Jongno Korean pub for 3: beef tripe soft tofu hot pot at Ari Gyegok

I had dinner plans with friends near Jongak, so we visited Ari Gyegok Jonggak, a Korean bar. It's close to Jonggak Station, and since the three of us gathered are all Korean-food lovers, we picked it for its many familiar yet distinctive anju (drinking snacks) built around Korean flavors.

Ari Gyegok Jonggak hours, parking and group seating

• Hours: Daily 4:30 PM–2:00 AM (Friday until 3:00 AM), last order 30 minutes before close
• Parking: Not available
• Corkage available (paid)
• Group seating available (6 to 64 people)

Turning into the alley, the tall vertical Ari Gyegok sign catches your eye right away. It's about a 2-minute walk from Jonggak Station, making it easy for a group to gather, and with a second floor, it can hold quite a few people!

What is the atmosphere like inside Ari Gyegok Jonggak?

Ari Gyegok Jonggak is split across the 1st and 2nd floors, using wood and Asian-style decor to give a traditional look a sleek, modern spin. True to its name (which references a valley, gyegok), there's blue lighting and flowing-water decorations inside, giving it a different vibe from a typical Korean bar.

Even on a weekday evening, it was nearly fully booked, so I could really feel how popular it is. It suits dates just as well as after-work gatherings or group meetups.

How to order with the table QR code

Orders are placed by scanning the QR code on the table with your phone. There's no need to wait for a physical menu — you can browse the anju and drinks at your own pace and add more items right away, which is convenient.

What three people ordered, and what it cost

That day we ordered the beef tripe sundubu jeongol with added udon noodles and vegetables, plus a bokbunja watermelon highball, an omija highball, and sweet potato yakgwa ice for dessert. The signature anju are mostly priced in the ₩10,000–20,000 range and come in generous portions, so it's not a big commitment to order several at once.

Bokbunja watermelon highball and omija highball

Ari Gyegok's highballs stand out for using traditional Korean ingredients like bokbunja (black raspberry), watermelon, and omija (schisandra berry) rather than the usual whiskey combos. The bokbunja watermelon highball was appetizing from its vivid red color alone, and the watermelon aroma was stronger than expected — really tasty. The omija highball, in a soft pink hue, had a clean, tangy-sweet flavor that paired especially well with the spicy hot pot.

Beef tripe soft tofu hot pot at 23,900 won: how big is the portion?

The beef tripe sundubu jeongol was impressive from the moment it arrived, filling a large pot to the brim. Amid the red broth sat a generous mound of soft tofu, with plenty of tripe and vegetables — making the ₩23,900 price feel reasonable.

The broth is spicy with a kick, but the soft, nutty flavor of the sundubu (soft tofu) keeps it from being overwhelming. The rich savoriness from the tripe seeps into the broth too, making it good both as a drinking snack and as a filling meal.

The jeongol (hot pot) already comes with chewy jjolmyeon noodles mixed in, so adding extra noodles didn't seem strictly necessary.

Adding vegetables and udon noodles to the hot pot

The added vegetable plate comes piled high with bean sprouts, enoki mushrooms, and green onion. The portion matches the price, and adding it to the hot pot makes the broth taste even more refreshing while keeping a crisp, chewy texture. The udon noodles also arrive in a generous single plate, plenty for three people to share.

Once both the vegetables and udon noodles went in, the pot looked even more overflowing than before. As the noodles and vegetables soaked up the broth, the deep flavor of the jeongol naturally infused into them — just looking at it felt satisfying.

The udon noodles are springy and chewy, pairing well with the spicy broth. The soft sundubu balances out the heat, and the tripe isn't tough — the more you chew it, the more its savory flavor comes through. Adding a bite of bean sprouts and enoki mushrooms along the way keeps the texture varied and you keep going back for more. The portion is so generous that one main dish alone was enough for the group of us.

Dessert: sweet potato yakgwa ice

A friend who said she was full still insisted we order dessert, so we got the sweet potato yakgwa ice. It really is pretty to look at.

A round scoop of ice cream and mini yakgwa (honey cookies) sit atop a nutty powder base, with crunchy sweet potato sticks served alongside. Pairing the cold, soft ice cream with the chewy, sweet yakgwa makes for a rich mix of textures and flavors.

Dipping the sweet potato sticks into the ice cream combines crunch with soft sweetness, and it works well as a dessert to follow a spicy hot pot.

Is Ari Gyegok Jonggak a good spot for a Jonggak get-together?

Being Korean-food based, Ari Gyegok Jonggak has a menu anyone can pick from comfortably, yet each dish carries its own distinctive Ari Gyegok twist. Prices are reasonable, portions are generous, and there's plenty of choice in both drinks and anju. If you're looking for a Korean bar with a nice atmosphere near Jongak for a date or a group meetup, I'd recommend Ari Gyegok Jonggak.