Euljiro blind date bar with sous vide beef ribs and Refine16: Refine

What is Refine Euljiro Myeongdong like?

Refine Euljiro Myeongdong is a dining bar in Euljiro that serves fusion Korean food and is great for traditional liquor. Refine is a very well-known Seoul dining bar with several branches, and this was my first visit, so now I get why it's so popular! The atmosphere is really good, which makes it perfect for an Euljiro date, and the drink selection is so varied that it works for a blind date too, haha.

The branch I visited is Refine Euljiro Myeongdong! Just come up to the 2nd floor of the building, haha. I liked that Cheonggyecheon stream is right in front. It was a busy weekend in Jongno~

What are the opening hours of Refine Euljiro Myeongdong?

Refine Euljiro Myeongdong opens at 11 a.m. on weekdays and 5 p.m. on weekends, and closes at 11 p.m., with last order at 10 p.m. There's no regular closing day, but today was an election day, so it was closed!

• Monday–Friday: 11:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m. (break time 2:30–5:00 p.m., last order 10:00 p.m.)
• Saturday and Sunday: 5:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m. (last order 10:00 p.m.)

What's the atmosphere like at this Euljiro date bar?

Refine Euljiro Myeongdong has high ceilings and a modern mood, and the windows look out on buildings and lush green trees, so it's a perfect Euljiro date bar. The atmosphere is seriously good! The lighting is pretty too~ It's a great space for get-togethers as well.

There's a bar counter, and there are also big tables for Euljiro group gatherings, haha. If you sit at the bar counter, there are separate bag hooks, which was handy! So thoughtful, Refine Euljiro~~

Refine Myeongdong Euljiro dinner information

Take a look, haha.

Review & roulette event

Refine Euljiro Myeongdong was running a review & roulette event with a stacked prize list: beef short ribs / Vigor wine / gochujang yukhoe (tasting portion) / monastery barbecue platter / one bottle of Refine16 soju / soft drinks and more. Winning the beef ribs would be such a steal..?

What did we order at Refine Euljiro Myeongdong?

At Refine Euljiro Myeongdong we ordered the beef short ribs and grilled scallops with napa cabbage, plus draft beer and traditional liquors (Refine16 and Dowonguyi). With all the fusion Korean snacks and a dazzling drink list, choosing was quite a dilemma, haha. I'd heard the beef ribs here are famous, so I ordered them right away~

Traditional liquor tasting zone and draft beer

Refine Euljiro Myeongdong has a tasting zone where you can try traditional liquor before ordering. It's thoughtful in so many ways, and this was a really nice touch. Of course, it's only available to people ordering traditional liquor!

It's June and the weather lately is crazy, isn't it? Maybe that's why the draft beer tasted even better, haha. Refine Euljiro cleans its Asahi Super Dry draft machine every day, and maybe that's why the beer tasted so good.

How are the taste and portion of Refine's beef short ribs?

Refine's beef short ribs are the main dish: ribs sous vide at a low 55°C for 12 hours, served with a sweet-and-sour cabbage salad. The main, the beef short ribs, has arrived! A generous portion and delicious. Lots of people order the ribs when they come to Refine, haha.

They're all cut up and ready to eat, so you can pop them in your mouth in one bite~ Easy and tasty. The portion is big, so I think one order of ribs plus a few sides or carb dishes would make a well-balanced spread of drinking snacks!

The beef short rib bones are placed on top too, so Refine's ribs look even better. We were chatting over drinks and the ribs cooled down a little, but a staff member came by midway and reheated them for us 🥺💕

Sous vide makes Refine's beef ribs at this Euljiro bar even more tender and delicious! The meat quality is good, and the pairing with crunchy, refreshing cabbage is honey, haha. The sweet, tasty ribs topped up my protein.

A glass of Kirin draft too~~

Does the grilled scallop with napa cabbage overlap with the beef ribs?

Refine's grilled scallops with napa cabbage pair scallops with napa cabbage and a zesty chili aglio sauce, and eating it with the beef ribs didn't overlap at all. I ordered it while eating the ribs and it's honestly delicious, haha. A dish that totally hit my taste buds. The scallops are chewy and the sauce goes so well with them, so good..

The ribs come with a cabbage salad, so I worried it might overlap a bit. Absolutely not! The grilled cabbage alone is great, and the plump, springy scallops with the special chili aglio sauce, which has a subtle kick of spice, were a perfect match. Refine's menu is well done~

How were the traditional liquors, Refine16 and Dowonguyi?

At Refine Euljiro Myeongdong I drank the traditional liquors Refine16 and Dowonguyi! Refine16 is a schisandra (omija, a tart red berry) distilled liquor, said to be made in cooperation with farms in Mungyeong, haha. Both were the kind of drinks that give you a gentle buzz, if that makes sense? They suited the atmosphere and went well with it!

Refine Euljiro has a great atmosphere! I think a blind date or a date here would go well, hahaha.