Happy December 1st! How timely that Seoul had it's first actual big snowy day today. It's been a long and beautiful fall, so I wonder if the winter will be a bitter cold one or mild like last year. The 2 good things about this cold weather are 1) hot Korean soups and 2) snowboarding.
I'll focus on the former with this post. I've been waiting for a cold snowy day to post this one. Introducing to you 육칼 (yook-kal). A delicious combination of 육개장 (yookgaejang - spicy beef soup) and 칼국수 (kalgooksoo - knife cut noodles), hence the name 육칼 (yook-kal).
The noodles here are so soft and slippery. They go perfectly with the hot and spicy flavourful soup that's been boiled for hours. There are tender pieces of beef brisket in the soup along with softened giant green onion. So simple, so good!
They only specialise in this soup here.
You can order it in 2 ways, both options being only 8000won:
1) 육칼 (yook-kal) which is the soup and a large order of noodles or
2) 육개장 (yook-gae-jang) which is the soup, rice and a smaller bowl of the noodles.
Extra bowl of noodles are 6000won.
The same menu but as as a visual. You can have unlimited sides here, but you have to go get it yourself.
You can mix in just noodles...
Or opt for the rice and noodles combo! My preference! Love a little bit of everything!
This is how the "2) 육개장 (yook-gae-jang) which is the soup, rice and a smaller bowl of the noodles" come out! You can add as much or as little noodles and rice to the soup as you want. If you order the first option, you get more noodles and just don't get any rice. The broth and noodles itself are so good - the combination together is amazing!
Ghetto hole-in-the-wall that locals have known about for over 34 years!
You know you are eating an awesome bowl of hot (temperature and spice level) Korean soup when you are sweating and your sinuses are clearing right up!
These ajumahs work like clock-work in their "open kitchen"!
Small hidden local joint. This one has been open since 1980, but they now have other newly opened joints in Mapo and Yeoido.
What? 문배동 육칼 (MoonBaeDong Yook-Kal). A spicy beef soup with slippery knife-cut noodles and/or rice that's been serving for over 34 years! http://www.yukkal.com/2.html
Who? People who like spicy and hot soups. You need to wait in lines at peak hours, but if you eat at off peak hours, no lines. Or you can also get this to-go. Kids can eat just the noodles plain which are flavourful and yummy as well - along with the non-spicy bean sprout, zucchini and seaweed sides!
When? Monday-Friday - 9:30am-8:30pm. Saturday - 9:30am-5pm. Closed on Sundays.
Parking? No, but there is street and lot parking right out in front.
Cards Accepted? Yes
Where? 서울시 용산구 문배동 24-1호. 24-1 Munbae-dong
Call: 02-713-6204
Directions: Closest subway station -Samgakji (Line 6), Exit 8. Walk straight out, go up the stairs of the overpass over the train tracks, walk down the stairs and it is there on your left (under the bridge stairs).