Konkuk Univ. pub for cheese pepper fritters and pork belly: Simsuljip

Why I picked Simsuljip for drinks near Konkuk Univ.

Simsuljip Konkuk University Entrance Main Branch is a Korean pub near Konkuk Univ. where people keep leaving reviews saying they went back again. There are so many bars around Konkuk Univ. that choosing is actually hard. You're tired of the places you've already been, and you're afraid of a flop at somewhere new. A high return rate basically means the food gets the basics right.

How to get to Simsuljip Konkuk University Entrance Main Branch

Come out of Exit 3 at Konkuk Univ. Station and walk about 5 minutes toward the restaurant alley. It's tucked inside the alley, so first-timers might wander a little, but there's a menu board set up in front of the entrance, so you won't walk past it.

Is the atmosphere good for a first-round date?

The interior is retro "enlightenment-era" style, with chandelier lighting and candles, so it feels like evening even if you walk in during the day. The mood changes completely the moment you open the door. The noise level is low enough to talk comfortably, so it works fine for a date. Many reviews say it's almost full at 7 PM on Friday, so I'd suggest going early on a weekday or making a reservation.

Simsuljip's three principles

Simsuljip stands by three principles: no frozen ready-made food, fresh ingredients prepared every day, and lower margins in favor of better food quality.

• No frozen ready-made food
• Fresh ingredients prepared daily
• Lower margins, higher food quality

It might sound like a slogan, but you really do feel it when you try each dish. The hot pots in particular are brought out and boiled right at the table, so ingredient freshness shows immediately, and keeping that up every day isn't easy.

Simsuljip's basic table setting

The basic setting varies a bit with timing and what you order, but you often get scallion salad, soft tofu (sundubu), pickled onions, chili sauce and noodles. Water comes as barley tea or tea, which is a surprisingly nice touch.

Beef shank and tendon hot pot for a first-round meal

The beef shank and tendon hot pot (arongsatae seuji jeongol) is the first thing first-time visitors search for. Arongsatae is a rare cut, only 2 to 3 kg per cow, with fine grain and low fat. Unlike ordinary meat that gets tough the longer it simmers, it stays tender after long boiling, and it's said to have been used in Joseon-dynasty royal court cooking, so it has a long reputation for quality.

The hot pot comes to the table already set up, and staff pour in the bone broth (sagol). As it boils, the vegetables and mushrooms loosen and the broth gets richer, and this bone broth is unlimited refill. It works as a hangover-curing soup and as a drinking snack at the same time, so it pairs really well with soju.

Seuji is beef tendon, with a chewy, bouncy texture. The tenderness of the shank and the chew of the tendon alternate in one pot, so you don't get tired of it. Add the included rice noodles at the end and finish with the broth, and it's a proper meal.

Handmade cheese pepper fritters for second-round beer

The handmade cheese pepper fritters are made fresh every day: big peppers stuffed full of meat filling and cheese. The peppers are quite large, so some people are startled when they arrive. The outside is crispy, and when you bite in, the juices burst out first and the cheese tones down the pepper's heat.

Dip it in chili sauce and you get that sweet-and-salty combo. It's almost the perfect beer snack. If you order expecting heat, you may be surprised at how mild it is, but treat it as a "crispy, juicy cheese snack" and it easily beats expectations.

Yukjeon and thin-sliced pork belly: how big are the portions?

The yukjeon (beef pancake) comes with scallion salad, and the portion isn't stingy. Piling the scallion salad on top cuts the richness of the meat and makes it better.

The thin-sliced pork belly (daepae samgyeopsal) doesn't stand out much on the menu, but reviews repeatedly say you get close to 3 servings for ₩18,000. Selling this at a pub is an unusual setup in itself, and it goes well with kimchi and scallion salad.

Checklist before you visit Simsuljip

• Location: Exit 3 of Konkuk Univ. Station, 5 minutes on foot
• Hours: daily 16:00 to 02:00
• Budget: about ₩30,000 per person (2 dishes plus drinks)
• Good to know: unlimited bone broth refills / free phone chargers
• No takeout or delivery / weekend evenings have a wait

Dinner and drinks in one place at Konkuk Univ.: my verdict on Simsuljip

When you want to finish from first-round dinner to second-round drinks without changing seats around Konkuk Univ., Simsuljip is the first place that comes to mind. The quality of the dishes stays consistent, and the atmosphere doesn't get in the way of conversation, so it suits just about any group. The beef shank hot pot alone is reason enough to come.