Konkuk Univ. Korean pub for a second round and whole squid: Dowon

Today I'm bringing you a review of a Konkuk Univ. pub I can't recommend enough: Sinseon Sulzip Dowon (신선술집 도원)! We went on a Saturday evening for our second round, and everything from the atmosphere to the food made me so happy!! If you're looking for a good-value pub, a pub with private rooms or a big pub near Konkuk Univ., here comes my Sinseon Sulzip Dowon review~~

How crowded is Sinseon Sulzip Dowon on a Saturday night?

We got to Sinseon Sulzip Dowon around 8 pm on a Saturday and it was already almost full. Maybe it's because it's Saturday, but it's that popular. True to its reputation as a Konkuk Univ. favorite, lots of people seemed to be there for company dinners and get-togethers.

What's on the menu at Sinseon Sulzip Dowon?

The menu at Sinseon Sulzip Dowon is seriously varied, from signatures like suyuk (boiled pork), sundae (Korean blood sausage) and oxtail jokbal (braised pork trotters) to hot pots, jeon (savory pancakes) and desserts. The moment I opened the menu I was overwhelmed, and choosing took forever. Besides the signature suyuk, sundae and oxtail jokbal, there are dishes like shabu kalguksu (noodle soup), hot pots, bingsu (shaved ice), jeon and muchim (seasoned dishes), plus simple snack-bar food, dried pollack (meoktae), and desserts like fine sherbet and frozen persimmon. It felt perfectly stocked, from drinking snacks to palate cleansers.

It was only our second round, but we ordered as lavishly as we would for the first! We got half-and-half oxtail jokbal and fire jokbal, sinseollo watermelon hwachae (watermelon punch) and whole squid sukhoe (blanched squid).

Half-and-half oxtail and fire jokbal, and the sinseollo watermelon hwachae

The oxtail jokbal here is different from regular jokbal: it keeps a crunchy, chewy texture, which was a new kind of charm for me, and the seasoning was spicy enough that my chopsticks kept going back.

The sinseollo watermelon hwachae comes in a sinseollo (royal court hot pot) bowl and looked special from the first glance. It's sweet, so we kept eating it alongside our drinks.

Whole squid sukhoe and the homemade green onion kimchi and geotjeori

The whole squid sukhoe was tender yet chewy, and I was completely satisfied!! The carrots and cucumbers served with it were crunchy too~

The real kicker at Sinseon Sulzip Dowon is the homemade green onion kimchi and geotjeori (fresh-seasoned kimchi)! Maybe because they make it themselves instead of buying side dishes, eating it with the squid sukhoe nearly made me faint. They say they buy fresh ingredients wholesale and cook everything by hand, and the portions were so generous the dishes could pass as a meal. A Konkuk Univ. favorite and a good-value pub, confirmed!!

What's the atmosphere like at Sinseon Sulzip Dowon?

Sinseon Sulzip Dowon has a hanok (traditional Korean house) concept with a luxurious, showy interior, and regular seating and rooms are separate. I was surprised by how gorgeous the interior is the moment I walked in. It's great for drinking, and I think it would suit a date, a blind date or a meet-up just as well. Having both regular seats and separate rooms gives you plenty of choice, which is another plus.

How many people fit in the rooms, group room and rooftop dome at Sinseon Sulzip Dowon in Konkuk Univ.?

Sinseon Sulzip Dowon has rooms for 2-4 and 5-6 people, a 4th-floor large room for up to 25, and a rooftop dome for 12. It's one of the very few pubs in the Konkuk Univ. area with a group room, which made it extra special. It uses the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors of the building, so the space is big and private, which impressed me. The 2-4 and 5-6 person rooms can be booked in advance on Naver, and with a large room for up to 25 on the 4th floor, even company dinners and big events looked no problem.

And above all, there's a rooftop dome for 12, so for anyone who wants a more private get-together, this seemed like the perfect answer.

Who I'd recommend it to

I strongly recommend Sinseon Sulzip Dowon to anyone who needs a spot for a company dinner, a get-together, a birthday party or a meeting room, anyone who wants to enjoy a quiet room like a party room, and anyone looking for a good-value pub in Konkuk Univ. There's a room to fit every group size, so any kind of gathering should be easy here.

How was the service at Sinseon Sulzip Dowon?

The service at Sinseon Sulzip Dowon was thoughtful, from the restroom supplies to the aprons. The restroom was stocked with everything from a curling iron to sanitary pads, which felt really considerate, and the staff brought aprons without being asked and kept checking in on us, so we definitely felt well treated. The owner was kind too, so it was a night when the drinks went down easily.

Sinseon Sulzip Dowon location, hours and reservations

• Location: 5-minute walk from Exit 2 of Konkuk Univ. Station
• Hours: daily 16:00 to 05:00 the next morning
• Reservations: if you want a group room or party room, a Naver reservation is a must.

Meonji's one-line review

• Half-and-half oxtail and fire jokbal that were crunchy and chewy
• Homemade green onion kimchi and geotjeori were the best
• Hanok interior plus rooms and a rooftop dome
• 200% chance I'll come back

If you're looking for a Konkuk Univ. favorite, Sinseon Sulzip Dowon is a safe choice any time you go. I confidently recommend Sinseon Sulzip Dowon to anyone looking for a good-value pub in Konkuk Univ. I'm going back for the oxtail and fire jokbal next time too 😋