KCook
Sign in
← All recipes
Noodles

Cold Buckwheat Noodles

Cook mode
naeng-myeon

Chewy buckwheat noodles in icy beef broth — a summer classic.

Hard1 hr2 servings🌶️★ 73Contains glutenContains eggContains soy
Cold Buckwheat Noodles

History & culture

Cold buckwheat naengmyeon is often linked to Pyongyang and Hamheung regional styles that spread south after the Korean War. Tradition holds that chilled broth or spicy mixed versions suited summer relief and restaurant competition in Seoul. Naengmyeon houses became festival destinations for shared cold bowls and long noodles. The dish is widely cited as a national summer icon and a symbol of cross-regional noodle heritage on the peninsula.

Servings
2

KCook

Ingredients & steps

Cook mode

Ingredients

  • Thinly sliced beef

    Substitutesirloin or ribeye or sliced thin at home

    150 g, for broth
  • Cucumber
    1/2 julienned
  • Water
    4 cups
  • Buckwheat noodles (naengmyeon/makguksu)

    Substitutesoba noodles

    300 g
  • Egg
    1 hard-boiled, halved
  • Korean radish (mu)Optional

    Substitutedaikon radish

    100 g, pickled or fresh

Seasonings

  • Soy sauce

    SubstituteTsuyu (diluted) 4 tsp (2 tsp per 1 tbsp) or Tamari 2 tbsp

    2 tbsp
  • Sugar
    1 tbsp
  • Salt
    1 tsp
  • Rice wine (mirim / cooking wine)

    Substitutedry sherry or water + pinch of sugar

    1 tbsp

Steps

  1. 1Medium heat30 min

    Simmer beef with water, soy sauce, salt and rice wine 30 minutes. Chill broth until icy cold.

    • Thinly sliced beef
    • Water
    • Soy sauce
    • Salt
    • Rice wine (mirim / cooking wine)
  2. 2High heat4 min

    Boil buckwheat noodles 3–4 minutes. Rinse in ice water until very cold and drain.

    • Buckwheat noodles (naengmyeon/makguksu)
    • Water
  3. 31 min

    Sweeten chilled broth lightly with sugar. Add a few ice cubes if desired.

    • Sugar
  4. 4

    Serve noodles in cold broth topped with cucumber, egg and radish.

    • Buckwheat noodles (naengmyeon/makguksu)
    • Cucumber
    • Egg
    • Korean radish (mu)

Storage & reheating

Broth and noodles store separately 1 day. Serve broth ice-cold.

Troubleshooting

  • ⚠️ Broth not cold enough

    → Chill at least 2 hours; serve with ice cubes.

  • ⚠️ Noodles clump

    → Rinse in ice water immediately after boiling; toss with a few drops of water.