"The menu primarily features noodle soups, along with a few rice dishes and appetizers. To start our meal, they served each of us a small cabbage salad with a light ginger dressing, which was a refreshing introduction. They also provided us with an assortment of fresh banchan, including kimchi, kimchi daikon, and another daikon in a sesame oil marinade, which I particularly enjoyed.
For appetizers, we ordered several dishes: the fried dumplings were excellent—crispy without being greasy. We chose the beef option, which came with ten pieces per order. The seafood pancake was decent, though I didn't recall there being much seafood in it. On the other hand, I wasn’t a fan of the kimchi pancake, as I felt the kimchi made it a bit soggy.
For my main dish, I opted for the handmade noodles with fish cake. The broth was wonderful and very comforting after a long New Year’s Eve night. I was concerned it might be too fishy or dashi-heavy, but it was just right. The noodles were okay for me, but that's because I'm not particularly fond of doughy or chewy noodles. They were thick, square sheets reminiscent of those hefty wonton wrappers. A noteworthy point is that these noodle bowls are massive—definitely enough for two people!
My friend ordered the clam soup, and I was amazed by the number of clams she was pulling out of her bowl. Everyone ordered their own dish, and we each had a full quart container to take home afterward. My husband was the only one who didn’t go for the noodles; he opted for the kimchi fried rice, which is always a safe choice.
I look forward to returning to try some of their other soups next time, and I’ll make sure to order the regular noodles. Overall, I’m glad that Halmae Noodle was our first meal of the New Year!"
