Mukho Iyagi Gorae Solo-Drinking Bar Open-Run Tips

Hi! I recently took a solo trip to Mukho, and I want to introduce the place that ended up being the most fun and meaningful stop of the whole trip. It was my first time at a bar designed for solo drinking, and thanks to the owner and the other solo drinkers I shared the table with, I had such a good time.

I went to a bar called Mukho Iyagi Gorae. It is on a back street near Mukho Market. My accommodation was nearby, so it took about 10 minutes to walk there. I visited on a Monday and did an open run, arriving before opening, just in case. I got there around 5:45 p.m., and about five people were already waiting. From other reviews, I had the impression that the inside was not very large, so I was glad I arrived early. If you are in line, they open the door right at 6:00 p.m. Honestly, unless you come for the opening, it can be hard to get in. Even after all the seats filled up, around seven more solo drinkers came by, but no one left until closing, so the owner could not take more guests. If you are going, arriving at opening time is the answer. Once you go, you will understand. It is so fun once you start eating and drinking that nobody wants to leave. 📍 Hours 18:00–23:00 Last order: 22:00 📍 Parking The public parking lot right next to Mukho Suhyup can reportedly be used for free.

Solo drinkers are seated at the same table in the order they enter. I ended up sitting with the people I had been waiting with. Drinking with strangers felt both funny and fascinating. The seats were already set up like this.

Barley shrimp muchim + fried rice Thick pork cutlet Deokjang meoktae Budae-jjigae

Since we stayed until 11 p.m., we ordered a lot. First, we ordered the barley shrimp muchim and pork cutlet. Reviews said the barley shrimp muchim was a must-order, and every table ordered it that day too. They said it would take a little time, so we ate the pork cutlet first.

They serve one fried egg per person like a basic side snack. It was seasoned and pretty tasty. While you eat the fried egg, the other anju dishes start coming out one by one.

We cut the pork cutlet neatly and ate it. It had a bit of an old-school Korean pork cutlet feel. The sauce had mushrooms in it, so it felt like a house-made sauce. It also came with salad and orange.

The owner brought out the barley shrimp in person and explained that the sizes vary, and that some have roe while others do not. Seeing the owner bring out the ingredients and explain them made me think this place is really serious about what it serves.

At last, the barley shrimp arrived. On the menu, barley shrimp is listed at market price; when I visited, it was 50,000 won. The owner said it was a little on the expensive side then. The seasoning was incredibly nutty and delicious. It had a fresh raw-shrimp-like feel, and it was a real specialty.

After one or two drinks, we became friendly very quickly. Even though everyone was from different places and had different ages and genders, we could have a really fun time together. While eating, we even promised to go for a second round after this place closed.

Because almost every table tends to order the barley shrimp muchim, the owner has a special event. Tables compete with each other, and the winning table gets a bottle of Donghae Night Sea soju from the owner. I will leave the exact game for you to try in person. I think it is called something like the agjak game.

Of course, our table won first place. The owner came over, opened it for us, and explained it too. The owner even toasted with us, which was just so much fun. They said it was the owner’s favorite soju. The sticker was also given through rock-paper-scissors at the table, and I ended up getting it. I stuck it on my phone and asked another person at the table to take a proof shot.

And if you order the barley shrimp muchim, the fried rice is a must. It looks simple, but it was so delicious. Maybe it is because the seasoning is so good. I genuinely want to eat that fried rice again.

After finishing the fried rice, we ordered budae-jjigae too. It came bubbling in a metal pot with a spicy kick. There were more ingredients than I expected, and it was tasty.

Bottle caps kept piling up. I had so many fun conversations with the people at the same table.

To finish, we also had deokjang meoktae. Everyone was full and looking for a simple snack to pick at, so we ordered meoktae, and somehow it was different. It was soft and nutty—the best.

You can see other people’s memories here and there, and the other tables were all having fun too. It felt a bit like a guesthouse, but warm and familiar. Since we were all genuinely there alone, without friends or partners, it was even more fun.

On my way out, I talked with the owner and received this really pretty pen. It has a shimmering mermaid-tail shape. That was my review of Mukho Iyagi Gorae, where I had a precious five-hour experience in so many ways. If you are traveling alone in Mukho, please, please try going. There is only one tip: if you go late, you may not get in. Go early.

P.S. I even went for a second round with the friends from my table, plus two people from another table. It has been quite a while since I visited, but it looks like all of us may meet again in Seoul next month. Such a surprising experience. If you want to make good memories, definitely give it a try.