Seongbuk Korean bar for mayo ssam and pork kimchi grill: Yesulgwan
In short
Yesulgwan Sungshin Women's University Branch is a Korean bar in Seongbuk, Seoul, serving pork belly kimchi grill and Korean drinking dishes. We polished off two portions with mayonnaise ssam, fluffy rice, and fried rice after arriving at opening time. Yesulgwan is a great pick for dates or group gatherings.
Good to know
- Address
- 1F, 29-6 Dongsomun-ro 20-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울 성북구 동소문로20길 29-6 1층)
- Hours
- Daily 17:00–05:00 the following day
- Parking
- No parking; use a nearby paid parking lot
- Seating
- Couples' seats, terrace, group seating (up to 250 people), and private rental available
- Corkage
- Outside alcohol is not permitted
- Signature-menu order
- One signature menu item is required per table
- Korean pork fresh pork belly platter
- 600 g, ₩42,000
- Korean pork belly kimchi grill
- 200 g; minimum 2 portions, ₩14,000
- Korean beef bone tendon hot pot
- Spicy, mild, or mala; ₩28,000
- Yesulgwan herbal whole chicken
- ₩32,000
- Yesulgwan chicken stew
- ₩32,000
- Yesulgwan spicy braised whole ribs
- ₩32,000
as written by the visitor on Sep 12, 2026
Yesulgwan Sungshin Women's University Branch, easy to find near Sungshin Women's University Station
I went for a meal-date with my boyfriend, and even though we arrived right at opening time, people filled the place up in no time—I could really feel how popular it is, haha.
It is on the first floor and has a huge sign, so it was not difficult to find!
Maybe because of the cool autumn weather, the space felt wonderfully open, with the outdoor pocha-style seating area too.
The restroom is inside too, so it was convenient to use without having to go far outside 👍
If you are waiting, you can check the menu outside, so keep that in mind ☺️
What are the big screen and spacious seating like?
The first thing I noticed when I went in was the huge screen. Something was always playing so your eyes never got bored, and I thought it would be fun to watch football or baseball here when there is a game on, haha.
With its high ceiling and open-feeling seating, it seems like it would be popular for group gatherings or company dinners too. It can hold up to 150 people—or 250 with advance reservations—so I could see why they say it is popular for meetings, blind dates, and group blind dates!
Signature dishes and ordering requirements
The menu was seriously extensive, but the signature dishes centered on pork belly, tendon hot pot, and whole chicken. Each table must order one signature dish!
- Korean pork fresh pork belly platter (600 g): ₩42,000
- Korean pork belly kimchi grill (200 g, minimum 2 portions): ₩14,000
- Korean beef bone tendon hot pot (spicy/mild/mala): ₩28,000
- Yesulgwan herbal whole chicken: ₩32,000
- Yesulgwan chicken stew: ₩32,000
- Yesulgwan spicy braised whole ribs: ₩32,000
They said they trim and use domestic grade 1+ Korean pork belly themselves, which was reassuring! They also simmer Hoengseong Korean-beef bones in-house, and make everything from the herbal broth to the house seasoning themselves, so you could feel the care in every dish.
There were so many kinds of drinking dishes and alcohol too. Since they serve Korean food, it seems like a great place to enjoy a variety of Korean drinks 🍶
Korean pork belly kimchi grill and the mayo ssam combination
The banchan (Korean side dishes) included perilla leaves, pickled radish wrappers, green-onion kimchi, corn, garlic, and peppers, while mayonnaise and ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste) were set in front of each person. I love wrapping spicy meat with mayonnaise, and it felt like the owner shares my taste—so good, haha.
Two portions of Korean pork belly kimchi grill
There was so much more thick-cut meat than kimchi that it honestly felt like it never got smaller, no matter how much we ate.
Some parts were nicely crisped in places, but rather than tasting burnt, they had a charcoal-grilled aroma, which made them even tastier. The kimchi was not intensely sour either, so it paired easily with the meat.
My recommended dream combination is perilla leaf + pickled radish + meat + kimchi + pepper + ssamjang + mayonnaise. I think I made at least 10 wraps like this, haha.
Even the rice was amazingly fluffy and separate. Restaurant rice usually feels a little moist, but every grain here was light and distinct, so my boyfriend, who hates soft, wet rice, ate almost the whole bowl himself, hahaha.
At the end, we added two portions of fried rice too. It was stir-fried in the kimchi and pork fat, so there was no way it could taste bad 😋 The two of us cleaned every last bit off our plates!
If you want it spicier, lightly dip a Cheongyang chili in ssamjang and put it on a big spoonful of rice—it is delicious that way too, haha.
Overall: suited to dates and group gatherings
Overall, it felt like a place that carefully prepares every step in-house, from trimming the meat to making the broth and seasonings. It is great for a Sungshin Women's University outdoor-drinking spot or a date, and with well-equipped group seating and rooms, I would recommend it for company dinners and gatherings too.
They seem to get plenty of reservations, so if you have a particular date in mind, I recommend booking ahead!
Where it is
1F, 29-6 Dongsomun-ro 20-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울 성북구 동소문로20길 29-6 1층)서울특별시 성북구 동소문로20길 29-6 1층
