Naengmyeon (cold noodles)

Noodle dishes

• Buckwheat (메밀)Usually in itOnly this one→

  Buckwheat is the most common noodle flour, and Pyongyang-style noodles are made mainly from it. Hamhung-style noodles use potato or sweet potato starch instead, so ask which style the shop serves.

• Wheat (밀)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  Wheat flour is also listed among noodle ingredients, so buckwheat noodles can be blended with it rather than made from buckwheat alone.

• Beef (쇠고기)Usually in itOnly this one→

  The cold broth is commonly beef stock, and store-bought naengmyeon broth is also usually flavored with beef. The spicy mixed version often comes with that broth on the side or has it mixed into the sauce.

• Eggs (알류)Usually in itOnly this one→

  Whether the noodles come in cold broth or spicy sauce, half a boiled egg on top is the usual garnish.

• Mustard (겨자)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  Mustard sauce and vinegar are the standard seasonings, and diners usually add them at the table — leave the mustard out if it is a concern.

• Soybean (대두)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  The mixed version, bibim-naengmyeon, is dressed with a sauce made mainly from gochujang, which is fermented from soybean powder.

• Chicken (닭고기)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  Chicken stock is one of the listed broths, and Pyongyang style can use pheasant broth instead of beef.

• Fish (생선)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  Hoe-naengmyeon, a Hamhung variety, tops the spicy noodles with marinated raw fish, usually skate.

• Garlic (마늘)Usually in itOnly this one→

  Garlic is simmered into the beef broth for mul naengmyeon and minced into the spicy sauce for bibim naengmyeon; either way it is already in the liquid or paste.

• Onion (양파)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  Some cooks simmer onion in the broth or blend it with apple into the bibim sauce; it is strained out or ground smooth and not seen.

• Jeotgal and fish sauce (젓갈 · 액젓)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  The young radish kimchi on yeolmu naengmyeon is often seasoned with anchovy sauce.

• Shrimp (새우)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  The young radish kimchi on yeolmu naengmyeon can also be seasoned with salted shrimp.

• Pork (돼지고기)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  Pork cutlet naengmyeon is served with a fried pork cutlet.

• Asian pear (배)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  Cold broth naengmyeon may be topped with pear slices, and grated pear may go into the spicy mixed-noodle sauce.

Usually in it

Most kitchens put this in. Assume it is there unless the staff tell you otherwise.

Sometimes in it

It depends on the recipe and the brand of sauce, so it is worth asking.

Rarely in it

The usual recipe does not call for it, but some kitchens still use it.

Checked 14 of the 33 ingredients this site covers. An ingredient that is not listed here has simply not been checked yet — that is not the same as it not being in the dish.

⚠This page describes how the dish is usually made in Korea. Every kitchen works differently, so always show your card and ask the staff before you order.