Gangnam bar with shrimp chive pancakes: Seolleung Dowon

It was one of those days when I decided to have a drink with a work colleague after work for the first time in ages. For some reason, I was craving makgeolli (Korean rice wine) with a pancake rather than soju, so I looked for a nice, room-style bar near Seolleung Station and ended up visiting Seolleung Dowon Seolleung Main Branch (선릉도원 선릉본점).

A relaxed atmosphere after work

Seolleung Dowon Main Branch is conveniently located about a seven-minute walk from Seolleung Station, making it easy to drop by after work. It was clean with a softly lit atmosphere—less like a typical pojangmacha (casual tent-style bar) and more like a neat, calm Korean fusion bar.

What I especially liked was that every table had partitions. The space was separated from the next table enough that we could talk more privately than I expected. Since it was a long-overdue work dinner with my colleague, I liked that atmosphere even more. I also thought it would suit anyone looking for a Seolleung bar for a quiet date and conversation.

Main menu

• Dowon shabu-shabu, chilled beef brisket salad, handmade gochujang (fermented chili paste) stew
• Fire-grilled gochujang pork belly, king dumpling and mushroom hot pot
• Beef sundubu (soft tofu) hot pot, whelk and thin noodles, cockle bibimbap
• Cheongyang chili cream pasta, herring roe jeotgal (salted seafood) tofu wraps, beef belly sushi
• Seasonal steamed scallops, pork jowl boiled pork with green onion kimchi, and more

How was the roe shrimp and chive pancake with makgeolli?

The first dish we ordered that day was the roe shrimp and chive pancake. It was pan-fried until golden with plump roe shrimp and chives, and as soon as it arrived, that nutty pancake aroma hit us. I immediately thought we had made a great choice for a makgeolli snack.

It was crisp on the outside, while the chives and roe shrimp came together nicely inside, so the texture was good too. The roe shrimp gave it more savory depth than an ordinary chive pancake. Having a warm piece at a time with Jipyeong Saeng Makgeolli made the fatigue that had built up after work feel like it was slowly melting away~

What did Jjagechi with green onion kimchi taste like?

Our second order was Jjagechi with green onion kimchi. It is a dish of Jjapagetti black bean noodles with egg, cheese, and green onion kimchi. The name already felt familiar, but finding it at a bar made it feel different somehow. The salty, nutty flavor typical of black bean instant noodles was softened by the cheese, and with the egg too, it was filling enough to feel like a proper meal.

Adding the green onion kimchi brought a slightly pungent, refreshing kick, so I kept reaching for it. I think it would pair well not only with makgeolli, but with beer or soju too.

Seolleung Dowon, a nice place for a drink

Rather than simply being a restaurant for food, I think Seolleung Dowon’s strength is its atmosphere, where you can comfortably enjoy a variety of Korean drinking dishes and alcohol.

Above all, the tables were separated just enough that we could talk without paying too much attention to the people around us. So it seemed good for a casual drink with friends, as well as work dinners, after-work get-togethers, or an atmospheric Seolleung date.

Final thoughts on the roe shrimp pancake and private tables

I visited Seolleung Dowon because I wanted a glass of makgeolli with a work colleague after work for the first time in a while. The roe shrimp and chive pancake was crisp and nutty, a great match for makgeolli, while the Jjagechi with green onion kimchi was a fun, different way to enjoy familiar flavors.

More than anything, I liked being able to talk comfortably because the tables were divided by partitions. If you are looking near Seolleung Station for a bar with a nice atmosphere or a private space for a date, blind date, work dinner, or group gathering, I thought Seolleung Dowon would be a solid option! Anyway, next time I visit, I’d like to come back for a glass of makgeolli with different Korean fusion drinking dishes~