Food is certainly one of the highlights of Korea. So, where should you go to savor authentic Korean cuisine? If you’re having trouble deciding, visit one of the Long-Lasting Small Businesses. Known as “hundred-year businesses” in Korean, these establishments are celebrated for their long tradition and rich flavors. While many of these businesses are off the beaten path for travelers, you don’t have to miss out—Incheon International Airport offers a unique opportunity to sample dishes from these Long-Lasting Small Businesses. At Hansik Sodamgil on Basement 1 of Terminal 1, you can enjoy famous dishes from four Long-Lasting Small Business restaurants: Nadeuri, Manseokjang, Jeondongjip, and Maennalguksu. Additionally, the K-Mealkit Smart Restaurant, located near Terminal 1 Gate 45 on the third floor and in Terminal 2, offers meal kits made by more Long-Lasting Small Businesses from across Korea. Whether at the start or end of your trip in Korea, you’ll have the chance to experience the flavors of some of Korea’s most storied restaurants.

Where to find Long-lasting Small Business Restaurants in Incheon International Airport

Hansik Sodamgil ｜ Center Point on the Basement 1 of Terminal 1

K-Mealkit Smart Restaurant ｜ Near Gate 45 on the 3rd Floor of Terminal 1

K-Mealkit Smart Restaurant ｜ Near Arrival Hall B on the 1st Floor of Terminal 2

What is a Long-lasting Small Business?

Called “Baengnyeon Gage” (Hundred-Year Store) in Korean, this certification is awarded by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups to stores that have been in business for more than 30 years and are recognized for their quality and growth potential.

Sample the Soul Food of Korean Teenagers

Nadeuri

Introduction ｜ Nadeuri is a third-generation restaurant specializing in jjolmyeon (spicy chewy noodles) since its opening in 1986. Jjolmyeon are cold, chewy noodles topped with a red chili paste-based sauce, crunchy cabbage, and carrots. This dish is a beloved favorite among students in Korea, alongside tteokbokki and sundae. Due to its location in a small city, Nadeuri developed a meal kit to improve accessibility. The meal kit is sold online and has been exported to Canada and other overseas markets. In 2019, it became the first snack restaurant to win a presidential citation. a

Signature Menu ｜ The secret to a great bowl of jjolmyeon lies in its sweet and spicy sauce. Nadeuri’s sauce leverages the regional strengths with Yeongju apples, the city’s specialty, Punggi ginseng, and nearly 30 other ingredients, matured at a low temperature for 20 days. The signature dish perfectly showcases this flavor. Another popular dish, soy sauce chewy noodles, uses a special soy sauce to tone down the heat while enhancing the savory flavors. This soy sauce is made by simmering soy sauce with apples, kiwi, banana, and other ingredients for three hours, providing a milder option for those who prefer less spice. Pair these noodles with a thick, handmade pork sirloin cutlet for the full experience.

What dishes can you sample at Incheon International Airport?
At Terminal 1’s Hansik Sodamgil, you can choose from a variety of set menus* that feature spicy or soy sauce chewy noodles. Terminal 2’s K-Mealkit Smart Restaurant offers a soy sauce chewy noodles meal kit.

*(Soy sauce or spicy) chewy noodles with handmade mandu from Seonggyeong Mandu, (soy sauce or spicy) chewy noodles with corn dog from Dumulmeori Lotus Hotdogs, (soy sauce or spicy) chewy noodles with mini pork cutlet set.

Address: 89 Jungang-ro, Yeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do (경상북도 영주시 중앙로 89)
Operating hours: 11:00–20:30

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The Oldest Beef Soup Restaurant in Gyeonggi-do

Anirok

Introduction ｜ Anirok is the oldest beef soup restaurant in Gyeonggi-do, offering a taste of history with its signature utang, a hearty soup made by boiling various beef parts with generous chunks of meat and intestines. The name Anirok means “the most comfortable place in Anseong,” and the restaurant is housed in a charmingly modified hanok building, making it an intriguing spot both for its food and its architecture. A bowl of Anirok’s beef soup, boiled to perfection in an old cast-iron pot, warms your heart with its rich history and the care put into every serving.

Signature Menu ｜ The foundation of beef soup is its rich stock, made daily by boiling bones, beef head, tail, feet, brisket, and more for 17 hours. The resulting soup is clear, elegant, and fortifying on its own. Their ox bone soup is packed with Korean beef, while the ox knee soup offers a uniquely chewy texture from boiled beef knees. For those who love tender meat, the galbi soup is a perfect choice. Another highlight is the Anseong beef soup, featuring a variety of beef cuts, including galbi, ox knees, and feet. Naturally, all these soups are best enjoyed with a side of fresh kimchi.

