Jonggak Station pub after sashimi: tableside cheese jeon, Ari Gyegok

Why we came to Ari Gyegok for round two after sashimi at Jonggak Station

My friend and I had just finished eating sashimi near Jongno, and I still felt a little empty. Going home like that felt like a waste, so we decided on something heavier and stopped by the Jonggak Station bar Ari Gyegok (아리계곡) Jonggak.

Where is Ari Gyegok Jonggak?

Ari Gyegok Jonggak is down the alley by Starbucks. Come out of Jonggak Station Exit 4 and head inside.

The seating and mood at after-work hours

The moment we stepped inside, the place was nearly full. Like a proper Jonggak Station pub, everyone was enjoying a drink after work.

Ari Gyegok also has seating on the 2nd floor, but when I went up, it was almost full too. After debating where to sit, we settled on a spot on the 1st floor.

What we ordered for round two, and the prices

The menu had lots of options. Since we'd only had a light first round, we looked for something filling that goes well with drinks and ordered the bubbling cheese potato pancake (뽀글치즈감자전) and the beef intestine soft tofu hot pot (소곱창순두부전골).

• Bubbling cheese potato pancake - ₩18,900
• Beef intestine soft tofu hot pot - ₩23,900
• Saero (새로) soju - ₩6,000 × 3 bottles

After we ordered, they brought mussam (pickled radish wraps) and water. The mussam came cut small, so it was easy to eat alongside.

Bubbling cheese potato pancake: do they pour the cheese at your table?

Yes, a staff member pours the cheese right at your table. Watching bubbling hot cheese pour over the potato pancake felt like looking at a lava flow. Even just from the video it looks delicious, right? T_T

The staff said it tastes better when the cheese gets slightly crispy, but I couldn't wait and cut right in. When I went to take a photo, I saw the pancake is folded in half. There was plenty of cheese both inside and outside, and bacon and chopped scallions on top made it look really tempting. I thought it was clever that they put potato salad in the middle so the layers don't stick together. From pancake to salad, it was a total potato party.

Is the cheese potato pancake too greasy?

I was surprised that it wasn't greasy at all. The outside was golden and crispy, while the inside stayed moist and chewy, and the salty cheese went well with the mild potato flavor. It makes a pretty good drinking snack.

How does the beef intestine soft tofu hot pot taste?

The beef intestine soft tofu hot pot came out right away too. Long beef intestines were coiled on top of the spicy broth, with plenty of soft tofu piled on, so it looked like the kind of dish that calls for a drink. The two pieces of chili on top were really cute, too.

They said to cut the intestines however we like, so I lifted one out, and it's seriously long, isn't it? I thought it was so fun that I took a photo.

After the hot pot came to a rolling boil, I put some on a plate. The chewy intestines and crunchy bean sprouts were great to bite into, and the soft tofu soaked up the broth, so the combination was really good. The soft tofu especially softened the spicy broth. Instead of getting saltier and harsher as it boiled, it felt like the tofu neutralized the flavor, so it never got too intense, which I liked.

Is Ari Gyegok Jonggak good for a round-two bar?

With its good atmosphere, the Jonggak Station bar Ari Gyegok Jonggak was a great place for a filling round two when round one leaves you a bit unsatisfied. It runs two floors, so seating felt fairly roomy, and the softly dim mood made it look fine for gatherings or after-work drinks too.