Jongno Korean pub: maehwaju plum wine and beef tripe stew, Ari Gyegok

📍Location: 41 Ujeongguk-ro 2-gil, 1F, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea ⏰Hours: Sun–Mon 16:30–next day 02:00 (last order 01:30) 🅿️Parking: Not available, reservations possible

Looking for a modern Korean-pub vibe for a second round near Jonggak, with good anju, good drinks, and a bright, lively atmosphere, I went to

Ari Gyegok Jonggak

haha🤗

There were so many anju options that I could actually think about what to order before going🥰

What is the atmosphere like at Ari Gyegok Jonggak? Korean paintings and carp on the walls

Ari Gyegok Jonggak felt like a Korean pub, yet the distinctive interior kept catching my eye.

The Korean paintings, carp motifs, and stone-tablet-like props right from the entrance seemed to announce the traditional Korean feel of the interior.

Overall the interior felt clean and cozy, and with lots of guests it was buzzing and full of energy — a great place to recommend to people in their 20s and 30s.

What we ordered: beef tripe soft tofu stew, black sesame cucumber salad and Neurin Maeul makgeolli

Ari Gyegok Jonggak has separate menus for drinks and anju, and ⭐️⭐️⭐️today's menu⭐️⭐️⭐️ we ordered beef tripe soft tofu stew + black sesame cucumber salad + Neulrinmaeul makgeolli😍

We started with the savory, clean-tasting Neulrinmaeul makgeolli (rice wine).

The complimentary side dish was mu-chae (seasoned radish strips), which paired refreshingly and tangily with the makgeolli‼️

How does the beef tripe soft tofu stew taste? Is the tripe greasy?

"Sundubu Beef Tripe Stew" Like a regular soft tofu stew, it had a spicy, warm broth, but with beef tripe added in, it felt like a completely different dish from your usual soft tofu stew.

Bubbling away as it cooked at the table, the spicy soft tofu tripe stew looked delicious the moment it arrived. The charm of this dish is being able to enjoy the soft texture of soft tofu together with the chewy beef tripe! Both the tripe and the tofu were soft, and the tofu was genuinely nutty and smooth, which I loved❤️ Scooped up with the broth, the tofu goes down soft and smooth, and eating a bit of tripe in between adds a chewy texture — spoonful after spoonful was so good😃 Being a hot soup dish especially, it paired really well with a drink❤️ I worried a tripe dish might be greasy, but with the spicy broth it wasn't as heavy as I expected, and I think it would also go great with a bowl of rice in the broth😁

Black sesame cucumber salad: how well does it go with makgeolli?

"Black Sesame Cucumber Salad" Wanting something refreshing and savory alongside the nutty, spicy tripe soft tofu stew, I ordered the black sesame cucumber salad since it was a recommended menu item.

Crisp cucumber with a savory black sesame sauce made for a great anju haha. With the savory makgeolli, the refreshing, savory cucumber salad — and cheap too — felt like a dish worth recommending‼️🥰

Maehwaju, the plum blossom wine to order on a date

"Maehwaju" After the Neulrinmaeul makgeolli, I wanted something crisp and clean, so I ordered maehwaju (plum wine). It's known more for its clean taste than sweetness. It also came beautifully plated, which made it even better‼️

It was so clean-tasting and beautifully plated that it felt like the perfect drink to order on a date — I'd definitely recommend it for that🥰

Final thoughts on Ari Gyegok Jonggak near Jonggak Station

Being near office buildings, it was busy even on a weekday, and between the distinctive interior, the spicy-yet-smooth tripe soft tofu stew, the refreshing and savory black sesame cucumber salad, the savory Neulrinmaeul makgeolli, and the clean maehwaju, everything paired well❤️ For a good dinner and a comfortable drink near Jonggak, for a date bar, or for catching up with friends, I recommend "Ari Gyegok Jonggak"‼️🥰