Bar open till 6am near Konkuk University Station: Yukhoe Gongjakso

A date night always ends with a drink for me, so this time I went with Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch, which has been getting popular as a bar near Konkuk University Station. It's great value, so it's a hit with the university students nearby too +_+ Here's the full story of how one visit turned into both a first and second round of drinks 👏❤️

Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch: hours and how to get there

Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch is a cook-and-drink bar on the 1st floor at 50 Gunja-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, open every day from 17:00 to 06:00. Since it runs from evening straight through to dawn, you can drop by whenever's convenient 😙

This bar near Konkuk University Station is only a 3-minute walk from Exit 4, so it was easy to find! It's also a good spot for a date after checking out Children's Grand Park haha. If you're driving, there's a public lot near Hwayang Police Substation and a paid lot at Dongdo Centreville.

What are the seats and atmosphere like?

Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch has everything from group tables to bar-style seats, so it worked well for small or larger groups alike, and some partitioned seats made conversation easy too. There were also window seats where you could look outside, giving a bit of an outdoor-drinking feel — good for a cozy chat on a date or for drinking solo.

I also really liked the vibe of the place — Japanese posters scattered around and even a cherry blossom tree by the entrance! Full izakaya energy, perfect for photos 👏👏 I arrived right at opening time and more than half the seats were already taken, so clearly a popular spot.

Can you eat a full meal here, and what does it cost?

The menu at Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch ranges from yukhoe and mungtigi made with Australian beef butchered before dawn, to yakiniku, skewers, and beet-cured salmon. There are also set meal options, so it's a bar where you can eat a full meal while you drink +_+

There are also budget-friendly dishes starting at ₩3,900 up to items in the low ₩10,000s, so a lot of people come here for a second round too haha. With soups, jokbal (pork feet), and bossam (boiled pork) also on offer, there's a wide range of options, which makes it a great pick for group outings too 👍👍👍 With such a varied menu, you can handle both your first and second round of drinks in one place at Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch.

The free starter: beef and egg soup

Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch serves beef and egg soup as a complimentary side with any order. It's lightly seasoned, so I kept reaching for more. I think I'd finished it along with my drink before the main dishes even arrived ..ㅋㅋ

What comes in the mungtigi sashimi drinking set

The mungtigi sashimi drinking set came out first. It's made up of sashimi, yakiniku, and skewers — a combo that pairs perfectly with a drink.

They also gave us plenty of radish sprouts and wasabi to go with it. The sashimi was topped generously with fragrant sesame oil and sesame seeds — it looked really appetizing 😚

A combo like this obviously needs a drink!! I was going to go with the sake they had on promotion, but switched to my favorite, soju, in the end haha. They currently have a 900ml bottle of sake on promotion for ₩19,900, so if you like sake it might be worth trying.

The beef sashimi was cut into just the right size for one bite. It's tasty on its own, but it also went well with the sesame sauce, chojang (spicy vinegar sauce), and oil-soy dip — all different combinations worked. The chojang especially had sesame oil mixed in, which made it even more satisfying ㅋㅋㅋ adding oil to chojang is truly the perfect combo ..🥹

Skewers and yakiniku grilled on your own tabletop brazier

The skewers and yakiniku included in the set were also a highlight — you get your own mini charcoal brazier, so you can grill at your own pace, which made eating really easy and relaxed.

Personally, my favorites among the skewers were the scallion chicken skewer and the chicken skin skewer! They're best right when freshly grilled, with that faint smoky flavor coming through haha.

After the skewers, we grilled the yakiniku too, and the charcoal heat was strong enough that it cooked quickly. The seasoning was mild and there was no gamey smell, so it was fine to eat plain 👏👏

How does the magic sauce yukhoe taste?

The magic sauce yukhoe at Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch is a soy-based sauce topped generously with radish sprouts, wasabi, and even an egg yolk. Yukhoe (raw seasoned beef) is my favorite dish!! I'd heard this Konkuk University Station area bar was known for its yukhoe, so I ordered it with high expectations. A nutty aroma drifted up right away. They mix in the egg yolk fully for you +_+

It's delicious even plain, but mixing in the yolk made it richer and even better. If you like a moist texture, this is a yukhoe you'll enjoy! Personally, I felt the yukhoe would suit bibimbap or mulhoe (cold raw fish soup) style dishes better, and that the sashimi was tastier eaten plain ..🤤

Salmon sushi and fries for the second round

I meant to stop after the one platter, but somehow ended up ordering the salmon sushi too. It came loaded with sauce, seven pieces in total!

It melted in my mouth the moment I bit into it, with real depth of flavor haha. The sauce worked well, though a little less of it would've been fine too. Since it's a bar you can actually eat a meal at, it was great to have alongside a drink in place of rice 👏👏

Still not quite satisfied, I ordered the budget-friendly fries as a side too! It came with smiley-face fries and regular fries, both dusted with seasoning — great even plain, and the soju just kept going down.

Is Yukhoe Gongjakso worth a late-night visit?

If you're looking for a bar near Konkuk University Station, Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch is an easy, comfortable choice! Since you can eat a full meal here too, it's good for a dinner-and-drinks visit, and the cozy atmosphere makes it good for conversation haha. Keep it noted as a bar near Konkuk University Station and give it a try sometime!