What dishes can you sample at Incheon International Airport?

At the K-Mealkit Smart Restaurants, you can enjoy boneless galbi soup made from meal kits provided by the restaurant. Terminal 2’s restaurant offers two meal kit options: boneless galbi soup and boneless assorted beef soup.

Address: 20 Jungang-ro 411beon-gil, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do (경기도 안성시 중앙로 411번길 20)
Operating hours: 08:00–21:00 (Break Time 15:00–17:00)
Website: smartstore.naver.com/anilok1920

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A Summer Treat for a Hot Day

Mermil Jinmi Jip

Introduction ｜ This 40-year-old restaurant specializes in noodle dishes made with buckwheat. Located in Jeonju Hanok Village, one of Korea’s most popular tourist destinations and a haven for gourmands, the restaurant is easily accessible. Buckwheat is known for its cooling properties, making it an ideal food for hot summer days. If you’re struggling with the Korean summer heat, a bowl of buckwheat noodles from Mermil Jinmi Jip might be just what you need.

Signature Menu ｜The buckwheat noodles at Mermil Jinmi Jip are served in a cool and refreshing broth made with eleven kinds of seafood, including filefish jerky and anchovies. The noodles are chewy, made from roasted buckwheat flour, and their fresh preparation ensures they are full of the fragrant flavor of buckwheat. Another popular dish, noodles in cold soybean soup, features a thick and nutritious soybean broth made from Korean soybeans. This dish is enjoyed differently across Korea, with various seasonings. The broth is unsalted, allowing you to experiment with sugar, salt, roasted soybean powder, and other condiments to suit your taste. If you’re curious about the soybean soup, you can order a small bowl for tasting.

What dishes can you sample at Incheon International Airport?
At Terminal 1’s K-Mealkit Smart Restaurant, you can try the cold buckwheat noodles, the signature dish of Mermil Jinmi Jip, made from meal kits provided by the restaurant. Terminal 2’s K-Mealkit Smart Restaurant offers cold buckwheat noodles and spicy buckwheat noodles as meals, along with buckwheat noodles meal kits, sauce, and broth.

Address: 94 Jeonjucheondong-ro, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk-do (전북특별자치도 전주시 완산구 전주천동로 94)
Operating hours: 10:00–20:00
Website: smartstore.naver.com/mjinmi

The True Taste of Bulgogi

Choga Sutbul Galbi

Introduction｜ If you’re in Korea, trying bulgogi is a must. Choga Sutbul Galbi has been serving the authentic flavors of Korean bulgogi for over 20 years. The restaurant also features a seasonally rotating selection of vegetable side dishes, such as stir-fried zucchini or pickled bok choy. Both the pork and vegetables used in their dishes are sourced from high-quality producers, which explains why the restaurant has been beloved for so long. It’s also an ideal spot for group visits, offering large rooms that can accommodate up to 20 guests.

Signature Menu｜ Choga Sutbul Galbi is driven by the philosophy of “making honest food with good ingredients.” Its signature dish, unmarinated galbi, uses high-quality, choice-grade or above meat, resulting in a succulent and juicy experience. Similarly, grilled pork galbi features pork rated grade 1 and above, marinated in a sweet Korean pear and onion marinade that enhances its texture and flavor. To enjoy the grilled meat, take a lettuce leaf, place a piece of grilled meat, a dab of mixed paste, and a sliver of garlic on the leaf, then wrap it all up and pop it into your mouth—the key is to eat the entire wrap in one bite. For lunch, Choga Sutbul Galbi offers the sweet and savory beef bulgogi hot pot. As the name suggests, bulgogi is placed in the center of a hot pot, surrounded by vegetables like enoki mushrooms, carrots, and onions, with glass noodles layered beneath the meat as the final touch. Enjoy this meal to fill up on energy before starting your trip.

What dishes can you sample at Incheon International Airport?
At the K-Mealkit Smart Restaurants in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, you can enjoy the bulgogi hot pot as a meal. Additionally, the Terminal 2 restaurant also offers meal kits for beef bulgogi hot pot and jumbo galbi soup for purchase.

Address: 8 Yeorumul-ro 49beon-gil, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon (인천광역시 부평구 열우물로49번길 8)
Operating hours: 11:00–22:00
Website: smartstore.naver.com/choga1999

* This column was last updated in September 2024, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here. We advise you to check details before visiting.