Round-table date pub in Sinnonhyeon, Seoul: LA ribs and oxtail, Sojei

Whenever I have plans in Gangnam, choosing a restaurant is always the hard part. Around Sinnonhyeon Station in particular there are so many restaurants and pubs that it's tough to decide where to go.

This time I went to Sojei Seoul Flagship Store (소제이 서울본점), which has a word-of-mouth reputation as a Sinnonhyeon pub and meat restaurant. I like meat, so I went with high expectations, and to tell you the result first: both the food and the atmosphere satisfied me, and I'd happily go back.

Is Sojei Seoul Flagship Store close to Sinnonhyeon Station?

Sojei Seoul Flagship Store is close to Sinnonhyeon Station, so it works well as a meeting spot. When you have plans in Gangnam, location matters. It's near the station, easy to find and easy to reach, so it was no trouble to stop by after work.

Once evening came, guests kept coming in, so it was clear that plenty of people already know and love this place.

Atmosphere and seating at Sojei, a Sinnonhyeon pub

The inside of Sojei Seoul Flagship Store felt a little different from an ordinary meat restaurant.

It was stylish yet comfortable, great for a date and just right for a drink with friends. The round tables made it nice to chat cozily.

These days atmosphere matters as much as taste, and I felt Sojei Seoul Flagship Store satisfies both.

The menu descriptions were intuitive and easy to read. You can just pick by the pictures. If you're looking for a pub in Sinnonhyeon, it's worth a visit for the atmosphere alone.

How were the raw LA ribs?

What I ordered at Sojei Seoul Flagship Store were the raw LA ribs and the tasting-size oxtail stew. They're the signature dishes here, too. As expected, no regrets.

First, the raw LA ribs had a look that felt fresh just from seeing them. Grilled on the hot plate, they were juicy and the flavor of the meat itself was really good.

They aren't heavily seasoned, so you can properly taste the meat as it is, and the more I chewed, the more a rich, nutty flavor filled my mouth.

After one bite I immediately understood why Sojei Seoul Flagship Store is famous as a Sinnonhyeon meat restaurant. The texture was tender too, so I think anyone, young or old, would enjoy it.

Tasting-size oxtail stew: portion and flavor?

The tasting-size oxtail stew we ordered with it was better than expected too.

I thought the portion would be small because of the "tasting" name, but it came out more generous than I expected, which surprised me. It had a deep flavor, as if cooked carefully for a long time, and the chewy yet tender texture typical of oxtail was appealing.

It was cooked so well that the meat came apart softly in my mouth, and thanks to the rich savory depth it was a truly great side for drinking.

It's a great dish to add when meat alone feels like not quite enough, so I personally recommend ordering it together.

Why I recommend Sojei Seoul Flagship Store as a Sinnonhyeon pub and meat restaurant

If you're looking for a pub with good atmosphere or a proper meat restaurant near Sinnonhyeon Station these days, I'd recommend Sojei Seoul Flagship Store.

• ✔ Close to Sinnonhyeon Station
• ✔ Stylish atmosphere
• ✔ Juicy raw LA ribs
• ✔ Deeply flavored oxtail stew
• ✔ Works for both gatherings and dates

It was a place that satisfied me on all five.

If you want to spend a good time with good meat in Gangnam, Sojei Seoul Flagship Store, the Sinnonhyeon pub and meat restaurant, is worth a visit. Next time I plan to go back and try other dishes.