A steaming hot bowl of Japanese udong will hit the spot on a cold winter day! Enjoy this as a simple meal for lunch or dinner - or even snack to warm you up throughout the day.
This particular chain, Genroku, has various locations in Seoul. Their broth has a stronger flavour of a base than most udon soups, and I like it because it is hearty, full of flavour and they have various toppings like beef, chicken or yooboo (유부 - a type of Japanese fried tofu). If you don't like the typical udon with the fishcakes, then this is the udon for you! Choose your noodles between udong (우동) - the traditional thick chewy flour noodle or soba (소바) - a buckwheat thinner noodle usually eaten in a cold soy sauce dipping dish. All soups are 6000-8000won depending on the topping and noodles, but you can choose up to triple portion for the same price!!!
니꾸우동 (Nikoo Udong) - Beef topping with the thick chewy flour noodles. Also comes in 니꾸소바 - Nikoo Soba - Beef topping with the buckwheat noodles.
지도리우동 (Jidoree Udong) - Chicken Topping with Udong Noodles. See the brown pieces at the top? You can add on menu item so I added the 유부 (YooBoo) which is seasoned fried tofu curd to my soup. It was only 1500won to add.
The noodles here are nice and chewy. The waiter also checks in on you to ask if you think the broth is too salty or watery and he said he can adjust it for you as you please. We were all fine with our soup, but as it cooled down, it was a touch salty for me. I love the strong flavour of the broth though, so I'm afraid to water that down! I'll try it less salty next time and see if it affects the flavour at all.
Very simple and small salad with yuzu (citrus fruit) dressing. It was refreshing and tart after the savoury soup. I prefer eating this after the soup! Their other sides are simply Japanese 닥광 (dak kwang) - pickled radish.
These are the 3 sizes you can get your udon in - for free! As long as everyone at your tables orders something, and you're not going to waste all the food you can choose up to 3 sizes! Going from left to right: 세곱빼기 (SehGop Bbehgee - Triple portion. 두곱빼기 (DooGop Bbehgee - Double portion), 그냥보통 (GeNyang Bohtong - just regular size). We've all only had the regular size before, but I've seen tables next to us order the triple size and it is HUGE! It takes up half of the table width!!!
Their menu. Has the 3 different toppings with 2 different noodle options for the hot soups. A cold udong and cold soba option, a kids set, additional toppings you can add onto your soup, a side order of Japanese fried rice, Japanese 이나리 스시 (rice filled yooboo - the seasoned fried tofu), and a plate of grilled chicken. All prices are very reasonable.
Free upgrades in sizes - only order it if you can finish it though!
A very small, quaint casual Japanese udong joint. This one is in Shinsa area by Garosogil, but they have chains around Seoul - Myeongdong, Shinchon, Hongdae and many more! Check it out at www.genrokuudon.com (sorry it's only in Korean)
There is usually a line-up because the place is so small, but people eat and go so you get seated pretty quickly.
What? 겐로쿠. A causal Genroku Udon and Soba house. They have a limited menu of mostly just udon and soba noodles in a hot soup that comes with either chicken, beef or fried bean curd. www.genrokuudon.com
Who? Any age, kid friendly, vegetarian friendly, anyone who likes hot broth and Japanese style noodles in a non-spicy soup base.
When? 7 days a week. 11:30am-9:30pm with the last order with at 9pm.
Parking? Depends on the location, but for Shinsa location, no. Find street or lot parking nearby.
Cards Accepted? Yes
Where? 서울시 강남구 신사동 510-8 1층. 510-8 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Call: 02-516-8545
Directions: Come out of Shinsa Station (Line 3), exit 8. Go straight, turn left down Garosogil which is right after Missha (for now). Turn left down the first alley, and keep going until you reach 문어치킨 (Moonuh Chicken - an octopus/fried chicken place) on your left. Turn right down the bigger alley, and then turn left into a smaller alley. You will see Pignic on your right (get your grilled Mexican corn fix!) and Cafe Nini on your left. Kenroku is across from Cafe NIni's on your right. Once you know where it is, there is an easier/faster way to get there from exit 8, but with constantly changing landmarks, it's hard to explain the shortcut.