Jongno bar dinner: yukhoe bibimbap and hanwoo ramen at Umi Hoegwan

One evening when a cool breeze was blowing pleasantly. I hadn't been to Jongno in a while, and I wanted to spend some relaxed time over good food, so I headed to Umi Hoegwan Jonggak Main Branch. It's close to Jonggak Station, easy to get to, and since it serves hanwoo (Korean beef) dishes alongside a wide range of traditional liquors, it seemed like a solid choice for dinner.

What is Umi Hoegwan Jonggak Main Branch like inside? Wood interior and traditional lattice partitions

The first thing that catches your eye at Umi Hoegwan Jonggak Main Branch is the neat wood interior and the lattice partitions that echo traditional Korean window screens. Rather than an elaborate, flashy space, it felt calm and tidy, and with the soft lighting on top, it was a comfortable place to eat and chat.

On one side of the hall, there was a display of traditional liquors, makgeolli, and distilled spirits from all over the country. It was fun just browsing which drink would pair well with the hanwoo dishes. Every table also had a tablet for ordering, which made it easy to take my time looking through the menu.

Same-day butchered hanwoo mungtigi with gamtae seaweed, egg yolk sauce and fresh wasabi

The dish I was most looking forward to that day at Umi Hoegwan Jonggak Main Branch was the same-day butchered hanwoo mungtigi (minced raw beef).

The mungtigi that arrived on the plate had a deep, glossy red color and looked chewy even just by sight.

The accompaniments served alongside were carefully prepared too—laver (gamtae), pear-cabbage slices, radish sprouts, egg yolk sauce, raw wasabi, and a special seasoning sauce, so I could enjoy it in a variety of ways depending on my taste.

First, I dipped the mungtigi lightly in the egg yolk sauce and wrapped it in laver. The chewy texture of the meat combined with the aroma of the laver and the richness of the egg yolk worked really well together. Next, I tried it with just a touch of raw wasabi—without adding much extra seasoning, I could really taste the clean flavor of the meat itself. Even with the same mungtigi, the taste changed depending on what I paired it with, which made trying each combination one by one pretty fun.

How was the yukhoe bibimbap? A brass bowl with plenty of vegetables

The yukhoe bibimbap I ordered alongside also came out looking appetizing. It was served in a brass bowl generously filled with perilla leaves, sprouts, lettuce, and dried seaweed flakes, topped in the center with yukhoe (raw beef) and an egg yolk.

After popping the yolk and mixing everything together, the crisp vegetables and the tender yukhoe blended really well. It was good to share alongside the mungtigi, and even as a single dish, it turned out to be surprisingly filling. Eating vegetables and rice together rather than just meat the whole time also felt like a better balance for the meal.

Finishing dinner with hanwoo haejang ramen

To finish the meal, I also tried the hanwoo haejang ramen (hangover-soothing noodle soup). This menu item was provided after taking part in a Naver review event. Topped generously with scallions, the broth was spicy with a deep flavor from the hanwoo. The noodles were nicely chewy too, so it was a great, punchy way to finish off after the mungtigi and yukhoe bibimbap. Adding a warm, spicy soup at the end after all that hanwoo made the whole meal feel even more satisfying.

Looking for hanwoo beef and traditional liquor near Jonggak Station?

The dish I remember most from Umi Hoegwan Jonggak Main Branch was, again, the same-day butchered mungtigi. I got to enjoy its chewy texture in several ways—with laver, egg yolk sauce, and raw wasabi—and with the yukhoe bibimbap added on, it made for a fully satisfying meal. Above all, I loved how calm and clean the space was.

The area around Jonggak Station is full of office workers, so many places get crowded in the evenings, but here I could enjoy my meal at a more relaxed pace. On a day when you want to sit across from someone you haven't seen in a while, with good food in front of you, and talk slowly—if you're looking for a place near Jonggak to enjoy hanwoo and traditional liquor together, this one is worth remembering. Thanks to the great food and comfortable space, this evening ended on a good note too.

Umi Hoegwan Jonggak Main Branch: address, hours and visit info

• Address: 18 Jongno 12-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (near Jonggak Station Exit 4)
• Hours: Mon–Fri 11:00–01:00 (break 15:00–16:30) / Sat–Sun 12:00–01:00 (no break)
• Signature dishes: Same-day butchered mungtigi · hanwoo yukhoe · yukhoe bibimbap · hanwoo haejang ramen · yukhoe perilla oil makguksu, and more
• Store features: Tablet ordering at each table · clean, calm atmosphere · wide selection of traditional liquors · good for group dinners and small gatherings