서북면옥
I ate at this 1968-established naengmyeon shop in Guui-dong. The dongchimi-based broth led with a savory, slightly salty punch and trailed off into a subtle sweetness from radish, making it one of the more approachable Pyongyang-style naengmyeons for first-timers. The noodles are not pure buckwheat but had decent elasticity and broke cleanly, while the single large slice of arongsatae beef on top was impressively smooth-textured. I also tried the pyeonyuk, which carried a mild herbal aroma from the braising, with skin that had a chewy, chashu-like bite. The house-made kimchi was sharp and tangy, contrasting nicely with the sweet musaengchae that accompanied the sliced meat. At 12,000 won for the naengmyeon, it undercuts most Seoul pyeongnaeng shops. The dining room is compact, so seats fill quickly, but the lack of a break time means you can slip in during off-peak hours. Guuimun parking lot is about a one-minute walk away.