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Sammidang Sinchon: house-made Japanese ramen & mazesoba near Yonsei (Seoul)
Sammidang (삼미당) is a Japanese ramen shop in Sinchon, a short walk from Yonsei University, that makes its own noodles and simmers its own broth — and both the special shoyu ramen and the mazesoba are genuinely good. If you’re deciding where to eat ramen in Sinchon, this is an easy recommendation.
Where it is
Sammidang sits on the first floor at 40, Yonsei-ro 7-gil, Seodaemun-gu, near Yonsei University and Ewha. It’s a small chain with branches in other parts of the city too. We came here for lunch after a hair appointment in Sinchon — Japan-trip ramen curiosity had kicked in, so ramen it was.
How to order
You order at a self-service kiosk. The menu includes tantanmen, shio ramen, and mazesoba, plus the shop’s own signature, the Sammi ramen. Once you’ve paid, you take your menu ticket to your seat and wait. There are counter (tachi) seats and proper tables — a lot of ramen places are counter-only, so the tables are a relief when you’re with company.
What to order
We ordered the special shoyu ramen and the mazesoba.
The special shoyu ramen had a clean, lightly oily broth with a deep, meaty depth (we couldn’t tell exactly which meat — and didn’t need to). They simmer the broth in house, and you can taste it: the soup was genuinely delicious. The noodles had a real chew, didn’t snap apart, and suited the shoyu broth well.
The mazesoba (the regular, not the special) wasn’t hot-spicy, but it carried a bit more of a savory-spicy kick than at most places. Thanks to the house-made noodles, it was chewy and bouncy. We mixed it as served at first, then added the kombu vinegar from the table — personally, mazesoba is so much better with a splash of kombu vinegar.
The pickled radish on the table isn’t the sweet-salty yellow danmuji you’d expect; it has a little yuzu mixed in, and eating a piece between bites of ramen and mazesoba refreshes the palate. We went in with no expectations and ended up eating far more of it than planned.
When you order mazesoba you can ask for rice partway through to mix into the leftover sauce. The mazesoba sauce plus rice is a must — a completely different taste from eating it with the noodles. Mix, take a bite, and if it needs it, go around once more with the kombu vinegar.
The vibe
The shop is well kept — the interior and the tables were spotless. The flavor here isn’t aggressively distinctive ramen so much as food everyone can enjoy.
Verdict
Sinchon has a few famous ramen spots, but Sammidang holds its own. Clean room, house-made noodles, a broth they actually simmer, and a mazesoba that rewards the kombu vinegar. If you’re weighing up where to eat ramen in Sinchon, this one is worth it.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Sammidang Sinchon?
Sammidang (삼미당) Sinchon is on the first floor at 40, Yonsei-ro 7-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, near Yonsei University and Ewha. There are also branches in other areas of the city.
What should I order at Sammidang?
The special shoyu ramen and the mazesoba are both excellent. There's also the shop's signature Sammi ramen, plus tantanmen and shio ramen on the menu.
Does Sammidang make its own noodles?
Yes. Sammidang makes its noodles in house and simmers its own broth, which is exactly why the noodles are so springy and the soup is so deep.
How do you order at Sammidang?
You order at a self-service kiosk, take the ticket to your seat, and wait. There are both counter (tachi) seats and tables, so it works for groups too.