Song Woo-hyun’s brothless udon at Butcake in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.

#PajuUdon #ButcakeUdon

#SongWooHyun’sBrothlessUdon

The Origin of Brothless Udon

The origin of brothless udon is diverse, rooted in the culinary traditions of Japan and the contemporary changes in food culture. Brothless udon is typically served cold, much like chilled udon or noodles, and comes in various versions and adaptations. Several reasons contribute to the popularity of this style:

  1. Shift in Consumer Preferences: Brothless udon, served with soy sauce or alternative sauces instead of hot broth, offers a lighter and more refreshing taste. Particularly favored during hot weather, it has gained popularity among consumers seeking a cooler dining experience.
  2. Influence of Cold Udon: Japan has a tradition of cold udon or noodles, especially popular during the summer. Brothless udon may have drawn inspiration from this tradition of enjoying cold noodle dishes.
  3. Versatile Toppings and Sauces: Brothless udon allows for a variety of toppings and sauces, providing a diverse range of flavors. This flexibility enables consumers to customize their meals according to their preferences.
  4. Creativity of Restaurants and Chefs: Chefs and restaurants are exploring creative culinary options to offer customers more choices and unique experiences. Brothless udon aligns with this trend of culinary creativity and experimentation.

In summary, brothless udon is a result of various culinary trends in Japan, evolving consumer preferences, and the creative initiatives of chefs and restaurants to provide innovative dining experiences.

A place visited following the owner of a business who explores only good restaurants in Paju Munsan.

What place will be introduced today? With half expectation and half excitement, I followed along…

Text and Photos by: Mink

The comments are quite amusing.

Life is short, and udon is delicious~

Song Woo-hyun’s brothless udon in Paju is located near the Provence Village, and nearby forms the Paju Matgoeul Food Culture Street.

Entrance photo of Song Woo-hyun's Brothless Udon

✅ Closed every Monday

Business hours: 11 am to 8 pm

(Last order at 7:30 pm, break time from 3 pm to 5 pm)

✅ Phone: 031-944-7404

✅ Address: 88 Saeeori-ro, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do

Putting one’s name on the signboard and operating the business is a sign of the owner’s passion for udon.

Menu:

Shrimp Butcake Udon, Fish Cake Butcake Udon, Rice Cake Butcake Udon

All priced at 10,000 won (Large serving at 11,000 won)

Side dishes:

Dumplings – 4,500 won

Egg rice – 3,500 won

Korokke (croquette) – 2,000 won (2 pieces)

Basic side dishes at Song Woo-hyun's Brothless Udon
Korean-style Korokke
Korean-style Shrimp Tempura & Korean-style Pumpkin Fritters

Additional options include fried fish cakes, fried rice cakes, fried shrimp, fried eggs, and fried pumpkin.

Basic side dishes include salad, pickled radish, and kimchi.

If needed, feel free to ask for refills of the broth, which is a flavorful broth that should traditionally accompany udon. However, here it’s Song Woo-hyun’s brothless udon, also known as Butcake Udon.

To be honest, I am not familiar with the term Butcake Udon. It might be because I’m not a big fan of udon, but it doesn’t mean I dislike it.

Perhaps I haven’t actively sought out udon over the years.

Song Woo-hyun's Brothless Udon, Popular in South Korea
The scene of grinding sesame seeds to add to the brothless udon, creating a perfect harmony

Wow~~ The owner of Paju Udon proudly displays his passion for udon.

Although it was a statement on the menu, each phrase seems to breathe with the owner’s 30 years of passion for udon.

The process of grinding sesame seeds on the spot to add to the udon is intriguing.

As mentioned earlier, they serve freshly ground sesame seeds for customers to add as much as they like.

And, the korokke (croquette) ordered before the meal arrived first…

Wow~ Although korokke is not a dish I actively seek out, it was incredibly soft and filled with a creamy texture.

Then, an additional order of shrimp tempura for two was placed.

Two pieces of shrimp and two pieces of pumpkin arrived. Originally, it was supposed to be one shrimp tempura per serving, but since it was for two people, there were two pieces. Additionally, pumpkin was provided as a complimentary service.

The color of the fried coating didn’t seem too dark, indicating that the oil might be changed frequently.

Just by the visual, the udon noodles seem very firm.

Finally, the brothless udon arrives.

The owner visited for the third time and finally got to taste it…

Every time he came, there were various issues that prevented him from trying it, but this time, he was able to experience the honor of tasting it together.

As briefly mentioned, sesame seeds are ground on the spot and added to the udon as desired.

The soft-boiled egg is cracked open and mixed evenly with the udon.

The slightly dark liquid at the bottom is not broth but Japanese-style soy sauce called shoyu.

There is also freshly ground radish juice in one corner and finely chopped green onions served as a topping.

Fold/Unfold Located near the entrance of Paju Provence Village, it is a unique place to taste udon.

[Review with a friend’s wallet]

✔ Personally, I had high expectations for this unique udon.

Was it because I had too high expectations? Haha, the evaluation of the taste is Good.

However, it seems to be quite popular among customers who like udon, as there is a considerable wait on weekends.

✔ Depending on one’s taste, it might be slightly bland. In that case, it’s comfortable to request more soy sauce.

✔ Even if you repeatedly mention the shortage of side dishes or broth, they gladly refill them.

The owner’s passion for Paju Udon was well received.

Ending this somewhat special udon review here.

🌈 Song Woo-hyun’s renowned brothless udon restaurant in Paju, South Korea

Location: 88 Saeeori-ro, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do

Business Hours: Closed every Monday 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Last order at 7:30 PM, Break time from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM)

Phone Number: 031-944-7404

Overview: Paju Brothless Udon is a renowned restaurant located in Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, near Provence Village. Positioned alongside the Paju Matgoeul Food Culture Street, it offers a unique and delightful udon experience.

Menu:

  • Shrimp Butcake Udon
  • Fish Cake Butcake Udon
  • Rice Cake Butcake Udon

Price: Each menu is priced at 10,000 won, with a large serving available for 11,000 won.

Side Dishes:

  • Dumplings: 4,500 won
  • Egg Rice: 3,500 won
  • Korokke (Croquette, 2 pieces): 2,000 won

Additional Options: Additional options include fried fish cakes, fried rice cakes, fried shrimp, fried eggs, and fried pumpkin.

Features:

  • Complimentary side dishes include salad, pickled radish, and kimchi.
  • Instead of traditional broth, the dish features soy sauce, offering a rich and deep flavor.
  • Sesame seeds are freshly ground on the spot and can be added according to preference.
  • Korokke and shrimp tempura are known for their soft and savory taste.
  • The udon is served approximately 18 minutes after ordering.

How to Enjoy: To enjoy, crack open a soft-boiled egg, mix it thoroughly with all the ingredients, and add soy sauce instead of broth. Additional soy sauce can be requested if desired.

Noteworthy:

  • Sesame seeds are ground using a separate grinder.
  • Korokke ordered before the meal and additional orders of shrimp tempura are particularly delicious.

Paju Brothless Udon is renowned for the owner’s passion and dedication, making it a special destination for udon enthusiasts. The restaurant warmly accommodates requests for extra side dishes or broth, contributing to its popularity among many patrons.

Leave a Reply

Scroll to Top