Seomyeon second-round drinks: egg-yolk beef tartare plate at Yuumangju

Where to find yukhoe for a second round in Seomyeon: Yuumangju Seomyeon Branch

That night I was trying to figure out where to go for a second round in Seomyeon. Then a friend I was with suddenly said they wanted yukhoe (raw beef tartare), so I started searching for a Seomyeon second-round bar that serves it. Seomyeon has no shortage of bars, but finding a spot where yukhoe is actually the main event turned out to be trickier than expected. That's how I found Yuumangju Seomyeon Branch. One of their signature dishes is yukhoe & shrimp jang kalbibim, so my friend could get their yukhoe fix, plus it came with shrimp jang and spicy noodles all in one — the combo looked good, so we headed straight over. In the end, the vibe was a great fit for a light second-round drink, and the food wasn't just a plain plate of yukhoe but several things to enjoy together, which was satisfying. If you're hunting for a Seomyeon second-round bar and suddenly craving yukhoe, I'd recommend this one.

How to find Yuumangju Seomyeon Branch near Seomyeon Station

Yuumangju sits inside the alley packed with bars near Seomyeon Station. At night this whole alley lights up with restaurant and bar signs and fills with people, making it an easy route for a first, second, or third round. For anyone specifically looking for a Seomyeon second-round bar, not having to travel far after drinking is a big plus. The exterior is done simply in black, with a big sign reading 'Yuumangju' that's easy to spot. Rather than a flashy, cluttered look, the black walls with white lettering stood out cleanly.

What is the second-floor bar like inside Yuumangju?

Climb the stairs to the 2nd floor and the space is bigger than expected. When I visited, it was seriously packed. I looked around to snap a photo and most tables were full — exactly the feel of one of Seomyeon's current hot bars. That said, it's not a club-style bar blasting loud music; it's more the kind of place suited for groups to sit and enjoy drinks and food together. The interior leans black with the lighting kept fairly low, giving it a proper drinking-spot atmosphere, with tables placed both in the center and along the windows. The spacing between tables isn't super generous, but that's understandable given how popular this spot is in central Seomyeon. It works fine for couples or for a group of friends grabbing drinks. If you like this kind of buzzing atmosphere among Seomyeon bars, I'd recommend it.

Yuumangju Seomyeon Branch menu and prices

The menu is bigger than I expected. Signature dishes include O-mae-bal, squid with chicken feet, at ₩34,900; yukhoe & shrimp jang kalbibim at ₩32,900; Yuumangju-e Dak Moyeotdak (chicken) at ₩29,900; hot-stone kimchi Daedori-tang at ₩31,900; rich sojii octopus hot pot at ₩29,900; boiled pork nurungji chicken soup at ₩29,900; and spicy sundubu woo-samgyeop seafood hot pot at ₩29,900. Many of the names have a playful twist rather than being straightforward. Sides are equally varied and pair well with drinks — pork skin chive pancake, cheese-bomb potato pancake, fire chicken egg pancake, pepperoni cream pasta, tomato pasta, doenjang rice bowl, chapaguri kimchi, and more. Drink options cover the basics of soju and beer plus fruit soju, highballs, other liquors like Hwayo or bokbunja, and even craft makgeolli, so there's plenty to choose from. Soju was ₩5,500, which isn't outrageous given current Seomyeon bar prices.

The free starter at Yuumangju: syrup-drizzled rusk bread

The complimentary starter is crisply baked bread served first. Crunchy on the outside and a bit lighter inside, it was easy to pick at like a rusk, with a light drizzle of sweet syrup on top that kept us reaching for more. It's exactly the kind of light bite to nibble on with a drink before the main dish arrives.

What comes on the 32,900-won yukhoe and shrimp jang kalbibim plate

What I ordered was one of the signature dishes, the yukhoe & shrimp jang kalbibim. Priced at ₩32,900, it arrives on a large silver plate divided into roughly three sections — yukhoe, shrimp jang, and spicy mixed noodles — with a yellow egg garnish in the center and sprouts on top, so it looks impressive right away. A raw egg yolk sits in the middle of the yukhoe, perfect for breaking and mixing in, while the shrimp jang was coated in a fairly rich sauce. Having the spicy kalbibim on the same plate meant we could rotate through several flavors from one dish without ordering extras. When your stomach is already somewhat full after a first round, ordering multiple dishes gets awkward — this one plate covers yukhoe, shrimp, and noodles all at once, making it a solid pick for a Seomyeon second-round bar.

Tasting all three parts of the Yuumangju platter

The best part of yukhoe & shrimp jang kalbibim was getting to enjoy three things on one plate. Breaking the yolk into the yukhoe and mixing it in made the meat even smoother and richer, and the seasoning wasn't overdone, so the yukhoe's own flavor still came through. Next to it, the shrimp jang was seasoned salty-sweet, perfect with soju, and the shrimp had a nice springy texture. The kalbibim noodles were well coated in spicy sauce, great for a bite or two in between the yukhoe and shrimp jang. Soft yukhoe, salty shrimp jang, spicy kalbibim — each pulling in a different direction meant the plate never got monotonous, and rotating between the three naturally kept the soju glasses emptying. Personally, I thought this was a well-chosen order for a Seomyeon second-round bar, especially after already filling up a bit during the first round.

Yukhoe, shrimp jang, and kalbibim, all on one plate

Is Yuumangju Seomyeon Branch a good Seomyeon bar for a second round?

Yuumangju Seomyeon Branch is a bar I found because a friend wanted yukhoe after our first round, and looking back, I'd say it was a great choice for round two. It's close to Seomyeon Station, easy to get to, and the 2nd floor was packed enough to feel lively. If you prefer a busy, buzzing Seomyeon second-round bar over a quiet one-drink spot, this will suit you well. The yukhoe & shrimp jang kalbibim we ordered wasn't just plain yukhoe by itself — it came together with shrimp jang and spicy noodles, letting us rotate between several flavors, which was the best part. The yukhoe was rich with mixed-in yolk, the shrimp jang salty-sweet, and the kalbibim spicy, giving a good balance as a drinking dish. The sweet, rusk-style bread that came as the complimentary starter also kept us reaching for more. Prices aren't exactly cheap, but factoring in the size of the dish and the atmosphere, it didn't feel like a waste. It was especially good for coming in already somewhat full from a first round and settling in with one dish plus more soju. I'd recommend it as a Seomyeon second-round bar for a day you want to properly eat while you drink.