When I’m in Seoul, I rarely go to the same place more than twice because I don’t get to try other restaurants. But Kumsan Noodle Factory Tantanmen was the best noodles in Seoul , I ended up going twice in a week.
It is also reviewed as Bib Gourmand on Michelin Guide, so you can see what I am talking about.
I know it is not a Korean food, but as someone who tried tantanmen at several restaurants including Dintaifung, I can assure you that this is one of the best noodles in Seoul.
Kumsan Noodle Factory Tantanmen Is not just a tantanmen because it has few steps to eat it tastier. So if you are planning to go just follow the steps I tell you.
Kumsan Noodle Factory Tantanmen Opening Time
- Mon – Fri : 11:00 – 15:00, 16:00 – 20:00
- weekends: 11:00 – 20:00
There are only 12 seats and during lunch time you might end up waiting for an hour, so make sure to go 10 minutes before opening to avoid wait lines.
Kumsan Noodle Factory Location
There are two locations – one in Gangnam and the other near Myeongdong Station.
- Gangnam Location: 5-6 Apgujeong-ro 46-gil, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- Myeongdong Location: 1st floor, 31-1, 2 ga Hoehyeon-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Across the street from the Gangnam Kumsan Noodle Factory, there is my favorite army stew restaurant as well. So, if the line ends up getting too long, you can try army stew instead.
Related Post : Why Gemsung Budae Jjigae Is the Best Army Stew
Kumsan Noodle Factory Price
There is only one menu at Kumsan Noodle Factory which is tantanmen.
@roaming_seoul
But there are different types of topping you can add, and that is what makes this restaurant special.
- Tantanmen is: 12,000 won
extra toppings:
- Mala Sauce: 1,000 won
- Poached Egg: 1,000 won
- Scallion: 1,000won
- Pickle: 1,000 won
- Ground Beef : 1,000 won
- rice: 1,000 won
You will have to order tananmen, and then you must add poached egg, rice and ground beef. If you are into spicy food, please also add mala sauce (which I did).
One thing you have to remember is that because of corona and digitalised generation, you have to order it at a kiosk. There is no English on the board, so I translated it for you.
Now let’s get into the order of the toppings you have to put in Tantanmen.
How to Eat Tantanmen & Why Is It the Best Noodles in Seoul?
First when you take a seat, the chef will hand over your best noodle in Seoul with the toppings.
1. First put in the scallion and mala sauce in the noodle. You can add spicy oil, pepper and more, but I didn’t as it was already enough of salt and oil.
2. If you didn’t order rice eat leave 2/3 of the noodles. if you ordered rice leave 1/3 of the noodles. Then dump the poached egg and mix it with the noodles.
Once you do that because of the egg yolk, it becomes a another dish with more flavor.
3. And at the end after eating the rice, you will have some leftover soup cause of the poached egg. We shall not waste that left over. You put the rice and make it into bibimbap.
4. Then you will have an empty dish with literally no waste!
You do not have to eat it in this order and you can have it your way. But coming here several times, this is the best way to eat it.
When I came back to London, All I could think was how good this tantanmen was.