Ranju Kalmyeon — Restaurant in Seoul

A Noodle Hug in Seoul: My Honest Take on Ranju Kalmyeon (4/5) Stepping into Ranju Kalmyeon, there was a buzz of anticipation. I'd heard whispers about their unique knife-cut noodles, and let me tell you, they did not disappoint. It wasn't just a meal; it felt like a warm, comforting hug on a plate, something truly special that stood out in a city overflowing with incredible food.

The first bite of those thick, chewy noodles was an experience in itself. They had this incredible elasticity, a satisfying bounce that made each mouthful so enjoyable. It wasn't the usual delicate noodle, but a hearty, robust one that truly felt like it was made with love and care, right there in the restaurant. I opted for their Jjajangmyeon (black bean sauce noodles), a classic, and the sauce clung to those wide strands perfectly. It was rich, savory, and had just the right hint of sweetness – not cloyingly so, but enough to balance out the deep, earthy flavors.

What really tugged at my heartstrings was the feeling of authenticity. You could tell this wasn't some mass-produced dish; it had that homemade touch. It felt like I was eating something prepared by someone who truly cared about their craft. And in a bustling city like Seoul, that personal touch can make all the difference.

However, it wasn't a perfect 5/5 for me. While the noodles were exceptional, and the sauce was delicious, the side dishes, while fresh, didn't quite reach the same level of memorable. And I'll admit, depending on the time of day, the wait can be a bit of a challenge. I definitely recommend trying to go during off-peak hours if you can!

Despite those minor points, the overall experience at Ranju Kalmyeon was truly heartwarming. It was a simple, honest meal that delivered on its promise of delicious, satisfying noodles. If you're looking for a taste of genuine, comforting Korean-Chinese fusion with a focus on incredible, unique noodles, Ranju Kalmyeon is absolutely worth a visit. It left me with a contented smile and a warm feeling in my belly, and that's exactly what I look for in...

Highly recommend jajangmyeon, which is kinda noodles with Black Soybean Sauce. Lots of chinese restaurants have tendency to use more starch for jajangmyeon over black soybean source, the matter of cost or something, I don't know why and I hate that. However, I didn't feel any unpleasant taste after finishing it, that's because this one is based on the sauce with red pepper oil. It was amazing. I am not a chinese-food person. I think starch in chinese foods usually makes me feel fed up the taste and stay away from finishing it all the time. But It's not gluey, but very light and mild. Can easily taste full flavor of black soybean sauce but barely spicy. For jjamppong, you should soak the noodles in the soup for a moment for absorption. These special noodles are fairly free from getting soggy for some time. Sweet-and-sour pork is also good. Usually crowded in dinnertime,...

We waited at least 1 hour to get any food. 30+ outside and 20+ inside. They have a method to the madness and take your order then seat a few tables at once. Once you sit, they bring food but it takes a while.

The food we were really looking forward to. We liked the thick noodles in both dishes. The stir fried seafood was very disappointing tho. The shells were all empty and barely any quality seafood inside. 2? shrimps and 3 mussels. The sauce was so oily I could only taste grease. The onions on the black sauce dish were good. Overall it was way too oily and lacked any other flavor. *update, I had a stomach ache the rest of the day after eating. So be careful if you have a sensitive stomach.

One time and...