Mangwon izakaya for cucumber-perilla beef tartare gimbap: Baennori

I wanted a quick drink in Mangwon before heading home, so I stopped by Baennori (뱃놀이). I was curious how fresh beef tartare and gimbap (seaweed rice roll) would work together, and it beat my expectations.

How to get to Baennori from Mangwon Station

Come out of Mangwon Station Exit 2 and keep walking toward Mangwon Market. Turn left at the Cheongnyeon Fruit Market alley and you'll see it right away, so even first-timers won't have trouble. It's close to the station, so it's an easy place to drop in.

Is Baennori in Mangwon good for a date?

Baennori has bar seats that feel like couple seats, so it has the cozy vibe you'd expect from a Mangwon date spot. I'd love to go with a boyfriend, but I don't have a boyfriend to go with.

The inside is a textbook izakaya! Clean tables, and a comfortable, snug feel.

Does Baennori have a restroom inside?

Yes, Baennori has a restroom inside. An indoor restroom is so convenient, right? On hot or cold days it's a quietly big plus. I could use it comfortably mid-meal without going outside, which was nice.

Baennori menu and drinks list

Baennori sells beef sashimi and beef tartare, so I figured the meat would be fresh, and ordered the beef tartare gimbap.

The drink list is huge: makgeolli (Korean rice wine), soju, highballs, traditional liquors. It was so varied that I filmed it as a video. They even have Haechang Makgeolli, which I love, so I was happy. Offering this many kinds that everyone can pick to their taste was impressive.

What free side dishes does Baennori serve?

The complimentary side dishes were tofu, seasoned pollock roe, doenjang (soybean paste), and one more jeotgal (salted seafood) whose name I don't know, haha. It's a simple lineup, but it went well with drinks. Even the basic sides were so tasty you could feel the care, which made me naturally curious how good the main dishes would be. The owner's cooking skill showed even here, so my expectations grew before the real menu arrived.

I dipped the tofu in a sort of tofu omakase style~ My chopsticks kept going back before the main dish even came out. They're just side dishes, but I was totally satisfied.

Baennori beef tartare gimbap: price and filling options

Finally, Baennori's beef tartare gimbap (₩22,000) arrived! When you order, you choose the filling: cucumber, perilla leaf, or both. Lots of people hate cucumber, so the owner's thoughtfulness is amazing.. I love both cucumber and perilla leaf, so I ordered both without a second's hesitation.

The look of it alone is just crazy.. I tried the tartare on its own first and it melted in my mouth!!! The seasoning was perfectly salty and sweet, exactly my taste..

How the cucumber and perilla leaf beef tartare gimbap tastes

(Cucumber haters, close your eyes) There's SO much cucumber in Baennori's gimbap and I love it........ So crunchy, so good. If they sold only cucumber gimbap, I'd buy it. I was so happy eating the end piece packed with cucumber. I was most looking forward to how crunchy cucumber and fragrant perilla leaf would go with the tartare, and it totally exceeded my expectations!

Cucumber gimbap meeting salty tartare tossed in perilla oil: the texture and flavor were insane. I want it again right now... Honestly, I thought ₩22,000 was too cheap for this.

Pairing beef tartare gimbap with soju and Coke Zero

Eating Baennori's beef tartare gimbap with soju and Coke Zero was amazing. The cold soju cleanly cuts the richness and fresh flavor of the tartare, and rinsing my mouth with Coke Zero in between worked really well. Take a sip, eat a piece of delicious gimbap, and the drinks just kept going down. A very satisfying meal, haha.