Wangsimni traditional liquor bar, monkfish liver yukhoe: Ari Gyegok

On a recent weekday evening, Ddeonggu and I went looking for a Wangsimni bar with good atmosphere and ended up at Ari Gyegok Wangsimni Hanyang University Branch :) I'd been curious about it because of all the reviews mentioning a wide range of traditional liquors instead of the usual soju or beer, plus unique side dishes. Once we got there, both the vibe and the menu were clearly different from a typical bar haha. Here's my honest review!

Where is Ari Gyegok in Wangsimni, and what are its hours?

Ari Gyegok Wangsimni Hanyang University Branch sits between Wangsimni Station and Hanyang University Station. It's about a 4-minute walk from Wangsimni Station Exit 6, and about a 5-minute walk from Hanyang University Station Exit 1. The traditional atmosphere is visible even from the exterior, so it wasn't hard to spot from a distance. With the tile-roof and cloud motifs, it genuinely felt like stepping into an old-school tavern haha.

At the time of my search, the listed hours were until 2am Sunday through Thursday, and until 3am on Friday and Saturday. Since it stays open late, it seemed like a great spot for a second round :) Hours can change, so it's worth checking with the store before visiting!

What are the first and second floors of Ari Gyegok like?

Stepping inside, the traditional atmosphere from the exterior carried through. The dim lighting mixed with warm orange tones made it cozy while still having a really nice mood.

Liquor bottles and gourd-shaped flasks lined the walls, along with decorations shaped like mountains and clouds, so there was plenty to look at. It wasn't purely traditional decor either — neon lighting was mixed in too, adding a slightly hip touch haha.

The tables were spaced comfortably, and with the store split across two floors, it seemed good for both dates and group gatherings. Overall it's more of a place to talk and drink than a loud, chaotic bar, so I'd recommend it as a Wangsimni bar for a date too.

Ari Gyegok menu: what traditional liquors are on the list?

Even the menu was made to look like an old book, so it was fun just flipping through it lol. There were so many options, from the signature original chicken hot pot to spicy hangover chicken hot pot, perilla seed chicken hot pot, nurungji-agan-yukhoe (scorched rice monkfish liver hoe), black garlic fried chicken, and chicken yukjeon (pan-fried meat). Prices ranged from light seasoned dishes at ₩7,000s to hot pots and main dishes in the ₩20,000s, so it was easy to pick based on group size and taste.

Ari Gyegok really stands out for its traditional liquor selection! They had Pungak, Maesil-wonju (plum liquor), Geumsan Ginseng Liquor, Gongju Chestnut Liquor, Seoul-ui-bam, Hwayo, plus makgeolli (rice wine) and highballs. Each liquor came with a description of its aroma and flavor, so even someone unfamiliar with traditional liquor could pick easily. Unlike typical places that only have soju and beer, browsing and choosing drinks you've never seen before made it stand out among Wangsimni bars :)

Once seated, small plates, glasses, and utensils were neatly set out. We paired our dishes with a refreshing highball and some traditional liquor. Since you can choose a drink that pairs well with the food using the menu descriptions, it's a great option if you've been curious about traditional liquor haha.

How did the nurungji agan yukhoe taste?

The first thing we ordered was nurungji-agan-yukhoe (scorched rice monkfish liver hoe). The name alone is a pretty unusual combination, right?

On one side of the plate was a generous serving of red yukhoe (raw beef), with soft monkfish liver and crispy scorched rice on the other. Tasting the yukhoe alone first, the meat wasn't tough at all — soft, with seasoning that wasn't too strong, which was nice.

Eating the nutty, rich monkfish liver together with the yukhoe deepened the flavor considerably. Adding the crispy scorched rice on top gave an alternating soft-and-crunchy texture — the combination worked far better than I expected.

I'd recommend piling a bit of yukhoe and monkfish liver onto the scorched rice and eating it all in one bite!

It's a dish you don't often come across, so if you're looking for something new to order, I'd definitely recommend trying it haha.

What is the bubbling cheese potato pancake like?

Next was the bubbling cheese potato pancake, which caught our eye visually right away. When it first arrived, it looked completely different from the flat potato pancake I had in mind, which was a little surprising lol.

On top of the thick, pan-fried potato pancake was a generous layer of cheese and sauce, with soft potato and sauce alongside it. The outside was golden and crispy, while the inside was fluffy and moist.

With the added cheese, the flavor was rich and nutty, and paired with the smooth sauce, it was perfect as a side for beer or a highball! The portion was bigger than expected too, so ordering it alongside the nurungji-agan-yukhoe made for a pretty filling meal for two.

The light, savory flavor of the yukhoe and the heavier flavor of the cheese potato pancake were different enough that the combo of the two dishes worked well together :)

Is Ari Gyegok worth a visit in Wangsimni?

Ari Gyegok Wangsimni Hanyang University Branch was a Wangsimni bar where you could enjoy unique side dishes and a wide range of traditional liquor in one place. The interior with its traditional touches was also nice to look at, and browsing the menu to pick a drink added extra fun — a good place to visit when regular drinking nights get boring.

The nurungji-agan-yukhoe in particular was a combination hard to find elsewhere, giving the place a distinct identity. If you're looking for a date spot in Wangsimni or a Wangsimni bar for gatherings near Hanyang University, give Ari Gyegok a try :) It's the kind of place I'd want to return to on a day I want both good vibes and good food!