Pyeongnaeok is so famous for its chogyetang that it hardly needs an introduction. A few years ago, before I moved to Japan, I ate here once and fell for it, and I kept looking for a chance to go back, but what with the place closing down for a while and so on it never worked out, so this time I finally made my return visit. It’s a place full of memories for me, so I was a little worried whether it would still move me the way it used to.
Basic side dishes
Neat and tidy, right?
The best of the lot: the spicy chicken salad (dak muchim)
Even though it’s unlimited refills, it’s tangy and delicious. It wasn’t quite as good as I remember, but the atmosphere is different from back then, so it’s hard to compare. Above all, the interior has gone modern. Honestly, I could get through a bottle or two of soju on the chicken salad alone, but given the mood that day I held back on the drinking. Not that I didn’t drink at all, mind you..
The broth kettle
A bit of a struggle to lift and pour..
Broth
The broth is rich. I kept refilling it and drinking it again and again.
Suyuk (boiled pork)
Good value for the price. Made for soju, as expected?
Nokdujeon (mung bean pancake)
Thick and tasty. Coming with a big group means you get to try all sorts of dishes, which is great. That’s the joy of a foodie meetup.
Chogyetang
The main dish finally arrived, but there was such an in-depth conversation going on that I never had a moment to collect myself and actually taste it. To my palate, what with mixing the vinegar and taking photos, the noodles had gone a bit soft, and there was a little too much vinegar in it. Next time I should come at a quiet hour when there aren’t many people around. Or at least on a weekday.
Pheasant naengmyeon
They say the difference from regular naengmyeon is the added pheasant meatballs, but I couldn’t really tell much difference. Pheasant itself isn’t at its best this time of year anyway. I guess the pheasant I had in Japan left a big impression too. Anyway, being able to go back to a restaurant full of memories really meant a lot. The taste didn’t seem to have changed much compared to before, but that day was a meetup packed with a full 12 people, so it was just too hectic. Next time I’ll try going in a small group of two or three.