Gileum dining bar with French chicken steak and cockle ceviche: N.G.T

Here's my review of a second visit to N.G.T, a great-vibe wine bar near Gileum that keeps pulling me back — every dish felt carefully made and it's such a comfortable place for a drink♡

Where N.G.T is and when it opens

N.G.T is on the 1st floor of 35 Samyang-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, about 243m from Exit 7 of Gileum Station. It's open Monday–Thursday and Sunday 17:00–02:00 (last order 01:30), and Friday–Saturday 17:00–03:00 (last order 02:30).

Even the exterior of this great-vibe Gileum spot stands out, with its full glass front and neon sign giving off a sleek bar atmosphere♡

Black-toned interior and the bar tables at N.G.T

Step inside and it's black-toned throughout, with soft lighting and wood chairs coming together for a calm yet upscale feel.

The bar table and the liquor and wine glasses on display really bring out that sentimental wine bar mood♡ Flowers on every table plus the soft lighting made the whole place feel warm too^^

It's a space that works well for a date, but also feels comfortable for a solo drink.

Corkage-free Tuesdays and the Naver booking perk

Every Tuesday is corkage-free day, with up to one bottle of wine per table getting the corkage waived!! Booking through Naver also gets you a signature dessert coupon, so check before you reserve^^

They even brought out beet water in a pretty cup — the color alone put me in a good mood haha

The free welcome salad and a 50ml whiskey pour

N.G.T gives every guest a free welcome salad^^

Even though it's a complimentary salad, it had fresh vegetables plus walnuts, and the dressing was really good too. Light enough to whet the appetite, and it paired well with a beer.

This time I also ordered a whiskey. Most other places pour about 30ml when you order whiskey, but... N.G.T poured 50ml♡ That's such a nice touch, right? haha Served in a rocks glass with ice, it really set the mood and went well with slowly working through the food^^

Watching the open kitchen work

One thing I really liked about N.G.T was the open kitchen.

You can watch the chef cooking right from your seat, so waiting for food came with the fun of watching the whole process!! And seeing the kitchen kept spotless the whole time built even more trust in the food^^

French-style chicken steak, ordered a second time

I ordered the French-style chicken steak again, since it was so good last time haha — a dish that good deserves a repeat order^^ The French-style chicken steak comes with crispy-skinned chicken, a wasabi whole-grain mustard cream sauce, and fried vegetable garnish.

First off, the chicken was a good size, thick and hearty. Crispy outside, juicy inside, and still just as delicious with that wasabi whole-grain mustard cream sauce♡

With vegetables and even French fries on the side, there was fun in picking through each bite. Definitely glad I ordered it again haha

Blood cockle ceviche: what it tastes like

This time I also tried something new — the blood cockle ceviche. It's blood cockles from Gangjinman topped with perilla oil, green tabasco, and young leaf sprouts^^

It looks upscale from the visual alone haha The chewy texture of the blood cockles combined with the nutty perilla oil flavor worked really well together!! It's not a combination you come across often, which made it feel extra special.

I love that N.G.T has dishes you wouldn't easily find at a typical bar like this^^

Seoul's Night, mixed by the chef at the bar

I also ordered Seoul's Night.

It's not a drink I see often at other bars, so I get it every time I come to N.G.T haha Upgrading to the set gets you lemon and a drink together, and the price wasn't a big burden either. The chef said he'd mix me one himself, and made it right there.

I guess there really is a golden ratio haha It tasted better than when I mix it myself. The food's great, but being able to enjoy drinks this comfortably while chatting made it even better.

Complimentary biscuits and mugwort Valrhona chocolate dessert

Wait, even the complimentary biscuits were delicious haha They brought biscuits out as a service mid-meal.

But why are these so good too haha Every single complimentary item kept surprising me. The crispy biscuits paired well with the whiskey too♡

For the final complimentary round, they even set out a pretty dessert! It was a Valrhona chocolate made with mugwort, paired with nuts.

Sweet, melted smoothly in the mouth, and made for a really good finish. Plus they stuck a little candle in it, such a nice touch♡ It's not just a place you eat and leave — it felt like being taken care of from start to finish.

Is N.G.T worth a second visit?

On this second visit to N.G.T, the great-vibe wine bar near Gileum, I was reminded again that it was worth coming back^^ I love that N.G.T has dishes with its own distinct character, not the usual stuff you find at a typical bar. Every time I've been, the service has been warm, the food good, and the atmosphere relaxed — it's a place that keeps pulling me back haha

Honestly, it feels like a hidden dining bar in Gileum-dong that I want to keep to myself!! If you're looking for somewhere in Gileum for a date, or somewhere quiet to enjoy good food with a drink, definitely check out N.G.T, the great-vibe Gileum wine bar♡ I'll probably be back the next time I want a relaxed drink^^