In celebration of the summer season and the recent summit between North and South Korea, we should all treat ourselves to a big cold bowl of naengmyon this week. These chewy buckwheat noodles are more than a refreshing snack on a steamy summer day, they are a North Korean specialty that has remained popular among South Koreans through many years of chilly relations between the two countries. But you don’t have to travel to Asia to enjoy these nifty noodles.
Chicago has plenty of places to try them, including the recently opened Pyongyang myonok (5828 N. Lincoln Ave; 773-506-1065), which specializes in buckwheat pasta preparations. The two most popular items on the menu are mul naengmyon and bibim naengmyon. The first features a nest of the thin noodles twirled in a cold beef consomme with lean beef, pickled vegetables and a hard-boiled egg. White vinegar and hot mustard are served on the side for extra zip. Bibim naengmyon takes the noodles and drenches them in a sweetspicy red paste (almost like barbecue sauce) and garnishes it with lean beef and picked vegetables. The combination between the cold noodles and the fiery spicing is a summer sensation we look forward to every year. We haven’t found a bad bibim naengmyon yet, but we are especially partial to the versions we’ve had at Korean Noodle Restaurant (3236 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.; 773-588-6474) and San Soo Gab San ( 5251 N. Western Ave; 773-334-1589).
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What’s your favorite naengmyon?
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