Janchi Guksu (잔치국수)

'Banquet noodles' in warm anchovy broth — simple and nostalgic.

Korean name: 잔치국수
Spice level: Not spicy
Flavor: light · savory
Typically contains: wheat noodles
Vegetarian / vegan: Sometimes — vegetable-forward, but anchovy broth, fish sauce or meat garnish is common. Ask first
Typical price: ₩6,000–₩8,000 per person checked 2026-07 — varies by area
Good to know: Beginner-friendly ●●●●○ Solo dining ●●●●○ Kid-friendly ●●●●●
Also written as: janchi guksu, banquet noodles, somyeon noodles

Spice and flavor are editorial assessments of the standard version — individual restaurants and recipes vary. Ingredient notes are typical, not guaranteed: always check with the restaurant for allergies or dietary needs. Eating and cooking notes describe common practice in Korea; our first-hand deep-dives live in the Eat Like a Local guides.

What is Janchi Guksu?

Janchi-guksu — 'banquet noodles' — is thin somyeon in clear anchovy broth, the dish that once fed entire wedding parties (long noodles = long life, hence 'when are you feeding us noodles?' as a marriage tease). Today it's five-minute comfort food: light, cheap, endlessly slurpable.

How to eat it

Slurp fast — thin somyeon bloats quicker than any other Korean noodle.
Stir in the dadaegi (seasoning paste) for heat.
Drink the broth; it's the soul of the dish.

Cooking it at home

Make anchovy-kelp stock; season with soup soy.
Boil somyeon separately, rinse in cold water to remove starch, then re-dip in hot broth.
Top with egg ribbons, gim, scallion and seasoned zucchini.

Good to know

The rinse step is non-negotiable — skipping it makes cloudy, gummy noodles.

Asking a single friend 'when do we eat your noodles?' still means 'when's the wedding?'

Nutrition

Calories	61 kcal
Carbohydrate	10.58 g
Protein	2.4 g
Fat	0.84 g
Sodium	272 mg

Per serving (~800ml): ≈488 kcal · sodium ≈2,176 mg (109% of the WHO daily guideline, 2,000 mg)

Per 100ml · total serving 800ml · Official data: National Integrated Food Nutritional Information Standard Data (Korea MFDS) (DB item: 잔치국수, synced 2026-07-17). Values vary by recipe and portion.