Mangwon bar for handmade tofu and spicy roe: Baennori

The weather was lovely, and it felt like one of those days for a chilled glass of makgeolli (Korean rice wine), haha. Today I visited Baennori (뱃놀이), a Mangwon bar packed with fresh seafood dishes!! 🐟🍶

Baennori Mangwon: Signature Dishes and Visitor Info

• Signature dishes: raw shrimp sashimi, spicy roe and milt stir-fry, Tiger Yuja Makgeolli
• A Korean-style bar with excellent food, where handmade tofu is served as the starter
• Restroom available; no parking

Ordering Tip: Sets and Tiger Yuja Makgeolli

There are two sets here, which makes ordering just perfect! And Tiger Yuja Makgeolli has a refreshing citron aroma, so it goes really well with seafood dishes, haha.

Warm Wood-Toned Atmosphere and First Impressions

The interior was nicely done with a friendly feel! The warm wood tones and lighting felt so welcoming, haha. To give you the conclusion first: this was not a place with just one decent dish—the overall standard of the food was really quite good. The menu combinations worked well too, and the starter made a great impression, so I had a happy meal right from the beginning!!

Signature Dishes and Today's Order

[Today's order] Beef sashimi with raw shrimp, hot-stone spicy roe and milt stir-fry, Tiger Yuja Makgeolli

How Was the Handmade Tofu Starter?

Along with small plates, cups, and chopsticks came the handmade tofu starter!! Wow, it came with three condiments: doenjang (fermented soybean paste), changnan-jeot (salted pollock tripe), and stir-fried kimchi. It was seriously delicious... It was an absolutely perfect match with the changnan-jeot!! The nutty, soft tofu had such a clear handmade touch that I kept reaching for it with my chopsticks before I had even taken a sip. This level of quality for a complimentary starter!! I could immediately tell this was a place that truly cares about its food, haha.

Beef Sashimi and Raw Shrimp Together

Thick, fresh beef sashimi and neatly arranged raw shrimp! It came with sesame oil and garlic, salt and seasoned sauce, plus chojang (sweet-tangy chili vinegar sauce) and soy sauce! The presentation was so clean that I was already in a good mood before drinking, lol.

The moment I picked up a raw shrimp, its springy texture and naturally sweet shrimp flavor filled my mouth. It was clean with not a trace of fishiness, so it was delicious enough even without chojang ㅠㅠ

The beef sashimi still had a lovely grain but was tender rather than chewy, with a subtle savory richness that lingered. It was not buried under too much seasoning, so the ingredients came through even better, and it was nicely balanced with the raw shrimp.

Spicy, Savory Roe and Milt Stir-Fry

Next up was the roe and milt stir-fry! The bouncy fish roe and milt were stir-fried in a spicy sauce, and from the first bite, the popping texture of every roe and the spicy-salty seasoning were a total drink-stealer. It looked like it would be delicious mixed with rice using a spoon too, lol. It was not too spicy—about as hot as Jin Ramen—so it was just right!

The Match with Tiger Yuja Makgeolli

Tiger Yuja Makgeolli, with that bright citron aroma! It went down smoothly with a refreshing finish, and drinking it alongside the spicy roe and milt stir-fry was a perfect match. It had the kind of taste that made me keep taking little sips, haha.

We completely cleared everything... lol. It was seriously soooo good. What I felt overall was that Baennori is not simply a Mangwon bar with a nice atmosphere—it has real strength in its food. From the handmade tofu starter to the main dishes, nothing felt carelessly prepared, and every dish had its own flavor, making it fun to order a little of this and that! The flow of the meal was just so good from start to finish!!! Great for a date, and great with friends too, haha.

What I Loved at Baennori

• Outstanding handmade tofu quality, starting with the complimentary dish
• Springy, fresh shrimp sashimi and spicy roe and milt stir-fry with popping roe
• A bar with unusually high-quality dishes

If you are looking for high-quality seafood dishes in Mangwon, definitely visit Baennori (뱃놀이) at least once! 💕