# Second-round bar near Jongno Station: chicken hot pot & hwaisol at Ari - By Nari B. (https://superchart.com/en/@apgujeong-cupboard/) - Written Sep 9, 2026 - Updated Sep 14, 2026 - Local places › Bars › Jongno, Seoul - Sponsored: This post was written after a sponsored visit to the restaurant. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@apgujeong-cupboard/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@apgujeong-cupboard/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/index.md) · [日本語](https://superchart.com/ja/@apgujeong-cupboard/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/index.md) · [简体中文](https://superchart.com/zh-cn/@apgujeong-cupboard/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/index.md) · [繁體中文](https://superchart.com/zh-tw/@apgujeong-cupboard/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/index.md) · [Tiếng Việt](https://superchart.com/vi/@apgujeong-cupboard/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/index.md) · [ไทย](https://superchart.com/th/@apgujeong-cupboard/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/index.md) · [Bahasa Indonesia](https://superchart.com/id/@apgujeong-cupboard/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/index.md) · [Bahasa Melayu](https://superchart.com/ms/@apgujeong-cupboard/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/index.md) · [Español](https://superchart.com/es/@apgujeong-cupboard/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/index.md) ## In short Ari Gyegok Jonggak is a Korean-style bar (술집) on the main strip of Jongno's Jongak Nightlife Street in Jongno, Seoul. The perilla chicken hot pot, rice cake chicken feet stir-fry, and a bottle-sized omija (schisandra berry) highball good for 4 glasses, plus a free udon noodle add-on from a review event, made for almost three servings' worth of food. A great value spot for a second round after dinner. ## Good to know - **Opening time**: 4:30 PM (no listed closing time, open into the early morning) - **Floors**: 1st floor walk-ins, 2nd floor reservations (rooms available) - **Ordered**: Perilla chicken hot pot, rice cake chicken feet stir-fry, omija highball (4 glasses' worth) - **Review event**: Add udon noodles or crispy rice to the hot pot - **Chicken hot pot price**: Around ₩20,000 - **Waiting**: Catch Table waitlist on weekday evenings *as written by the visitor on Sep 9, 2026* ## Ari Gyegok, my go-to second-round bar near Jongno Today I visited Ari Gyegok Jonggak, a Korean-style bar that's easy to get to from Jongno~! Haha. Ari Gyegok is such good value that it's become the place I always end up at for a second round near Jongno. It's located right on the main strip of Jongno's Jongak Nightlife Street, so it's super convenient to swing by for round two no matter where you had dinner in Jongno, and the place is spacious too, which I loved. ### 1st floor for walk-ins, 2nd floor for reservations Ari Gyegok Jonggak mainly takes walk-in guests on the 1st floor, while the 2nd floor is for reservations. I always went as a walk-in so I only ever used the 1st floor, but it was plenty spacious and quiet there too. For group gatherings, it seems they'll seat you upstairs if you book ahead. Ari Gyegok Jonggak stood out for its distinctly Korean interior. Because of that, foreigners passing by nearby would stop in too. ![Ari Gyegok Jonggak's interior with its distinctly Korean design](https://img.superchart.com/images/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot-01-1eyjq-900.webp) ![Exterior of Ari Gyegok Jonggak on the Jongak Nightlife Street strip](https://img.superchart.com/images/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot-02-agg3r-900.webp) The menu was so varied too, ranging from samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) dishes to simple bar snacks and even savory pancakes!! It's exactly the kind of place to head to for a Korean-style drinking session, whether it's a casual meetup or a work dinner. ![Ari Gyegok's menu board featuring samgyetang, side dishes, and pancakes](https://img.superchart.com/images/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot-03-6xsv4-900.webp) ![Menu guide at Ari Gyegok Jonggak Korean-style bar](https://img.superchart.com/images/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot-04-qtjhn-900.webp) On weekday evenings there's even a Catch Table waitlist — it's a real hit spot!! They kept a TV playing clips of the place's media appearances outside too, haha. ![A screen outside playing footage of the restaurant's TV appearances](https://img.superchart.com/images/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot-05-1p04k-900.webp) ### Open from 4:30 PM Worth noting the hours!! They open at 4:30 PM and seem to stay open late into the next morning, haha. No listed closing time — good for waiting out the last train. ## Table spacing and the atmosphere The tables were spaced really well apart. Sometimes tables are packed so tight together that eating gets uncomfortable, but here it was roomy and easy to relax in. If you reserve ahead you can get a room on the 2nd floor, which sounds great for group work dinners too. True to the name Ari Gyegok (아리계곡, meaning "Ari Valley"), there was this valley painting hanging inside the restaurant, haha. Clear concept, for sure. It seems they run the place around a health-tonic theme, since ginseng liquor bottles were scattered all over. ![Ginseng liquor bottles decorating various spots around the restaurant](https://img.superchart.com/images/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot-06-89b5d-900.webp) ![A display of