MYKOREANEATS

Finally made it to Mijin (since 1954) for their famous buckwheat noodles (memil guksu) this afternoon. Not surprisingly, there was a line of people waiting so we got the food to-go and took it to nearby Cheonggyecheon stream. We thought eating it in the heat would be a bad idea, but it was just the opposite. The flavorful, slushy broth really hit the spot while the noodles + toppings were also great. Most importantly, the gf was happy to revisit the restaurant that inspired her parents to name their own restaurant with the same name.

Only one way to cool down from this record-breaking heatwave, so make sure to do it at the right place: Dongah Naengmyun (Itaewon, Seoul)

As per custom when we have the gf's parents visit, we suggest the food and they make the final call. But today's lunch was a little more special. When living in Seoul in the 80s, her father would regularly come to this gisa sikdang ("taxi restaurant") for this righteous bowl of seolleongtang (beef bone soup). He and his younger brother would come often and then fork over their hard-earned 4,000 won, which back then was considered pricey compared to its current 7,000 won price. While watching him eat today, it was cool to see him do his thing with such familiarity: one tsp of pepper flakes, half tsp of coarse salt, and (for those who really know how to eat these beef bone soups) a few spoonfuls of kkakdugi gukmul (radish kimchi saucw). I didn't need to ask him how it tasted.

I loved this place long before this visit, but after today's lunch I realized some places just don't serve food, they serve special memories.