Jeju island is like a shelter for Korean. Korean business culture is popular for long-hour work which consumed people's energy physically or mentally. Though this fact that we have constant fatigue, we can flee to Jeju island just taking an hour by plane. When you arrive in Jeju island, you might feel Jeju island isn't quite different from Korean peninsula: The island has two cities, CU/GS25 convenience stores, MC donalds or other famous franchise restaurants, while you also could know it's warmer or hotter than Seoul, and Harubang(하루방) statues welcome you at some places.
That is cool. Once you decide to stay in this island, you need to see something exotic which gives you nice vibes. There are tons of list I would like to recommend our visitors, but we can begin from one special restaurant which offer unique taste of their cold noodle.
Here we have Okran Noodle. (옥란면옥) https://goo.gl/maps/jHLvmjkhSNiiBp7W8
옥란면옥 · 대한민국 제주특별자치도 제주시 조천읍 조천리 3225
★★★★☆ · 냉면 전문점
www.google.com
The restaurant is small. If you don't focus during you're driving, you can't notice and may pass by this restaurant. The number of seats are small, but thanks to its location, it couldn't be busy if you avoid lunch time. Despite it's size, Okran Noodle can show you nice cold noodles and other foods as well. What's difference? Okran cold noodle is not only mild-tasting but also light and mellow. If you already tried cold noodles in Korea, you would know those cold noodle has some condiment inside that are salty and a little sour. Those tastes aren't something new for Korean, in fact, we developed those mixed tastes in consistent with economic growth in Korea. Korean enjoy putting multiple tastes in our foods by using sources and condiments. Following consequence, foods in modern Korea lost ingredient's own taste and rely on sources or condiments. However, Okran cold noodle doesn't hide ingredients' zest. Its taste isn't strong, but gives you long aftertaste.
Historically cold noodle isn't like instant noodles in Korea. It has been beloved by folks since a thousand years ago in Korea. Like noodles in Japan, Korean cold noodles vary depending on locations. When it comes to say 'Let's eat cold noodles' in Korea, that usually means we go to eat cold noodle that was born in Hamheung(함흥) province or in Pyeongyang(평양) city. But the noodle of Okran Noodle shop was born in Hwanghae(황해) province (See the picture). That's why the chance to try this cold noodle is not common. (The funny thing is all of these cold noodle were born in North Korea.
Back to our Okran Noodle, it's easy to get to the location from Jeju city if you rent a car. Since the restaurant is small, there is few parking lot for drivers, but you can find the spot to park around it. The price is reasonable: you will feel full if you spend 15,000~20,000 won for two people. If you wonder and want to know their cold noodle, the staff will answer kindly, but not sure they speak English.
Let's travel super excitedly!
This blog was written for the sake of Korea visitors who sincerely want to take pleasure of real Korea. As a native who grew up in Korea, I hope our wanderers also discover and entertain our fine places, which foreign strangers rarely drop by.