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Noodles · Myeongdong

Myeongdong Kyoja

명동교자

Since 1966Michelin GuideTourist favoriteGreat for solo diners ⓘ

Korea time, from recent reviews. Hours may differ on holidays.

Myeongdong's most famous noodle house, serving kalguksu since 1966: knife-cut noodles in a rich chicken broth topped with minced meat and four tiny dumplings, eaten with a fiercely garlicky kimchi. Koreans and visitors alike call it a must on any Myeongdong trip.

서울특별시 중구 퇴계로 129

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How it works here

🥢 How Korean restaurants usually work

Waiting

Short wait
Just join the line

The line often looks long but moves fast: there are only four dishes and three floors of seats. Staff ask how many you are and send you to a floor. Weekday afternoons and evenings often have little or no wait.· 4 reviews

What to order

📖 What is Kalguksu?📖 What is Kongguksu?📖 What is Janchi-guksu and bibim-guksu?
  • Kalguksu칼국수

    The signature: noodles in a deep chicken broth, topped with minced meat and four little dumplings.

  • Steamed dumplings (mandu)만두

    Thin-skinned and juicy. Good to share.

  • Bibim-guksu비빔국수

    Cold noodles in a sweet-spicy sauce.

  • Kongguksu콩국수

    Cold soy milk noodles, summer only.

How much to order

  • 👤 1One kalguksu. Ask for extra noodles or rice if you are still hungry.
  • 👤 2Two kalguksu (or one kalguksu and one bibim-guksu), plus one plate of dumplings to share.
  • 👤 3-4One noodle dish each, plus one or two plates of dumplings.

How to eat it

  1. 1Eat the garlic kimchi together with the noodles. Its sharp bite cuts through the rich broth.· 2 reviews
  2. 2Near the end, put a few spoonfuls of the free rice into the leftover broth. Regulars say the broth tastes even better with rice.· 2 reviews

Insider tips

  • Order one noodle dish per person and you can get extra noodles and a little rice for free. The dumpling plate doesn't count as a noodle dish.· 4 reviews
  • The kimchi is famous in its own right: packed with raw garlic and quite spicy. Garlic lovers come back just for it.· 3 reviews

Why it's famous

Opened in 1966 under the name Jangsujang, later known as Myeongdong Kalguksu, and now Myeongdong Kyoja. 2026 marks its 60th year in Myeongdong.· 3 reviews

  • Michelin GuideA Michelin Bib Gourmand pick since 2017, and still listed in the Michelin Guide Seoul.· 3 reviews
  • Tourist favoriteHugely popular with international visitors. On some days, reviewers say, foreigners outnumber Koreans in the line.· 3 reviews

Did you know?

  • Myeongdong Kyoja has only two locations, in Myeongdong and Itaewon. Restaurants elsewhere called "Myeongdong Kalguksu" are not related.· 3 reviews

Good to know

  • Open daily 10:30 to 21:00 (last order 20:30).· 3 reviews
  • The main branch has moved to a large building right outside Myeongdong Station exit 8 (Line 4), at Toegye-ro 129. Branch no. 1 is a short walk away in the Myeongdong alleys, at Myeongdong 10-gil 10.· 3 reviews
  • No parking of its own. Come by subway.· 3 reviews
Where this comes from (38 reviews)

Summarized in our own words from Korean diners' blog reviews; each fact is backed by at least two reviews. Last checked 2026-10-23.