Taste the broth or sauce first.
GUIDE 08
How to Eat Naengmyeon
Cold noodles are supposed to be chewy.
WHAT IS IT?
Naengmyeon is served very cold. The noodles are long and naturally chewy.
HOW TO EAT IT
Add mustard or vinegar gradually if that suits your taste.
Mix the noodles and broth or sauce naturally.
Use the scissors if the noodles feel too long to manage.
Take it one relaxed bite at a time.
LOCAL TIP
Scissors are commonly provided in Korean noodle restaurants for exactly this reason.
TABLE TIP
Refill Your Side DishesNeed more banchan? Just ask the staff. Most Korean restaurants are happy to refill common side dishes at no extra charge, and some have a self-service banchan bar. A few dishes made with more expensive ingredients may be limited or not refillable. Don’t be shy—asking for more banchan is completely normal in Korea.
Don’t worry if…
There is no need to struggle with a long noodle. Cutting it is completely fine.