Kimchi cheese tangsuyuk before a match at Hwial, an Ajou University

I meant to just have a light meal before the match and head out, but I ended up sitting way longer than planned. This is Hwial at the Ajou University intersection — the portions are generous so the value is solid, and the vibe is calm enough that it'd be perfect for a date or a couple who's just starting to see each other.

My girlfriend and I ordered two dishes — kimchi cheese tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork) and garlic pork jowl bossam (boiled pork) — and both were satisfying. Here's a breakdown of the flavors and who each dish suits best.

Hwial, the place I found while searching for good food near Ajou University

Hwial is a Korean-style bar that reworks multinational dishes into Korean-style bar food. It's built around soju, draft beer and draft makgeolli, so it's more of a drinking spot than a proper meal restaurant.

It's located at 1F, 6-3 Ajou-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, right in the middle of the Ajou University intersection commercial strip. There's no parking in front of the store, so if you're driving, it's better to park at the Uman 2-dong public parking lot and walk over.

Once you sit down, you get popcorn as a complimentary starter. Doesn't sound like much, but picking at it while chatting before your order arrives means the wait doesn't feel like waiting at all, haha.

Kimchi cheese tangsuyuk, that college-days kimpitang taste

The kimchi cheese tangsuyuk feels like it's straight out of college days — like kimpitang (kimchi pizza tangsuyuk). The batter is crispy while the meat inside stays moist, and it's topped with stir-fried kimchi and cheese, so when you lift a piece, the cheese stretches out in long strings.

What I liked best here was the kimchi. It's not just stir-fried sweet — the tangy edge is clearly still there, which cuts through the point where the cheese and fried batter would otherwise get too heavy.

That makes it a dish that doesn't really divide people's tastes. Even those who can't handle spicy food can eat it without worry, and anyone with kimpitang memories will be taken right back with the first bite. There's nothing better to order first when you're not sure what everyone in the group likes.

As a drinking snack, it definitely leans soju. Right when the cheese starts making your mouth feel a bit heavy, the tangy kimchi cleans it up, and after a shot of soju, your chopsticks go right back for the next piece. Before you know it, the plate empties faster than expected. It works with beer too, of course, since it's fried.

Garlic pork jowl bossam, the one where the grain melts away

The garlic pork jowl bossam is the type of boiled pork where the grain of the meat falls apart tenderly. There's almost no chewy stretch — one bite and the grain just melts away, leaving the fat clean and light.

It's seasoned enough that it's not bland even without salt. There's a faint garlic aroma clinging to it too, so there's no worry about the usual pork smell.

The pairing with the vegetables served alongside was especially good. Eating just bossam on its own can get tiring, but wrapping it with the crisp vegetables in one bite brings the texture right back to life, like starting over fresh.

So this one is especially suited to those who find heavy dishes like fried food or stir-fries a bit much, or for gatherings with older family members. In fact, my girlfriend reached for this one more.

As a drinking snack, this is the classic soju course. A bite, a shot, another bite with vegetables on top — the pace sets itself naturally. It's not a bold, aggressive flavor but one suited to sitting and drinking slowly for a long time, which makes it perfect for a table where you're doing a lot of talking.

Why it worked well for a date or a budding thing near Ajou University

The biggest plus was the wide table spacing, which let us talk without worrying about the next table. The Ajou University bar strip is so packed that a lot of places get loud, but here nothing got in the way of conversation while seated. The setup, with two dishes easy to share, was also just right for two people.

There's also a room-style seating area for about eight people, which is great for department dinners or small group gatherings. There are four menu items exclusive to the Ajou branch — 1++ Hanwoo tataki, arongsatae bossam hotpot, buchu ox tail jjim, and boyang ox tail bossam hotpot — and if you come with a bigger group, moving on to the hotpot side of the menu seems like a solid move.

Good to stop by before watching a Suwon Samsung match

On this day, I stopped here first on my way to watch a Suwon Samsung match. Deciding what to eat before a match is oddly tricky, but this was just right — not too heavy, and you can have a drink with it too. Since it opens in the evening and stays open late, you could also come back here for an after-party once the match is over. Visitors coming from out of town also have plenty of options if they head to the Ajou University intersection area.

Visit info summary

• Name: Hwial Ajou University Branch
• Location: 1F, 6-3 Ajou-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Type: Korean-style bar (yorijujeom)
• Parking: No parking in front of the store; use the Uman 2-dong public parking lot
• Complimentary snack: Popcorn
• Seating: Wide table spacing, plus an 8-person room-style seating area
• Ajou branch-only menu: 1++ Hanwoo tataki, arongsatae bossam hotpot, buchu ox tail jjim, boyang ox tail bossam hotpot
• Based on a September 2026 visit

In short, if you're looking for good food near Ajou University for a drink together, this is a safe pick that won't disappoint. The combo of kimchi cheese tangsuyuk to set the mood and garlic pork jowl bossam to wind things down slowly worked well for us. Next time, I'm thinking of moving on to the ox tail dishes, haha.