Cycle 4 – Item 174

28 (Fri) June 2013

Pyongyang Mul Naeng Myeon

1.5

by me

at home

-Oksu, Seongdong, Seoul, Republic of Korea-

with the Family

So long as I’m on a quest to determine Seoul’s best Pyongyang-style mul naeng myeon (see SSPYSP), I may as well try the packaged stuff.  Pulmuone, my favorite local food company, recently introduced a new line of semi-instant products for MNM, as well as its spicy, brothless cousin bibim naeng myeon.  W: “Aren’t you sick of it yet?”  Me: “Just getting started, baby.”

NITPICK.  One is called “Pyongyang Mul Naeng Myeon,” while the other is called “Hamheung Bibim Naeng Myeon.” The labeling reinforces the mistaken notion that, categorically, Pyongyang-style = mul naeng myeon and that Hamheung-style = bibim naeng myeon, which is not true.  Restaurants of both styles offer both dishes.  Shame on Pulmuone for perpetuating a myth.

BROTH.  Sweet.  Tangy.  No trace of beef.  Crystal clear.

NOODLES.  Darkish.  Rubbery.  No trace of buckwheat.

TOPPINGS.  None,  except a tube of mustard.  The instructions on the packaging helpfully suggests adding cucumber, pear, radish.

CONCLUSION.  I wasn’t expecting much, and I got exactly what I’d expected.  Not PYS, nowhere close.  Not even really naeng myeon.  That said, it was…okay(ish) – the way that bottled apple juice doesn’t actually taste like apples, but it’s still kinda good.  DJ: “This, this is what I’m talking about, this is the kind of MNM that I like!”

(See also PULMUONE)

(See also MUL NAENG MYEON)

(See also GLOBAL FOOD GLOSSARY)

(See also RESTAURANTS IN KOREA)