Post-study bar by Sejong Univ.: beef tartare platter, Yukhoe Gongjakso

Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch, found after studying with a friend

Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch (육회공작소 세종대점) is a bar near Children's Grand Park Station that's known for good value and excellent bar food. My friend and I were studying near Sejong University when we got hungry, and after agonizing over where to go for ages, we finally tried it.

Honestly, I had a bit of a prejudice that bars near university areas are just loud and the food is all the same, but this place completely broke that idea! You'll see why below 😍

How to get to Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch

From Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station, turn into the Oklumong alley and walk about 3 minutes, and you're there. The location is really good, so it's easy to find.

This is the outside of the shop! Doesn't it look really trendy, just right for today's tastes?

Is Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch quiet?

With private partitioned seats and soft cherry blossom lighting, it's a good place for a quiet conversation. The moment we walked in, the clean, cozy interior caught my eye.

Unlike a typical wide-open bar, it has partitioned seats, so it's really nice for spending time together just the two of us. With the gentle cherry blossom lights, the mood was perfect for talking quietly 😍

Menu at Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch

The menu includes fresh yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) and mungtigi (raw beef slices), plus yakiniku (grilled beef), beet-cured salmon, jokbal (braised pig's trotters) and bossam (boiled pork wraps), and great-value ₩3,900 side dishes. There's such a variety that choosing what to eat becomes a happy dilemma... 😋

Egg soup comes free

Egg soup comes out as a standard side here!! Seriously, it was so good that my friend and I slurped it up like crazy.. It was so refreshing that I really regretted not drinking the night before 😭

Yukhoe combo: sashimi and magic-sauce yukhoe

The yukhoe combo we ordered comes with sashimi and yukhoe together. There was no gamey or fishy smell at all, and the texture was super chewy 😋

The yukhoe especially is tossed in a "magic sauce," so maybe that's why the savory flavor just exploded!

Yakiniku is best when it's lightly cooked

The second dish was yakiniku! It was my first time having it, and maybe because the meat quality is good, this melted in my mouth too.. Personally, I liked it lightly cooked better than fully cooked!!

The meat sizzling away,,

My friend grilled every single piece for me,, 🥹 My friend is the best!

Definitely order the salmon

The salmon at Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch had the thickness and freshness of a proper raw fish restaurant. One bite and I wanted to order another plate. Everyone, please order the salmon 💛

The yukhoe bibimbap has a generous amount of yukhoe

This is the yukhoe bibimbap (rice bowl mixed with raw beef) my friend ordered! Since the yukhoe is good, of course the bibimbap was super delicious too. I'm usually disappointed because yukhoe bibimbap tends to skimp on the beef, but here there was plenty of yukhoe and it tasted great!

Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch as a first-round bar and dinner spot

With good-value set menus and hearty dinner specials, I don't think there's a better place for a first-round bar that doubles as dinner. Taste, mood and value were all perfect, a great spot near Children's Grand Park Station. If you visit for a get-together with friends or a date, you definitely won't regret it.