Yeonnam-dong bar for bulgogi nabe hot pot and bamboo liquor: Ijillirya

What kind of bar is Ijillirya Yeonnam?

Ijillirya Yeonnam is a Korean-style bar on Donggyo-ro in Mapo-gu, Seoul. I wanted something a little different for a night out in Yeonnam-dong, so I stopped by.

Even the name had a certain mood to it.

An unforgettable taste, an unforgettable today

On the terrace, you can enjoy distinctive Korean dishes and a variety of traditional liquors while making good memories, apparently.

The name 'Ijillirya' seems to come from the line 'How could I ever forget that place, even in dreams' in poet Jeong Ji-yong's poem Nostalgia. Once I knew the meaning, the place felt like somewhere that helps you remember the day, through good food and drink together.

The bamboo liquor welcome drink: only 11% ABV, so why did it hit hard?

Once you're seated at Ijillirya Yeonnam, they give everyone a welcome drink of bamboo liquor. It's supposedly 11% ABV, but the taste was stronger than I expected.

It had that traditional-liquor character, with a deep grain flavor.

I wasn't feeling great since I had a cold, so maybe that's why it hit harder, but even though it's not a super high ABV, one glass and I felt tipsy right away. Still, the flavor itself was good, so I want to try it properly again next time I'm in better shape.

Fire-scented bulgogi nabe: why the tofu tasted different

The first thing we ordered at Ijillirya Yeonnam was the fire-scented bulgogi nabe (hotpot). It was pretty chilly out and I was craving something hot and brothy, so we ordered it — genuinely refreshing and delicious.

The portion was huge, too. It was loaded with bulgogi and all kinds of different mushrooms.

The tofu had that smoky fire flavor all over it, and the surface was cooked golden brown.

I think they probably cook each ingredient separately first, then add them to the nabe and simmer again. Usually tofu in a stew goes mushy or falls apart, but here the surface cooked up chewy, so it was easy to fish out and the texture held up.

The broth was spicier and sharper than I expected. The kind that feels like it would cure a hangover!

It wasn't just aggressively spicy — the bulgogi flavor and mushroom umami blended together into something savory, so I kept spooning it up.

True to its name, the fire-scented smokiness came through subtly too, and it paired well with the spicy-sharp broth.

Chubby squid muchim: why adding bibim noodles is a must

For a side to go with it, we ordered the chubby squid muchim (spicy seasoned squid). We added bibim noodles (spicy mixed noodles) to it, and it really would have been a shame if we hadn't.

True to the menu name, the squid comes in whole. Unlike the usual squid muchim where the squid is cut into small pieces, this one comes whole, so it catches your eye visually right away.

The squid muchim is delicious on its own, but eating it with the noodles tossed in spicy sauce felt like they were meant to be a set from the start!

The sauce is pretty spicy, but a good, tasty kind of spicy.

The bibim noodles had fairly thick strands with some chew to them — somewhere between jjolmyeon (chewy cold noodles) and somyeon (thin wheat noodles) in texture.

Eating the spicy noodles together with the soft, chewy squid was genuinely delicious.

Where to eat Korean drinking dishes in Yeonnam-dong

Overall, everything we tried at Ijillirya Yeonnam paired really well with drinks. The fire-scented bulgogi nabe had a warm, spicy-sharp broth that goes great with alcohol, and the chubby squid muchim with the added bibim noodles was the kind of dish that really wakes up your appetite.

Both dishes share a spicy streak, but the combination works well together — one's a brothy hotpot style, the other a spicy-tangy noodle and muchim, so they're good to alternate between. They also have a lot of unusual traditional liquors you won't find elsewhere, which adds a special feel.

Above all, the interior is so pretty and the vibe is out of this world, so it's a great spot for photos. The weather's gotten a lot milder lately, and with the terrace open, it's a nice place to catch a cool breeze with good food and a drink.

Ijillirya Yeonnam — true to its name, today turned into one I won't forget either.