Late-night Chinese bar in Apgujeong open till 2am: Mirim Yangjang

There's no shortage of options for a night out in Apgujeong Rodeo, but a full spread of Peking duck with clinking beer glasses isn't exactly a common sight.

This time I went to Mirim Yangjang Apgujeong, an Apgujeong Rodeo bar where you can properly enjoy Peking duck and Chinese food.

Where Mirim Yangjang Apgujeong is, its hours and parking

Mirim Yangjang Apgujeong is located at 40 Eonju-ro 168-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, basement level 1 (서울 강남구 언주로168길 40 지하1층). It's open daily from 12:00 to 02:00, with last order at 01:00, and both paid parking and valet are available.

Mirim Yangjang Apgujeong is an easy walk from Apgujeong Rodeo Station. Above all, being open until 2am means you can carry a dinner straight into a late drinking session — a pretty appealing condition for anyone looking for an Apgujeong Rodeo bar.

You probably already know Apgujeong Rodeo has gotten super hip again lately :)

Down in the basement: a Hong Kong movie mood

Mirim Yangjang Apgujeong is easy to spot the moment you round the corner, thanks to its distinctive vibe and imposing size.

The entrance is already pretty, but head down to the basement and the mood shifts completely. Red lighting, Chinese-style props, and an open kitchen all come together for something close to a scene from a Hong Kong film. Walking toward our table past several Peking ducks hanging on display, I really felt Mirim Yangjang's distinct character kick in. (I got so into it I took way too many photos.)

The day I visited, there was a full-blown birthday party going on, which shows there's a private room big enough for several people.

Mirim Yangjang Apgujeong menu: Peking duck by the half bird

Mirim Yangjang's signature dish is, of course, Peking duck. If a whole duck feels like too much, you can order a half, which makes it approachable even for a party of two.

Beyond that, there's a huge range of drink-friendly Chinese dishes — hot pot, guo bao rou (Chinese-style sweet and sour pork), mapo tofu, fish-fragrant eggplant — and I already want to come back with a bigger group to order a bunch and share.

That day, we ordered: half Peking duck, guo bao rou, Tsingtao beer, and Harbin beer.

Half a Peking duck, carved at the table

First up, the Peking duck I'd been waiting for.

The staff kindly let me film, so I got to watch the rarely-seen duck carving process up close.

From the glossy, glistening skin to the meat I love, the carving was done fast and skillfully, piece by piece — genuinely fascinating to watch. The skin was thin and crisp, breaking apart cheerfully the moment you bit into it, and the meat underneath was clean and lean with no excess.

I'm not usually a fan of that distinct duck taste, but Peking duck is always the exception for me. Since I prefer the lean meat over the fatty skin, this suited my taste perfectly.

Layer duck meat and vegetables onto a thin pancake, add sauce, and one bite gives you crispness, leanness, and a touch of sweet sauce flavor in sequence.

I thought the half portion might be small, but it turned out to be more than enough to share alongside another dish — we ended up not even getting to the fried rice.

Guo bao rou (sweet and sour pork)

The guo bao rou we ordered alongside was too good to skip. The batter had a chewy texture, and the sauce was pleasantly sweet without being overly sharp.

It really nailed the classic charm of guo bao rou by the book.

I get why this dish comes up so often in reviews.

Harbin and Tsingtao beer

To go with it: a cold glass of Harbin, then a glass of Tsingtao. Tsingtao for the crispy Peking duck, Harbin for the sweet, chewy guo bao rou.

Either way, the combination of rich, hearty Chinese food with a refreshingly crisp beer speaks for itself.

Who Mirim Yangjang Apgujeong suits best

V Anyone who wants to keep drinking late into the night in Apgujeong Rodeo

• V Pairs who find a whole Peking duck too much but still want to properly try it
• V Anyone who'd rather crack open a beer next to well-made Chinese dishes than typical drinking snacks

Frequently asked questions

Q. Can you order half a Peking duck? A. Yes, half portions are available, which makes it much less of a commitment for two people.

Q. Is the half portion too small? A. We had it alongside guo bao rou and never felt it wasn't enough for two.

Q. Is it a good spot to visit as a bar? A. The Chinese food and beer combo works well, and being open late makes it a solid choice as an Apgujeong Rodeo bar.

Final verdict on Mirim Yangjang Apgujeong

Turns out you don't have to love duck in general to love Peking duck. From the crisp shattering skin to the lean meat to the chewy guo bao rou.

Even with familiar Chinese dishes, when every plate delivers on its own, what stays with you afterward is simply how good the food tasted.

From now on, whenever I think of Peking duck, I think Mirim Yangjang will be the first thing that comes to mind.