Korean Naengmyeon Cold Noodle Soup (Printable)

Refreshing cold noodle soup with tangy broth, chewy buckwheat noodles, and crisp toppings for summer dining.

# What You'll Need:

→ Broth

01 - 4 cups beef broth (preferably homemade or low-sodium)
02 - 2 cups cold water
03 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
04 - 1 tablespoon sugar
05 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
06 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/2 cucumber, thinly sliced
09 - 4-6 ice cubes (for serving)

→ Noodles

10 - 14 ounces naengmyeon noodles (Korean buckwheat noodles or substitute with soba if unavailable)

→ Garnishes & Toppings

11 - 1 Asian pear, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
12 - 2 hard-boiled eggs, halved
13 - 4 ounces cooked beef brisket, thinly sliced
14 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
15 - 1 tablespoon gochujang (Korean chili paste), optional
16 - Korean yellow pickled radish (danmuji), sliced, optional

# Directions:

01 - In a large bowl, combine beef broth, cold water, rice vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and salt. Stir well until sugar and salt dissolve. Refrigerate until ready to serve—the colder, the better.
02 - Bring a pot of water to a boil. Cook eggs for 10 minutes, then cool and peel. Slice cooked beef, cucumber, Asian pear, and optional pickled radish.
03 - Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add naengmyeon noodles and cook according to package instructions (about 3-4 minutes). Drain and rinse thoroughly under cold running water to chill and remove excess starch.
04 - Divide the cold noodles evenly among four serving bowls. Pour the chilled broth over the noodles. Top with cucumber, pear slices, beef, and half an egg. Add ice cubes to keep the soup extra cold.
05 - Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and a dollop of gochujang if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The broth hits that perfect balance of tangy, salty, and slightly sweet that keeps you coming back for another slurp
  • Its incredibly satisfying yet light enough for the hottest days when heavy food feels impossible
02 -
  • The noodles must be rinsed thoroughly under cold water or they'll turn into a gummy mess
  • Everything needs to be cold, including your serving bowls, for the authentic experience
03 -
  • Freeze your serving bowls for 15 minutes before using for maximum chill
  • The broth tastes better after sitting overnight, so make it a day ahead

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