Muddy duck pancake and Wangju rice wine at Ari Gyegok Jonggak

Would you believe there's a Korean bar with an actual waterfall and valley right in the middle of Jongno? 🏞️ This time I visited Ari Gyegok, a Korean bar near Jonggak Station! It was surprising to find such a hip yet atmospheric bar near Jonggak Station, and true to its name, the interior evokes a waterfall and valley, so the vibe hit the moment I walked in.

On top of that, the menu is pretty unique too, from Korea's first patented crescent-moon baeksuk (whole chicken soup) to muddy duck pancake and perilla chicken hot pot! This time I ordered the muddy duck pancake + perilla chicken hot pot, and paired them with Wangju, a traditional rice wine said to trace back to Empress Myeongseong's family. Let me walk you through the dishes, the atmosphere, and the story behind Wangju :)

Ari Gyegok Jonggak: location and hours

• 📍 41 Ujeongguk-ro 2-gil, 1F, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• ⏰ Mon–Thu, Sun: 16:30 – 02:00 the next day
• ⏰ Fri, Sat: 16:30 – 03:00 the next day
• 🅿️ No parking available — use the public street parking lot in front of Jonggak

🚇 About 188m from Jonggak Station Exit 4, under 3 minutes on foot. It's really close to Jonggak Station, so accessibility was great! Since it's so near the station, I actually think it's better to come by public transit rather than driving and just enjoy a relaxed drink. It's good as a first stop, or as a second or third-round spot after dinner in Jongno, or even as a place to wrap up a company dinner.

A waterfall and valley in the middle of Jongno?! The Ari Gyegok atmosphere

The name Ari Gyegok already gives off a nature vibe, and the concept really does match — waterfall and valley! Even though it's a Korean bar in the middle of Jongno, it doesn't just lean on a traditional hanok feel; it adds nature-inspired interior touches that make it feel pretty hip and stylish. Because of that, the atmosphere felt a bit more special than a typical Korean bar, and it seemed like it would work well for a date or a group gathering.

It's not too dark or heavy in feel like some bars, but cozy instead, so it also seemed like a good fit for slightly special occasions — dates, year-end gatherings, or wedding invite parties.

What makes Ari Gyegok special

① A traditional Korean bar with a hip atmosphere

When you hear 'Korean bar,' you might picture something a bit old-fashioned or traditional, but Ari Gyegok felt completely different thanks to its waterfall-and-valley concept interior. It fits the Jongno location well while still capturing a modern vibe!

② A lineup of dishes in the ₩10,000–20,000 range

Most menu items fall in the ₩10,000–20,000 range, so it's easy to order a bunch of dishes to share. The menu works well whether it's a first-round meal-and-drinks or a lighter second or third round.

It pairs well with familiar drinks like soju or beer, and also with traditional rice wine like I had :)

This time I ordered the muddy duck pancake and perilla chicken hot pot from the menu. Neither is a dish you commonly see at a Korean bar, so I was curious, and as it turned out, they made a really good pairing as drinking snacks.

Wangju, a traditional rice wine from Empress Myeongseong's family

The drink I had with the food that day was Wangju. At first I just thought of it as a bottle of traditional rice wine, but when I looked it up, the backstory turned out to be pretty fascinating.

Wangju is said to be a homemade liquor passed down for three generations in the Yeoheung Min family — the family Empress Myeongseong, Joseon's last queen, was born into. It's even mentioned in the Donguibogam (a classic Korean medical text) in connection with cure-all remedies, so knowing its history made drinking it far more interesting than just having a random bottle.

Today the tradition is carried on by Nam Sang-ran, Korea's Food Master No. 13. Apparently the recipe was passed down to her because her maternal grandmother was a niece from Empress Myeongseong's family.

Muddy duck pancake — ₩19,900

First up was the muddy duck pancake! The name alone doesn't really tell you what it is — it's a whole fried duck brushed with a special mustard sauce, wrapped up with dumpling wrappers and lettuce.

It was my first time trying this combination, and I was curious, but it worked way better than I expected.

The duck's own flavor combines with a crispy fried texture, and the sharp kick of the mustard sauce cuts through the richness too.

Wrapping it with lettuce adds a crunchy texture that keeps you reaching for more! Personally, I'd call it a delicacy among delicacies.

Eating the duck with dumpling wrapper + lettuce + mustard sauce together made for a much more interesting flavor combo than duck alone, and it worked great as a drinking snack.

The duck meat was really thick, and the portion was big enough for two people to eat until stuffed.

Perilla chicken hot pot — ₩23,900

Personally, this was the most memorable broth dish of the day. It's a hot pot with a generous amount of ground perilla seed, so the broth is very thick, nutty, and deep in flavor. If you like perilla, you'll especially enjoy this one!

The broth was so rich and nutty that it wasn't a one-or-two-spoon dish — it's the kind of flavor that stays on your mind.

Eating it alongside the crispy, rich muddy duck pancake also worked well, since the broth dish helped reset the palate in between — I was glad I ordered both together!

If you're looking for a different kind of night out in Jongno

Being able to drink in a space evoking a waterfall and valley right in the middle of Jongno is unique on its own, and the menu offers distinctive dishes you don't often see at a typical Korean bar — crescent-moon baeksuk, muddy duck pancake, perilla chicken hot pot, and more. I tried the muddy duck pancake and perilla chicken hot pot this time, and I especially liked the combination of the crispy duck pancake and the rich, nutty perilla chicken hot pot. Pairing it with Wangju, said to trace back to Empress Myeongseong's family, turned it into more than just a drink — it became a chance to enjoy the stories behind the food and drink too! If you're looking for a Korean bar in Jongno with a different kind of atmosphere, or a date spot, this is worth a visit. With special snacks and a special traditional rice wine, I had a pretty stylish night out 🏞️🥂