Jonggak couples' bar: fall-off-the-bone ribs and stout at Sudowonui

Some days after work you just crave a cold craft beer and a hearty snack, right?! It's been so hot lately that I was desperate for a cold beer! Looking for a bar with a nice mood in Jonggak, I went to Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo (수도원의 비밀 저장고), famous for its ribs. From the cold craft beer to the juicy ribs, it was better than I expected, so I'm happy to recommend it to anyone looking for a good bar in Jonggak!

What kind of Jonggak bar is Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo?

Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo is a Jonggak restaurant-bar where you can enjoy many styles of craft beer together with big ribs. There's a good range of dishes that pair with beer, so it works for a drink after work, a date, or a get-together with friends!

I only went in for a casual drink, but one bite of the ribs and I got it right away: faint smokiness, tender meat, and a sweet-salty barbecue sauce that all work together, so now I know why it's famous for ribs! Hahaha

Add a cold craft beer and the combination is so good your hand just keeps reaching for more. I can confidently recommend it as a Jonggak bar!

What are the location and atmosphere like?

The address is 47-1 Samil-daero 17-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, basement level 1. It's close to Jonggak Station so it's easy to get to, and the inside is cozy with an exotic feel, a comfortable place to spend time~

It's less a rowdy drinking spot and more a place to talk at leisure over good food and beer, so I'd especially recommend it as a date spot near Jonggak Station! Now let me start my honest review of Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo, where the craft beer and ribs combination really impressed me!

The chef and the special sauce

Along with its stylish interior, the place showcases the cooking of a chef said to be a former sous chef at the Hilton in New Zealand, plus a special sauce he reportedly developed himself as its signatures~

Thanks to that, dishes like the ribs and pizza that go well with craft beer tasted extra special, and since everything pairs so well with beer, ordering alcohol is pretty much a must here!

Is there wine or soju besides craft beer?

Besides craft beer, there's also a range of wine, champagne and soju, so it's easy to come with people who like different drinks! Beer lovers, and those who prefer wine or champagne, can each choose to taste, so it seemed like a high-satisfaction spot for dates, company dinners and get-togethers^^~

Maybe that's why, when we visited, I saw older guests enjoying wine, which gave me the feeling that the place satisfies a wide range of tastes~! And above all, the ribs were seriously good~~!

Is the half rack of ribs enough for two?

The half rack of ribs, named "allowed after confession," is ₩36,900 and was just the right amount for a couple to share. They say it's made with pork aged at low temperature for 24 hours! (Isn't the name hilarious, hahaha? The concept seems to be a church!)

It isn't just ribs: it comes with a fresh cabbage salad and crispy fries too, so I'd recommend it if two friends or a couple come. The tender ribs were so moist the meat came off the bone easily, and the sweet, savory special sauce blended so well with the meat that I kept eating~

Personally, if my wallet allowed, I'd have ordered a whole rack instead of a half, hahaha. That's not to say the portion is small at all!

The half rack was enough for a couple to share, and with the cabbage salad and fries we finished the meal far fuller than expected, which was great~! Hahaha

So whether you want a craft beer on a hot summer day or just a tasty dinner, I recommend it! Set everything else aside and just order the ribs...!! Plenty of places serve tough ribs, but the ribs here were J.M.T. (insanely delicious), good enough that I'd recommend it as a Jonggak date course! Hahaha

How do the dark stout and non-alcoholic lemon beer taste?

In short, if you're looking for a proper ribs place in Jonggak, I'd recommend visiting at least once. For drinks, I ordered the Scorched by the Temple dark stout (성전의 그을림 흑맥주) and my husband ordered the non-alcoholic lemon beer~

The non-alcoholic lemon beer was more refreshing and crisp than I expected, so even people who can't drink could order it without worry. The stout hit with a weighty punch as it went down, and the rich craft beer flavor filled my mouth, which I was really happy with!

It also goes well with the sweet barbecue sauce on the ribs, so if you like stouts, the Scorched by the Temple stout (₩7,900) is worth ordering~! By the way, ube desserts are so popular right now that they also sell an ube craft beer (₩7,900). I haven't tried it because my tastes are pretty fixed, but if anyone has, please tell me what it's like! Hahaha

Overall verdict on Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo

• Taste: The ribs were really tender and delicious, and the craft beer was pretty good too. The fries were so-so
• Price: Food prices were reasonable for the quality; some drinks felt a bit pricey, but regular craft beer was fine to enjoy without worry
• Service: Good
• Portion: The half rack alone was enough for a couple to share
• Overall: ★★★★

The ribs were better than I expected, so Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo is a Jonggak bar I'd recommend! It's a nice place for a casual drink after work, and I'd go back!