Konkuk Univ. izakaya for light drinkers: ₩49,900 set for two, Yukhoe

I hadn't seen my friend in ages, so we went looking for a Konkuk Univ. bar with a good mood, plenty of food and a fair price, a good place near Sejong University. That's how we found Yukhoe Gongjakso (육회공작소) Sejong University branch, an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) :)

Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch serves everything from yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) and beet-cured salmon to yakiniku (grilled beef) and skewers, and the prices are great too, so I wanted to introduce it as a budget bar near Konkuk Univ.! The private booth seats and cherry blossom lights make the mood so good 🌸 and since it's open late, it works for dinner and also as a second-round drinking spot.

Where is Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch, and when is it open?

Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch is at 50 Gunja-ro, 1st floor, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, and it's open daily from 5 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next morning (last order 5:55 a.m.). It's about 3 minutes on foot from Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station, or about 7 minutes from Exit 1 of Konkuk Univ. Station, cutting through Hwayang Market.

• Takeout, delivery, reservations and group visits available
• Birthday perks and takeout discount
• Corkage allowed, Wi-Fi, separate men's and women's restrooms
• Free parking available

It's super close to both Children's Grand Park Station and Geondae Station! It's easy to reach by public transport, so it's a perfect spot when you're looking for a bar near Children's Grand Park, a Konkuk date, or a second-round bar near Konkuk.💗

Where to park near Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch

You can't park right in front of Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch, but you can park for free at the park lot near Hwayang Police Box or in front of closed shops (the writer says there's no enforcement). You can also use the neighboring Dongdo Centreville lot (mechanical, ₩3,000 per hour). Good news if you're coming by car!

What's the atmosphere like at Yukhoe Gongjakso, a Konkuk Univ. izakaya?

Inside, it feels like a Japanese izakaya, so I was excited before the food even came >< The wood interior plus the cherry blossom lights on the ceiling made it cozy and emotional, with a really nice vibe.🌸

Every table has a partitioned booth for privacy, separated from the next table, so it's easy to talk comfortably. Recommended for Konkuk get-togethers and date-night bars!!

There's also group seating for 6 to 20 people, so if you're looking for a Konkuk meetup spot, a company dinner venue or a Hwayang-dong bar, I'd suggest saving this one :)

What's in Yukhoe Gongjakso's ₩49,900 full-course set for two?

We ordered the full-course set at Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch. The price is discounted from ₩65,700 to ₩49,900! Amazing, right >< A budget bar, confirmed! The set includes the Saengyeon yukhoe yakiniku table.

• 200g gravlax salmon
• 180g magic-sauce yukhoe
• 200g top blade beef yakiniku
• 5 assorted skewers
• DIY rice balls
• 2 highballs

Cold salmon and yukhoe, then warm yakiniku and skewers you grill yourself. The combination was so good, and there's a wide choice of highballs, including a non-alcoholic highball, so non-drinkers like us can still get into the mood! haha

Magic-sauce yukhoe (Korean beef tartare), 180g

Yukhoe Gongjakso's magic-sauce yukhoe is beef tartare with a special house sauce, topped with an egg yolk and sprinkled with sesame seeds, so it looked pretty right away. It comes with sprouts to eat alongside. They say the beef is pristine Australian beef slaughtered at dawn, flown in by express air freight and prepared the moment you order.

Gravlax salmon, 200g

Gravlax is salmon cured with beets. Yukhoe Gongjakso's gravlax salmon was really thick, soft and so delicious. Salmon often has a scary price tag, but here the price and quality are both good, so I was totally, completely satisfied,, ✨

Top blade beef yakiniku grilled on a mini brazier 🔥

For the top blade yakiniku, you put the beef on the mini brazier on your table and grill it however you like!

Yukhoe, salmon and 200g of top blade beef all in the set?! Incredible value. It melts in your mouth and is so good!

The yakiniku is only ₩12,900 on its own, so ordering more isn't a burden either. The beef egg soup with a bone broth base is unlimited refills!! Wow, what a budget bar near Konkuk Univ.!

5 skewers, plus an extra order of heart skewers

The 5 skewers in the full-course set vanished in a flash haha. We added heart skewers on top! 4 for ₩7,900.

Besides yukhoe and yakiniku, this Konkuk Univ. izakaya has a huge menu, including mungtigi (Gyeongsang-style raw beef), beet-cured salmon, BBQ jokbal (braised pig's trotters) and dongpayuk bossam (braised pork belly wraps).

Finishing with haejang ramyeon (hangover ramen) and ice pineapple 🍜🍍

For the finish at Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch we had haejang ramyeon (hangover ramen), spicy noodles in a beef broth simmered for 24 hours, and ice pineapple came out for dessert. After all that meat and skewers, ending on something fresh and sweet made it a perfect day!!

Is Yukhoe Gongjakso worth it as a budget izakaya near Konkuk Univ.?

Yukhoe, salmon, yakiniku you grill yourself, skewers, ramyeon and dessert: from light snacks to a full meal, it left us full and satisfied. I'd recommend Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch if you're looking for a budget bar or izakaya near Konkuk Univ.!