Menu
Korean-style serving of Oyster kalguksu

굴칼국수 · Oyster kalguksu

Oyster kalguksu

굴칼국수

What exactly is it?

Oysters flavor this knife-cut noodle soup. Shucked oyster meat is usually eaten with the noodles, rather than requiring the shell sorting common in clam kalguksu. Oyster brine and noodle starch give the broth a rounded, cloudy character.

Main ingredients

Knife-cut noodles, oysters, stock, scallion, optional zucchini or egg

Ordering and serving

Availability varies by restaurant and season. Noodles added after an oyster meal may differ in size and contents from a standalone bowl. Oysters in this soup are meant to be cooked, unlike raw oyster garnishes.

Origins and changes

It belongs to the wider range of oyster meals in producing areas. At coastal destinations such as Cheonbuk in Boryeong, noodles can also finish an oyster-grill or steamed-oyster meal, rather than always being ordered as a separate first course.

Sources checked

Related foods

How do similar dishes compare?

Choose a dish to compare ingredients, flavor and serving style side by side.

Dish to compare

Oyster kalguksu

굴칼국수

Main ingredients
Knife-cut noodles, oysters, stock, scallion, optional zucchini or egg
Flavor and character
Oysters flavor this knife-cut noodle soup. Shucked oyster meat is usually eaten with the noodles, rather than requiring the shell sorting common in clam kalguksu. Oyster brine and noodle starch give the broth a rounded, cloudy character.
How to eat it
Availability varies by restaurant and season. Noodles added after an oyster meal may differ in size and contents from a standalone bowl. Oysters in this soup are meant to be cooked, unlike raw oyster garnishes.
Read about this dish →

Kalguksu

칼국수

Main ingredients
Knife-cut wheat noodles, chicken, anchovy or clam broth, zucchini, potato, scallion
Flavor and character
Rolled wheat dough is cut into ribbons and simmered in broth. Starch released from the noodles can thicken the soup slightly. Chicken, anchovy and clam broths produce quite different bowls despite sharing the same dish name.
How to eat it
Kimchi and seasoning paste often accompany the bowl; taste the broth before adding much. Son kalguksu emphasizes handmade noodles, not the absence of seafood.
Read about this dish →
Find nearby food places →

Check the restaurant’s actual menu for the dish you want.