Mukjeon | Gangnam-gu, Seoul

Mukjeon – Cheongdam, Seoul

A restaurant located in Apgujeong Rodeo in Seoul, Mukjeon (묵전) offers its customers a variety of earthy, filling Korean dishes and a popular selection of makgeolli. This place is perfect on a rainy day when you can enjoy their traditional food with a bottle of makgeolli!

Food

Some consistent favorites of Mukjeon regulars are the bossam (보쌈/sliced pork), a seasonal seafood kalguksu (칼국수/thick knife-cut noodles) and kimchi tofu. They also have a popular spread of Korean-style pancakes (전) and other smaller plates, like tteokbokki (떡볶이) and pork dumplings. The alcoholic drink makes the chewy bossam easy to digest, while the tofu adds a nice finishing touch. The food here tends to stick to very traditional Korean flavors, so you won’t find any sort of fusion here.

Makgeolli (막걸리)

Although this place is not necessarily a makgeolli bar, many people choose to order makgeolli, or sweet rice wine, to complement their food. Makgeolli’s status as the oldest Korean alcoholic drink makes it a perfect pairing for the traditional style of food that Mukjeon is famous for. The restaurant has over 10 makgeolli flavors to select from including house, chestnut, black bean, Jeju peanut, and grapefruit. The most popular flavors are housemade original and chestnut, while more adventurous drinkers may prefer to try the grapefruit flavor.

Price

Prices will vary depending on the makgeolli flavor and dishes. Smaller dishes cost around 6-15,000 won, while larger plates can cost up to around 40,000 won. Expect to pay anywhere between 20,000 to 50,000 won.

Location

The restaurant has two floors and is best suited for those seeking a cozy place to relax. However, the restaurant is almost always busy, especially around lunch and dinner times, so expect around a 30-50 minute wait during rush hour. It’s a great place to go for an office dinner or even a date, but go when you have the time to really savor the food and alcohol.