ginseng liquor inside Ari Gyegok, themed around health tonics](https://img.superchart.com/images/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot-07-1gmir-900.webp) ## What we ordered and the review event The menu even has a chicken hot pot set meal that's great to order even as your very first stop of the night!! For a Jongno bar, the portions are generous, and at this price point it covers both food and drinks nicely. ![Ari Gyegok Jonggak's menu listing the chicken hot pot set meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot-08-i4mj6-900.webp) Haha, the ginseng liquor decor was so novel. - Omija (schisandra berry) highball — 4 glasses' worth - Perilla chicken hot pot - Rice cake chicken feet stir-fry - Review event — udon noodles Here you can add udon noodles or crispy rice to the hot pot through the review event, so definitely take part~! ![The table set after ordering, with wide seating around it](https://img.superchart.com/images/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot-09-thvq2-900.webp) ![The spacious 1st-floor dining hall at Ari Gyegok Jonggak](https://img.superchart.com/images/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot-10-1lnzy-900.webp) ### The omija highball, served in a big samsanju bottle We ordered the omija highball that supposedly comes out as 4 glasses' worth, and it came in this huge samsanju liquor bottle?? So surprising, haha. ![The omija highball, served in a samsanju bottle, good for 4 glasses](https://img.superchart.com/images/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot-11-jz09w-900.webp) Then the perilla chicken hot pot and chicken feet stir-fry showed up next~! The dishes came out pretty quickly. ![The perilla chicken hot pot and rice cake chicken feet stir-fry served together](https://img.superchart.com/images/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot-12-dahts-900.webp) ![Rice cake chicken feet stir-fry set on the grill](https://img.superchart.com/images/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot-13-lfbse-900.webp) ### Rice cake chicken feet stir-fry, spice-shy friendly We asked for mayo and dipped it like this!! Even someone as spice-shy as me could handle the heat on the chicken feet just fine. ![Rice cake chicken feet stir-fry dipped in mayonnaise](https://img.superchart.com/images/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot-14-13y3j-900.webp) ![Close-up of smoky-charred chicken feet and rice cake](https://img.superchart.com/images/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot-15-17k4e-900.webp) ![A mildly spicy piece of rice cake chicken feet stir-fry](https://img.superchart.com/images/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot-16-1ilbm-900.webp) It's more smoky-charred than spicy, so it was perfect to nibble on as a side snack between drinks!! The combo of rice cake and chicken feet inside was spot on. ![Ari Gyegok's signature snack combining rice cake and chicken feet](https://img.superchart.com/images/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot-17-1d8xs-1200.webp) ### Perilla chicken hot pot, cooked shabu-shabu style Next they brought the perilla chicken hot pot to a boil. Interestingly, they dip the chicken breast into the boiling broth on a stone plate and cook it shabu-shabu style. There were also little bits of ginseng? or deodeok root? inside. Big chunks of chicken thigh were in the soup too, making it really hearty. ![The perilla chicken hot pot boiling on a stone plate](https://img.superchart.com/images/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot-18-70vzz-900.webp) ![Chicken breast cooked shabu-shabu style in the broth](https://img.superchart.com/images/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot-19-1enl7-900.webp) ![Chicken thigh meat and vegetables packed inside the hot pot](https://img.superchart.com/images/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot-20-1ftbm-900.webp) It was packed with vegetables and meat like this, so the ₩20,000 price felt unbelievable — such a great-value dish. ![The perilla chicken hot pot full of vegetables and meat](https://img.superchart.com/images/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot-21-12g4h-900.webp) ![The hot pot with the review-event udon noodles added](https://img.superchart.com/images/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot-22-viyub-900.webp) With the udon noodles added on through the review event, it came out to almost three servings' worth. Once it boiled hard, the perilla seeds inside gave off a really nutty aroma. ![The nutty broth with perilla seeds dissolved in it](https://img.superchart.com/images/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot-23-qhifl-900.webp) Wrapped in pickled radish like this, it was fantastic. ![Perilla chicken hot pot meat wrapped in pickled radish](https://img.superchart.com/images/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot-24-1k8mp-900.webp) Highly recommend dipping it in the spicy sauce too!! Ari Gyegok is a great-value bar in Jongno that I highly recommend for a second round after dinner near Jongno Station. ## Where it is - Ari Gyegok Jonggak (아리계곡 종각점) - 41 Ujeongguk-ro 2-gil, 1st floor, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 종로구 우정국로2길 41 1층 - 37.5696188, 126.9854031 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%95%84%EB%A6%AC%EA%B3%84%EA%B3%A1%20%EC%A2%85%EA%B0%81%EC%A0%90/@37.5696188,126.9854031,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@apgujeong-cupboard/jonggak-arigyegok-deulkkae-chicken-hotpot/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt