Jongno Korean bar for braised oxtail: Umi Hoegwan Jonggak Main Branch

Umi Hoegwan Jonggak Main Branch (우미회관 종각본점), near Bosingak in Jongno, is pet-friendly. Group reservations are possible too, so it seems perfect for a company dinner as well.

Location and visitor information across from Bosingak at Jonggak Station

• 1F, 8 Ujeongguk-ro 2-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• A 2-minute walk from Jonggak Station Exit 4, across from Bosingak
• Mon–Fri 11:00–01:00; break time 15:00–16:30
• Sat–Sun 12:00–01:00; open year-round
• Paid parking in front of the building is available (no support provided)
• Catchtable and Naver reservations available; dogs are welcome only in a carrier

At last, the Friday I had been waiting for arrived, and I was excitedly deciding on dinner. It had been a while since I had eaten beef, so I decided to visit a place serving braised oxtail. This is Umi Hoegwan Jonggak Main Branch, a spot often chosen for group company dinners in Jongno. It is a two-minute walk from Jonggak Station Exit 4, directly across from Bosingak, so it was easy to find.

You can reserve through both Naver and Catchtable, but after 6 p.m., when it is peak time, guests without reservations are seated in waiting-list order, so keep that in mind. Reservations are available from 12:00 to 18:00.

Hanok-style interior and a window table for two

For parties of seven or more, you need to contact the restaurant. Once inside, I found the cozy hanok-style interior really charming. It suited the name “Hoegwan,” meaning hall, don’t you think? It also had a touch of elegance, so I think it would be nice for a personal gathering too.

We were shown to a window table for two, where we could eat in a cozy atmosphere. Each seat had a basket for belongings too, which was handy for putting down our bags.

You order from a kiosk and pay afterward as you leave, so it was easy to add more items comfortably. There was such a range from mains to sides that I put a lot of thought into choosing.

Ordering the limited 10-serving braised oxtail

The best-known dishes are braised oxtail and mungtigi (fresh sliced raw beef). Wanting to try something I do not usually get, I skipped mungtigi, which I had eaten recently, and chose the braised oxtail instead. I had always been curious after seeing it in food videos! At ₩58,000, it is a premium dish, so it does come at a price!

They make their food with quality ingredients, and I spotted a new Korean beef 1+ sirloin steak on a hot plate. I was curious because it comes sizzling on the grill, but since I had chosen the braised oxtail today, I did not let myself be distracted and stuck with it.

There were also great sharing dishes such as Korean beef yukhoe bibimbap (raw beef mixed rice), perilla-oil makguksu (buckwheat noodles), and potato pancake. It would be nice to share a few things if you come as a group, and it also seemed good for a second stop.

There was more variety in drinks than I expected, so it is nice to browse slowly or ask for a recommendation. We had driven there, sadly, so we could not order alcohol—such a shame.

Pickles and garlic sauce came as the basic sides. You can mix the special sauce and dip the braised oxtail in it, but the seasoning had soaked in so well that it was delicious enough without dipping. If I had ordered mungtigi, though, I think I would have dipped it generously:)

Soy-sauce braised oxtail and Korean beef ramen

The braised oxtail is limited to 10 servings, and luckily, perhaps because we came right after break time, we got to try it. The soy-sauce-based seasoning had soaked in beautifully, making it such a rice thief:) We ordered steamed rice separately and mixed it with the sauce, which was a great match.

The meat came away from the braised oxtail easily, making it a soft dish that people with sensitive teeth could enjoy comfortably. Near the back, there were pleasantly chewy bits, which made picking the meat off fun.

The Korean beef ramen we ordered alongside it had a pleasantly spicy flavor with the deep taste of Korean beef, and I really thought this was something you should try. At ₩9,000, it is not a burdensome add-on either:)

Umi Hoegwan also had mouthwash ready by the exit, which I liked because you can freshen up before leaving. If you are looking for a good restaurant-bar near Cheonggyecheon, how about it~?