Seoknam-dong bar, Incheon: ₩22,000 course for four at Imokase Hongsi

If you're looking for somewhere in Seoknam-dong to drink while trying a wide range of Korean dishes, Imokase Hongsi works really well for that. Unlike a typical bar where you pick one dish off the menu, this place brings out whatever's prepared that day, course by course. Four friends and I went, and since we were four or more, we paid ₩22,000 each.

This was my second visit, actually. There was a specific reason I came back beyond the food — I couldn't stop thinking about the corn makgeolli I'd randomly had on my first visit.

I even checked convenience stores and big supermarkets trying to find it but never did, so this time I was looking forward to that makgeolli almost as much as the food.

Let me walk you through what ₩22,000 got us. (Also, their drink selection is seriously impressive.)

Imokase Hongsi prices and how the imokase course works

Imokase Hongsi charges ₩25,000 per person, or ₩22,000 per person for groups of four or more. If "imokase" sounds unfamiliar, think of it as "imo (auntie) + omakase." Instead of choosing your own dishes, whatever's prepared that day comes out in order.

That means the lineup can change depending on when you visit. Personally, I liked not having to deal with the usual "what should we order?" debate that always comes up when a group hits a bar.

Just sitting and tasting each dish as it arrived made me naturally look forward to the next one.

What arrives on the ₩22,000 course for four?

After the price, this is probably what people new to imokase want to know most. On the day I visited, the order was: abalone innard porridge → pollack roe stew → corn-crusted chicken with crispy rice → shiitake-enoki meat pancake → beef yukjeon → monkfish suyuk (boiled and sliced) → house chicken feet terrine → pork jowl suyuk → seasonal grilled prawns → secret menu palbochae (stir-fried seafood and vegetables) → dessert.

※ The lineup can change depending on when you visit.

First came warm abalone innard porridge, which was a nice way to settle the stomach — savory and comforting.

I liked filling up on porridge before drinking rather than starting straight with alcohol, and next came a spicy, refreshing pollack roe stew.

The salty umami of the pollack roe with the spicy broth was perfect for spooning up between drinks. After that came the corn-crusted chicken, which caught our eyes on looks alone.

The savory corn and chicken were good, but the crispy, toasty crispy rice was the real highlight. After that, the dishes started leaning toward makgeolli territory.

The shiitake-enoki meat pancake had a great chewy mushroom texture with meat added, satisfying to bite into.

The beef yukjeon was soft and savory — the kind of flavor that naturally makes you want a glass of makgeolli.

Next was the monkfish suyuk, tender yet with a nice bouncy texture — clean and easy to enjoy.

Imokase Hongsi signatures: house chicken feet terrine and pork jowl suyuk

The dish I was most curious about was Hongsi's signature house chicken feet terrine.

I expected spicy chicken feet, but it turned out chewy and clean-tasting, much easier to eat than I imagined. It was so different from the usual chicken feet that it stuck with me.

Then came the pork jowl suyuk, boiled fresh every day. Moist and tender, it let the plain flavor of the meat itself shine.

And since it's in season, the grilled prawns were a welcome addition — bouncy shrimp meat with a salty edge that kept us reaching for more, a great pairing with drinks.

The secret menu at Imokase Hongsi: palbochae

Right in the middle of eating, an unexpected dish of palbochae showed up.

"Wait, was this on the menu?" The four of us went back to check and found the line — Hongsi's Secret Menu! That's when we realized it was a secret dish, and we all laughed.

On our visit it was palbochae, but apparently there's no way to know ahead of time what it'll be. It's not a course where you know the answer from the start — that "what's coming next?" anticipation was something different from a regular bar.

The real reason for a second visit: corn makgeolli

The food was great, but what really brought me back to Hongsi was the corn makgeolli.

My first visit was also on a weekday, and at some point the place filled up completely. That's when the owner poured makgeolli into a kettle and gave everyone a glass.

I tried it without thinking much of it, and it turned out to be exactly my taste. Even after going home, I kept thinking about it — checked my neighborhood convenience store, checked the makgeolli section every time I went to a big supermarket. But I never found it anywhere near me.

So this time, coming back to Hongsi, the thing I was happiest to see again was this makgeolli. Returning to the same bar because of a single drink isn't something I do often. It paired especially well with the greasier Korean dishes like jeon, yukjeon, and suyuk.

If you like makgeolli like I do, it might be worth checking whether they have the corn makgeolli when you visit.

How the Imokase Hongsi course ends: dessert

After all those Korean dishes, they even sent out dessert at the end.

It was Hongsi cream cheese topped with orange, shine muscat grapes, and walnuts. The tangy fruit cleaned the palate, and the sweet, soft cream cheese with the nutty walnuts made for a perfect finish.

Who is Imokase Hongsi a good fit for?

Having visited twice now, Hongsi suits people who want to taste a little of several Korean dishes rather than commit to just one. It's especially good if your group can't decide between jeon, suyuk, and hot soup and doesn't want to give any of it up.

On the other hand, if you'd rather order exactly the dishes you want, a bar with an à la carte menu might suit you better.

Imokase Hongsi address, price and hours

• Address: 216 Gajeong-ro, Seo-gu, Incheon, South Korea
• Price: ₩25,000 per person / ₩22,000 per person for groups of 4 or more

The format is imokase — a set course of home-style Korean dishes brought out in order, chosen by the kitchen that day. The combination that stuck with me most was yukjeon and suyuk with corn makgeolli. ✔️ The dishes and secret menu can change depending on when you visit.

Imokase Hongsi in Seoknam-dong, Incheon: worth going back?

The corn makgeolli was what stayed with me after my first visit; the second time, it was the fun of tasting a little of many Korean dishes. With the ₩22,000-per-person rate for groups of four or more, it's worth remembering if you're looking for somewhere to drink with friends.

On a day when I want more than just a single à la carte dish in Seoknam-dong — when I want a real spread of Korean food with drinks — I think I'll be thinking of this place again. I'm curious what the secret menu will be next time :)