Do You Know 'Geonjinguksu'? ... 'Andong Guksi' That Stimulates Your Appetite in the Hot Summer

Refreshing Broth, Smooth Noodles, and Beef Toppings: Popular Summer Delicacy

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gwi-yeol] Have you heard of ‘Geonjin Guksu’?

It is another name for the so-called ‘Andong Guksi,’ a local delicacy from the Andong region. This noodle dish is especially popular in the summer as it stimulates the appetite on hot days.

Andong Guksi was a traditional local dish served to honored guests in the noble households of Andong. Generally, dishes named after a place have deep roots in the region and offer distinctive flavors.

It features smooth noodles in a refreshing broth, combined with savory seasoning and beef toppings, making it perfect for whetting the summer appetite. It is often featured on broadcasts as a special dish from Andong.

Andong Guksi is characterized by mixing soybean powder into the noodle dough and rolling it out as thinly as hanji paper using a rolling pin. There are two types of Andong Guksi: Geonjin Guksu and Nureum Guksu.

Geonjin Guksu involves boiling the noodles, rinsing them in cold water, and then serving them in a chilled broth, while Nureum Guksu is served with boiled noodles in warm broth.

The broth is made by simmering sweetfish until the essence is fully extracted. Nowadays, anchovies or kelp are also used to make the broth. Toppings include julienned and saut?ed zucchini, boiled chicken or beef, egg crepes made with yellow and white egg layers, and lightly toasted gim (seaweed).

There are over 50 noodle restaurants in Andong. Along with Geonjin Guksu, Nureum Guksu, and Kong Guksu (soybean noodles), Andong Chamna Guksu, which mixes the region’s representative specialty, yam, is also very popular.

Just like in its hometown Andong, the dish has been branded in places like Seoul and beyond, captivating gourmets as a representative Korean dish transcending regional boundaries.

An official from Andong City said, “Andong Guksi has long been known as a dish suitable even for in-law meetings, served with a generous spread of rice, cabbage wraps, and seasonal vegetable side dishes. It is even better when enjoyed with boiled octopus or boiled pork slices, and we hope it helps you beat the heat as a healthy local meal.”