckwheat noodles in a clear broth, a few thin slices of vegetable, nothing extra.
The broth had a faint smell of dried anchovy and kelp, quiet and deep. The noodles were firm and slightly rough between the teeth — that’s what buckwheat does, different from the smooth slide of regular naengmyeon.
The vibe
The exterior in the photo tells you exactly what to expect: a simple shopfront, nothing decorative, no pretense. Inside, a few tables and clean walls, that’s it.
What you hear: the low hiss from the kitchen, chopsticks on ceramic, low conversation. It felt like a local lunch spot — no English signage, no performance for tourists.
The good
The broth is the reason to order the makguksu. It’s cool and clean — the kind of soup that brings you back after a sweaty morning outside.
On the table there’s 겨자 (mustard) and 식초 (vinegar) — add them as you go. A few drops of vinegar sharpened the whole bowl into something brighter and more alive.
Try both and find your preference. The mustard adds a thin layer of heat, the vinegar lifts everything else.
The buckwheat noodles hold up well even as they sit in the cold broth. Dense, slightly earthy, with a chew that regular rice noodles don’t have.
The not-so-good
Parking is the real obstacle here. The restaurant has almost no dedicated space, so you’ll need the parking tower about a block away.
You get one hour free with your meal, but on a busy afternoon it takes a bit of patience to sort out.
This isn’t a destination meal either. The food is honest but nothing special on its own — it earns its place as part of a lake day, not as a standalone reason to drive out.
Things to know before you go
Open every day, 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM. As you can see in the photo of the entrance sign, the parking tower nearby gives you one hour free when you eat here — keep that in mind when you pull in.
Baegun Lake is a 5-minute walk away with a flat, easy loop around the water. Walk first, eat after.
There’s also a department store nearby if the group wants to extend the afternoon.
Menu at a glance:
– 물막국수 (cold broth buckwheat noodles): ₩10,000
– 들기름막국수 (perilla oil noodles): ₩10,000
– 양념장막국수 (spicy mixed noodles): ₩10,000
– 닭갈비 1인 (dak-galbi, single): ₩16,000
– 녹두전 2장 (mung bean pancakes): ₩15,000
– 수육보쌈: ₩23,000 / ₩35,000 / ₩45,000 (소/중/대)
Would I come back?
Yes — but only with the same conditions. A morning at the lake, friends, midday hunger.
It’s not the kind of place you’d visit on its own. But as the landing spot after Baegun Lake, it does exactly what it should: the broth settles your stomach, the price doesn’t sting, and the day keeps going.