Keungol Barley Rice & Kalguksu in Yangpyeong: The Noodle House from Hangout with Yoo, and the Order to Eat It In
Sunset over the Bukhangang River, right outside the restaurant (our own photo)
Here is the one tip I wish someone had given me before I walked in: eat the spicy noodles last. I ate them first, and everything after that tasted bland. Let me explain, and show you the whole meal.
The place is Keungol Boribap Kalguksu (큰골 보리밥 칼국수), a barley rice and knife-cut noodle house in Seojong-myeon, Yangpyeong, east of Seoul along the river. It appeared on the MBC variety show Hangout with Yoo (놀면 뭐하니?) in the episode that aired on October 24, 2026, where the cast sat down to barley rice and spicy bibim noodles. We visited in early November and took every photo in this post ourselves.
At a glance: Korean countryside noodles and barley rice · by the Bukhangang River · pet-friendly seats · self-service side dish bar · address: 1161 Bukhangang-ro, Seojong-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do (경기 양평군 서종면 북한강로 1161)
Step 1: Arrive before sunset and register at the door
The restaurant sits on Bukhangang-ro, the road that runs along the North Han River. We arrived just as the sun was going down, and the river in front of the parking lot turned orange. If you are driving out from Seoul for the day, it is worth timing your meal around sunset.
The front door. The white notice asks you to register at the counter. The staff member's face is blurred (our own photo)
On the glass door there is a white sign in Korean: "정문 앞 카운터에서 웨이팅 등록 부탁드립니다", which means "please register on the waiting list at the counter by the front door." On busy days, walk straight to the counter and put your name down before you do anything else.
- Pets: a sticker on the door says pets are welcome, and inside there is a separate pet-friendly seating area. A sign asks that pets stay at the table and don't wander around.
- Ordering: each table has a small touch-screen tablet for ordering, so you don't need to call anyone over.
- Side dishes: the menu board says side dishes, bowls and the spicy seasoning paste (dadaegi, 다대기) are at the self-service bar. Help yourself to refills.
Drinks on the wall menu when we visited: soju and beer 5,000 won, soft drinks 2,000 won, an extra bowl of rice 1,000 won, and a local makgeolli made with Gapyeong pine nuts. Check the noodle and rice prices on Naver Map before you go, since they can change.
Step 2: Don't order the barley rice yet
Our table from above (our own photo)
This is my second tip. When you order kalguksu, a small tasting bowl of yeolmu boribap (barley rice with young radish greens) comes out first, free of charge. So don't order a full bowl of barley rice right away. Try the tasting bowl first, and if you love it, order more. That way nothing goes to waste.
We ordered the countryside kalguksu, the bibim kalguksu, barley rice, meat dumplings and a small plate of bossam (boiled pork with radish kimchi).
Step 3: Eat in this order
① Barley rice (boribap, 보리밥) first
Barley rice topped with bean sprouts, seasoned radish and seaweed flakes (our own photo)
The rice is cooked with plenty of barley and topped with bean sprouts, seasoned radish strips and crushed seaweed. Add the seasoning paste and mix everything together with your spoon. Barley rice has a mild, nutty flavor, which is exactly why it should come first: it is the easiest dish to overpower.
② Countryside kalguksu (sigol kalguksu, 시골칼국수) second
Countryside kalguksu in a big steel bowl (our own photo)
Kalguksu means "knife-cut noodles." This one comes in a large stainless steel bowl, with a clear broth and a big handful of chives and green onion on top. It is warm and gentle, a good bridge between the rice and the spicy noodles.
③ Bibim kalguksu (비빔칼국수) last
Bibim kalguksu, the strongest dish on the table (our own photo)
These are the same noodles served without soup, topped with a spicy red sauce, seaweed flakes and vegetables. You mix them yourself. The flavor is clearly the strongest on the table.
And that is the problem if you start with them. I ate the bibim kalguksu first, and afterwards the barley rice tasted almost plain. I regretted it a little. So: mild first, spicy last. Follow that and you will actually taste all three.
On the side: meat dumplings (gogi mandu, 고기만두)
Meat dumplings (our own photo)
The meat dumplings were also very good. They are large, so one plate is easy to share, and they go well with the noodle soup at any point in the meal.
Quick answers
- What order should I eat in? Barley rice, then countryside kalguksu, then bibim kalguksu.
- Do I need to order barley rice separately? Not at first. A small free tasting bowl comes with the kalguksu. Order more if you like it.
- Can I bring my dog? Yes, there is a separate pet-friendly seating area.
- Opening hours? They can change, so search "큰골 보리밥 칼국수" on Naver Map before you go. In Korea, Naver Map usually has more up-to-date restaurant details than Google Maps.
- Menu words to know: boribap (barley rice), kalguksu (noodle soup), bibim kalguksu (spicy mixed noodles), mandu (dumplings).
New to eating out in Korea? Our guide to Korean BBQ for first-timers covers table tablets, self-service side dishes and other habits that will help here too.
If you are heading out to Yangpyeong for a river drive, stop here around sunset. And remember: bibim kalguksu goes last.
Checked in November 2026. Menus and hours can change.
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