Quick honest review of Meomil Danpyeon in Yeouido. Short version: buckwheat specialist on the 2nd floor of an office tower, the bansang set is solid, and 23,000 KRW (~$17 USD) per person is steep for noodles — fair for a full set meal with sides and a drink included. The perilla oil noodles are the reason to come.
Two of us. Thursday. 11 AM sharp.
What is Meomil?
Meomil (메밀) is buckwheat. Not soba — though they’re related. Korean buckwheat noodles have their own identity: earthy, slightly gritty compared to wheat noodles, usually served cold. Different texture, different tradition.
Meomil Danpyeon (단편 = “short story”) builds the entire menu around one ingredient. The noodles are buckwheat, the kimbap uses buckwheat rice, the drink is buckwheat-based. It’s a concept restaurant, not a casual noodle spot. Over the last few years, Seoul has seen several places do this — take a traditional Korean grain, build an upscale modern format around it. This is that.
Getting There
Yeouido Finance Tower (YFT), 2nd floor. Yeouido is Seoul’s financial district — major banks, securities firms, KBS and MBC broadcast headquarters all packed onto a reclaimed island in the Han River. Think Canary Wharf but more compact, and with better street food on the ground level. The 63 Building and IFC Seoul mall are also here if you’re combining stops.
Closest subway: Yeouido Station (Line 5 or Line 9), Exit 2. Walk roughly 8-10 minutes. From Gimpo Airport, about 20 minutes on the subway. From Incheon, closer to an hour via AREX then transfer.
The Interior
They went for it. Dried flower arrangements hanging from the ceiling — large, structured installation, not just a few sprigs — brass antique bowls in a glass display case along one wall, muted warm tones throughout. For an office building restaurant, this is more interior design effort than it has to be. Feels like someone cared.
Ordering is tablet-based at the table. No paper menu.
The Bansang Set (반상) — 23,000 KRW / ~$17 USD
Bansang (반상) is a traditional Korean tray meal. Main dish in the center, multiple small side dishes arranged around it, everything served at once. It’s rooted in the formal meal structure from the Joseon dynasty — originally an elaborate multi-course format for the upper class, simplified over time into something more accessible. Modern restaurants like this take the concept and dress it up again.
Here, the bansang is 23,000 KRW. The only decision you make is the noodle: 들기름 메밀면 (perilla oil buckwheat noodles, dry) or 물 메밀면 (cold buckwheat noodles in clear broth). Everything else — the chicken skewer, kimbap, meat dish, drink, side dishes, dessert — is fixed and the same for both.
We ordered one of each to compare.
물 메밀면 — Cold Broth Buckwheat Noodles
Clear cold broth, nothing aggressive. The buckwheat noodles have more bite than wheat — slightly grainy, stiffer — and hold up well in cold liquid without going mushy. Good for a hot July morning.
If you’ve tried naengmyeon (Korean cold noodles) before and found the vinegar sharpness too intense, this lands quieter. The broth is subtle, almost understated. No complexity to hunt for. Some people will like that; some will find it boring.
들기름 메밀면 — Perilla Oil Buckwheat Noodles
Get this one.
Perilla oil is nuttier than sesame oil and has a faint herbal edge — it’s its own flavor, not a substitute. The noodles come topped with sesame seeds and dried seaweed flakes, and you toss it at the table. Without broth diluting things, the buckwheat’s earthiness comes through cleanly. The oil coats each strand and the noodle flavor actually registers.
tbh if you haven’t had perilla oil before, this is a decent introduction. It’s distinctive without being challenging. The combination of dry noodle, nutty oil, and earthy grain works.
The Rest of the Tray
Chicken skewer. Soy marinade. Decent, not the point.
Buckwheat kimbap — small rolls where the rice is buckwheat-based, different texture from regular kimbap. Recognizable as kimbap, nothing surprising.
Hwangjeongsal sanjeok muchim (황정살 산적 무침): cold seasoned meat slices in a light sweet-sesame glaze. Tender. Better than it sounds on paper.
Buckwheat sikhye — sikhye is a traditional Korean sweet rice drink, cold, lightly fermented. The buckwheat version is less sweet than standard, grainier aftertaste. One of us liked it; the other found it odd. It divides people.
Watermelon slice for dessert. Small, cold.
Side dishes: white kimchi (napa-style, barely fermented, mild) and spicy radish pickle. One line each — they’re background.
Practical Info
Price: 23,000 KRW (~$17 USD) per person. Receipt for two: 46,000 KRW total, no extra charges.
Payment: Card accepted. Standard terminal — foreign cards should work fine.
Tipping: None. Korea doesn’t tip.
Language: Tablet ordering has photos, so pointing gets you through the order. Staff interaction is minimal. If you get stuck, someone will help, but don’t expect fluent English.
Reservations: Walk-in only. We arrived right at 11 AM and sat immediately. By 11:30, the restaurant was half-full with office workers — expect a full house during peak lunch hour.
Vegetarians: The fixed bansang includes chicken and beef. Check the standalone noodle options on the menu board at the entrance if you need a meatless option.
Solo: Standard table seating, no counter bar. Probably fine solo, but the space is designed for groups.
Kids: The food is mild and accessible, but it’s a quiet upscale lunch spot inside an office building. Not exactly family-lunch energy.
The Verdict
Perilla oil buckwheat noodles: worth the visit on their own. Cold broth version: good, slightly forgettable. Everything else on the tray: solid supporting cast, no weak links, nothing transcendent either.
23,000 KRW is high for a noodle lunch anywhere in Seoul. For a full set meal — sides, drink, dessert, curated tray — it’s defensible for Yeouido, which runs expensive across the board.
Go if you’re in Yeouido anyway. The 63 Building is nearby, IFC Seoul is nearby, the Han River park is a short walk — if any of those are on your itinerary, work this in as lunch.
Skip it if you have three days in Seoul and haven’t eaten Korean BBQ yet. Do the classics first. Come back to buckwheat bansang sets on a longer trip.
We’d go back.
FAQ
Where exactly is Meomil Danpyeon in Yeouido?
It’s on the 2nd floor of Yeouido Finance Tower (YFT). Closest subway is Yeouido Station on Line 5 or Line 9 — about an 8-10 minute walk from Exit 2.
How much does the bansang set cost at Meomil Danpyeon?
The bansang (set meal tray) is 23,000 KRW (~$17 USD) per person. You choose one noodle — perilla oil or cold broth — and everything else on the tray is fixed.
Do I need a reservation at Meomil Danpyeon?
Walk-in only, no reservation system. Arriving right at opening (around 11 AM) gets you seated immediately. By 11:30 AM the restaurant fills up with office workers on lunch break.
Is there an English menu at Meomil Danpyeon?
Ordering is tablet-based with photos, so pointing at what you want works fine. English text is limited but the visuals are clear enough to get through the order without Korean.
What should I order at Meomil Danpyeon?
Get the bansang set and choose 들기름 메밀면 (perilla oil buckwheat noodles). That’s the standout dish — the cold broth version is also good but less interesting.
Is Meomil Danpyeon vegetarian-friendly?
The bansang includes chicken and beef. If you’re vegetarian, check the standalone noodle options on the menu board at the entrance — some may work without meat sides.
