Monday-night bar near Jonggak Station: potato rice cake, Ari Gyegok

Ari Gyegok near Jonggak Station: a 30-minute wait even on a Monday

If you're looking for a hot bar in Jonggak these days, you've probably heard of this one haha — Ari Gyegok. I already liked this place enough to have visited several times, so I went back again this time too.

This time I went on a weekday Monday around 7:30pm, and there was still a wait. Nearly 30 minutes lol. If it's like this on a Monday, there's really nothing more to say.

This isn't just a place to drink at — it has menus good enough to stand in for a meal, as well as dishes perfect for pairing with a second or third round, so it's very versatile haha. Most of all, the anju (drinking snacks) are tasty, so this is somewhere that quietly comes to mind whenever I'm making plans in Jonggak.

Inside Ari Gyegok Jonggak: interior and seating across two floors

Ari Gyegok has a slightly different vibe from a typical Korean pub. It blends a traditional feel with a hip sensibility overall, so it works well for drinking with friends but also for dates or gatherings.

The Jonggak location runs up to the second floor, so there's no shortage of tables — but that's exactly because so many guests come. The early bird eats without waiting.

What is poseul gamja-tteok, the potato rice cake at Ari Gyegok?

Above all, the menu here is unique — and not just unique for the sake of it, the anju genuinely tastes good. It was good on my first visit too, but after eating it I kept thinking about it, and before I knew it I was on my nth visit. Aged kimchi fried rice is highly recommended, and jeonbyeong (savory pancake) too, seriously recommend.

This time I ordered poseul gamja-tteok. The name itself made me curious so I ordered it, and I could taste both the fluffy, crumbly texture of the potato and the chewy texture of the rice cake together — great as a drinking snack.

This kind of dish is the type your hand keeps reaching for while drinking. At first you wonder why you even ordered it, but before you know it you're picking at it nonstop lol.

Really seriously delicious. The anju at Ari Gyegok has a pretty low failure rate. Waiting 30 minutes on a Monday was worth it.

A friend recommended this whole spread to me — this friend is a real connoisseur haha.

Why Ari Gyegok Jonggak suits a first, second or third round

What I think is great about Ari Gyegok is that it's never awkward whether it's your first, second, or third round! There are dishes hearty enough to sub in for a meal, and lighter dishes that go well with just drinks, so you can pick according to who you're with and what time it is.

If you make plans in Jonggak, a course of dinner then café is nice, but going here for dinner plus drinks all in one is also good. The menu prices aren't so high that ordering a variety of dishes to share feels like a burden, which makes it good for group visits where you order a bit of everything.

Worth a return visit if you're after a Jonggak Station bar

There are so many bars around Jonggak Station that it's hard to decide where to go. Personally, if you're looking for a Jonggak bar with tasty anju, I'd recommend Ari Gyegok quite highly.

It's especially good for ordering several dishes with friends and chatting over drinks! The atmosphere isn't too heavy, but it doesn't feel like a generic bar either, so it works well as a meeting spot. And honestly, the fact that I've already visited multiple times is a pretty big reason to recommend it lol.

There was a wait again this time, but after eating I thought, glad I came anyway. Recommended for anyone looking for a Korean pub in Jonggak that's versatile enough for a first, second, or third round of drinks. Ari Gyegok near Jonggak Station — I think I'll be going again next time.