Eoreummyeongga Ice-Bowl Naengmyeon
After wrapping up a photo shoot in Uljin, I was heading home in the sweltering heat and craving something that would cool me down from the inside out.
I was hungry, too, so I decided to pull into a roadside restaurant on a whim. The rows of snow crab restaurants felt a little intimidating for a solo diner, and I was reminded of an unpleasant experience when I had once been overcharged.
I never expected that the unassuming restaurant I entered without much thought would serve the best meal of my trip.
1. Essential Details Before You Go: Yeongdeok’s Ice-Bowl Naengmyeon
For anyone who might stumble upon this place, as I did, and discover their own “naengmyeon of a lifetime,” here are the key details first.
Restaurant: Eoreummyeongga Ice-Bowl Naengmyeon
Address: 4363 Donghae-daero, Ganggu-myeon, Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do
Hours: Daily, 9:30 a.m.–9:00 p.m. (Recommended to confirm before visiting)
Parking: Around the restaurant
Signature meal: Mul or bibim naengmyeon with spicy pork bulgogi set (₩10,000)
2. First Impressions: An Extraordinary Find in an Ordinary Setting
At first glance, it looked like a perfectly ordinary neighborhood restaurant. Then I saw the food on the table next to me and had to look twice.
The bowl itself was made of real ice. I couldn’t believe a restaurant had been putting this wonderfully inventive idea into practice for more than 10 years.
Even more astonishing was the price: just ₩10,000 for the naengmyeon and spicy pork bulgogi set.
Meat served alongside a bowl of naengmyeon for roughly what you would normally pay for the noodles alone—that is extraordinary value. I found myself wondering whether this had been a beloved local secret that everyone knew about except me, and the thought brought a smile to my face.
3. “Real” Ice-Bowl Naengmyeon That Captivates the Eyes and the Palate
At last, the ice-bowl naengmyeon arrived. I poked the bowl with a spoon and even touched it with my hand to make sure it really was made of ice.
The chill came through simultaneously in what I saw, felt and tasted—a genuinely multisensory experience.
This was far beyond the usual scattering of floating ice chips. Thanks to that intense cold, the naengmyeon itself was excellent without question.
4. A ₩10,000 Treat with the Perfect Partner: Spicy Pork Bulgogi
I was curious to see how the naengmyeon’s ideal companion, the spicy pork bulgogi, would taste. Any concern about a strong porky odor proved completely unfounded.
Tender and gently infused with the aroma of charcoal, the bulgogi was wonderfully savory.
A bite of meat on top of a mouthful of cold noodles—could there be a better combination? It was pure happiness for just ₩10,000.
The Comfort of a Grandmother’s Welcome, in a Bowl Made with 10 Years of Experience
After finishing every last drop of broth, I was once again amazed to see the “real ice” beneath it, its shape fully revealed.
The owners, an older couple who have kept this restaurant going for 10 years, radiated such warmth that I felt as if I had arrived at my childhood home.
If you are planning to travel through Yeongdeok or Uljin, be sure to stop by Eoreumgol Kudzu Naengmyeon.
It is an outstanding restaurant where you can enjoy unforgettable coolness, remarkable value and genuine warmth all at once. To the two owners: may you both stay healthy for many years to come!
