Suwon Station bar for Friday night live octopus and yukhoe: Yukhoe

Looking for a Suwon Station bar? How about yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) with a shot of soju at Yukhoe Dokjon?

Hours and parking

• Hours 15:00 – 02:00 (Sun, Fri)
• Hours 16:00 – 02:00 (Mon–Thu, Sat)
• Parking available (paid)

It was Friday, the last day of the week, and I was craving nutty yukhoe, so I headed to Yukhoe Dokjon.

The vibe on a Friday night

Being a hot Friday, the place was packed. It had been a while since I'd been to a bar like this, and I loved the loud, buzzing atmosphere — that's exactly the energy a Friday night should have, I think. I usually stick to quiet spots, so enjoying this kind of rowdy scene for once felt like it blew off some stress too.

There was a striking banner hanging inside that read something like 'If it's not hanwoo, we'll give you ten cows' — I honestly couldn't even fathom how serious the owner must be about it.

Seeing a phrase that confident just makes you trust the place more, doesn't it? Putting up a sign like that made it feel like they're truly serious about their ingredients.

Yukhoe Dokjon Suwon Station Branch menu prices

• Hanwoo Yukhoe Assortment (2 people) ₩37,000
• Live Octopus & Hanwoo Yukhoe (2 people) ₩34,000
• Hanwoo Sashimi (2 people) ₩28,000
• Abalone Hanwoo Yukhoe (2 people) ₩32,000
• Stir-fried Hanwoo Sashimi (2 people) ₩23,000
• Live Abalone Sashimi (2 people) ₩22,000
• Live Octopus (2 people) ₩17,000
• Hanwoo Yukhoe Large ₩37,000 (4 people) / Medium ₩28,000 (3 people) / Small ₩19,000 (1–2 people)
• Hanwoo Sushi ₩12,000
• Hanwoo Yukhoe Bibimbap ₩10,000
• Cheese/Seaweed ₩1,000

• Soju ₩5,000 (Chamisul, Jinro, Chum Churum, Saero)
• Beer ₩5,000 (Cass, Terra, Kloud)
• Cheongha ₩6,000 (Cheongha, Byeolbit Cheongha)
• Maehwasu ₩6,000
• Soft drinks ₩2,000 (Coke, Sprite, Fanta, Pineapple)
• Tonic water ₩2,000

We ordered the Live Octopus & Hanwoo Yukhoe for two along with hanwoo sushi.

The complimentary soup

They give you a soup as a starter, and it's simmered gently — one spoonful warmed me right up, and it worked well as a side dish too. It wasn't spicy or strong-flavored, just mild and clean, so it was great for cleansing the palate between bites of yukhoe and octopus.

Live Octopus & Hanwoo Yukhoe for 2

The octopus and yukhoe arrived, and it had been so long that I was genuinely happy to see them. The live octopus wriggling around and the fresh-looking yukhoe were visibly different in color from anything ordinary.

The yukhoe was topped with sesame seeds and pine nuts for extra nuttiness,

and mixing in the egg yolk doubled the nutty flavor. It was the first time yukhoe ever looked as pretty as a flower to me — you could tell they'd put real thought into the plating.

A glass of soju and beer

What you can't skip here, of course, is the drinks. We had a glass each of beer and soju, and maybe because the food was so good, the alcohol went down really smoothly.

With good food in front of you, the drinks just seem to flow. Cheers rang out from tables all around, and you could feel that distinct Friday-night energy everywhere.

How was the hanwoo sushi?

The yukhoe sushi came out too, and this was seriously chewy — a totally different texture from what you'd get at a regular sushi place.

The chewy texture got nuttier the more you chewed, and it paired perfectly with the accompanying sauce, so I'd recommend definitely dipping it in. The rice was fluffy in just the right way too, so eating it as sushi felt more filling than yukhoe on its own.

Live octopus and final thoughts

The live octopus was so fresh it kept squirming around, and it took a while to even catch it with chopsticks — but eating it after that struggle made it taste even better. It was great to see the freshness with my own eyes, and my partner, who hadn't had live octopus in a while, was delighted too.

This is a great Suwon Station date spot with a nice atmosphere, and also perfect for a casual drink with friends. It would work well for a company dinner too. Highly recommend it whether it's your first stop or your second round. I'll definitely be back for more octopus and yukhoe next time!!