Wonju steak restaurant: pork neck steak set and lunch beer at Yolk

Today I met a friend in Wonju for lunch after a long time. We were in the same class in high school, and he now lives in Wonju as a professor of Korean medicine at Sangji University. Since it had been so long, I wanted somewhere quiet with a nice atmosphere where we could talk slowly, so I went to Yolk Wonju Musil (욜크 원주무실점) in Musil-dong, known as a great pasta place in Wonju.

Yolk Wonju Musil basic information

Yolk Wonju Musil is a Western restaurant at 50 Mandaegongwon-gil, Wonju, Gangwon, on the 1st floor. You can enjoy café, restaurant and wine all in one place.

Where is Yolk Wonju Musil?

Yolk Wonju Musil sits on the corner of a commercial building in Musil-dong, Wonju, close to Wonju City Hall. A sign reading "Yolk — Eat & Drink" hangs on the front of the European-style stone building, so it wasn't hard to find. If you're looking for restaurants near Wonju City Hall or in Musil-dong, the location is quite convenient.

The entrance is floor-to-ceiling glass with white curtains, and a vertical banner beside it says you can enjoy café, restaurant and wine together. Since it works from brunch to evening wine, it seems to be a popular brunch restaurant in Wonju too.

Just inside the entrance is a sign saying the restaurant was featured on SBS-TV Network Field "Gohyangi Boinda" (고향이 보인다) on March 17, 2014. It shows this Western restaurant in Musil-dong has been loved in the same spot for a long time.

What is the two-story interior like?

The first thing you notice when you walk into Yolk Wonju Musil is the two-story layout. The ceiling is high, so it feels really open, and the wooden staircase curving upward is the focal point of the space. We were shown to a seat on the second floor, and I could see the whole first floor over the railing, so it never felt stuffy.

The second floor has wooden tables with colorful chairs, which felt cozy yet stylish. One side was lined with empty wine bottles, so you can tell a lot of people have come here for wine. It looked like a good place to drop in for a glass of wine in the evening, too.

Framed pictures hang in a row on the wall, and the bench seats with blue cushions make you feel like you're sitting in a small gallery. By the windows there are also seats with white tables and green plants, so it's a space that suits a date in Wonju really well.

What comes in the pork neck steak set?

The Yolk Wonju Musil pork neck steak set includes starter bread, pork neck steak, one pasta, one choice of pilaf or burger, and 2 drinks. I chose the snow cream cheese pasta, and instead of the pilaf I took the handmade mozzarella cheese burger. I decided to have the iced Americano and apple juice after the meal, and ordered beer separately to drink with the food.

You get steak, pasta and a handmade burger all at once, so it seems like an easy choice for eating out in Wonju or a family meal.

Starter bread and table setting

At each seat, a cup, fork and spoon were neatly set on a plate, and once we sat down a staff member brought a menu along with a water bottle. The clean white table makes food photos come out really pretty.

The starter bread came out first, golden on the outside and soft inside. Spread with the strawberry jam that came with it, it was just right for getting your appetite going. Cucumber pickles and jalapeños came too, and they cut the richness of the cream pasta and burger to come.

How is the snow cream cheese pasta?

The snow cream cheese pasta at Yolk Wonju Musil was really delicious, living up to its name as a Wonju pasta spot. A generous helping of milky white cream sauce fills the plate, topped with arugula and cheese grated finely like snow.

The sauce is rich and nutty but not heavy, so I kept scooping it up with my spoon. Plenty of mushrooms gave it a nice chew, and the sauce soaked into the noodles well, so I enjoyed it down to the last strand.

Mozzarella cheese burger

The mozzarella cheese burger I picked instead of the pilaf came generously plated with salad, french fries and ketchup. The burger alone is enough for a full meal.

Cut in half, it had melted mozzarella over a thick handmade patty, with layers of fresh vegetables and tomato. The patty was thick and juicy, and the bun was lightly toasted and nutty. It's worth recommending to anyone looking for a handmade burger or a good hamburger place in Wonju.

With the pasta and burger on the table together, it was completely full.

The star of the set: pork neck steak

The pork neck steak at Yolk Wonju Musil caught my eye from the plating. A smooth puree is spread wide, topped with grilled pork neck, mushrooms and vegetables, then piled with crispy fried green onion strips and shredded red beet.

The pork neck was golden on the outside and juicy inside. Scooped up together with the soft puree and sauce, it matched the mild flavor of the meat well, and the crispy topping added texture. If you're looking for steak in Wonju, this was an easy, enjoyable plate.

Can you drink beer at lunch?

At Yolk Wonju Musil, I ordered Hoegaarden bottled beer and Budweiser draft beer to go with the meal. A daytime drink with a friend I hadn't seen in ages is a must, right? The Hoegaarden came with its own glass, and the Bud draft had a thick head of foam and was refreshingly cold. Beer with cream pasta and a burger never fails.

After the meal, we ordered the iced Americano and apple juice included in the set. Sipping cold drinks, we caught up on old stories for a good while.

Yolk Wonju Musil overall review

Yolk Wonju Musil was very clean and pretty. The two-story layout and high ceiling feel open, and the interior of paintings, wine and plants made it comfortable to stay a long time. The food was delicious overall, and the portions were generous enough that one pork neck steak set was plenty for two.

Another plus is that you can taste steak, pasta and a handmade burger at once, which cuts down on menu agonizing. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a good restaurant in Wonju, especially those planning brunch, a date or a family meal at a Western restaurant with atmosphere. It was a perfect place to sit across from an old friend and eat slowly.