Naengmyeon is the Korean noodle dish traditionally served cold in a chilled broth and especially associated with Pyongyang.
The name naengmyeon literally means “cold noodles.” The noodles are commonly made from buckwheat, although different regional and commercial recipes may include other starches. Pyongyang naengmyeon is usually served in a mild, icy beef or dongchimi broth, while Hamhung-style naengmyeon is more often served with spicy sauce and chewy noodles made with potato or sweet-potato starch.
Naengmyeon became associated with Korean summer dining because its cold temperature is refreshing. It is also eaten year-round and has a strong historical connection to northern Korean cuisine. The dish became particularly prominent in South Korea after the Korean War, when restaurants serving northern specialties opened in southern cities.
Naengmyeon is sometimes confused with bibim-guksu, another cold Korean noodle dish, but bibim-guksu is generally mixed with a spicy sauce rather than served in the characteristic chilled broth of mul-naengmyeon.