Seoksudong Suljip, Anyang: Cozy Izakaya-Style Bar

Hello! Today I found a seriously good bar in Seoksu-dong. The name is Seoksudong Suljip (석수동 술집), and after this visit, I feel like it may become my go-to bar whenever I am in the neighborhood. The anju were excellent and the atmosphere was great. Since it is run by a chef with 26 years of experience, it felt different from an ordinary pub.

The location is near Seoksu Market, right in front of Wija-ne. I visited by bus, and because there was a stop nearby, it was easy to get there. Hours: 16:30-02:00. Last order: 01:00. Closed every Monday. Parking is not available, so you need to use a public parking lot near Seoksu Market.

This was the window seat I most wanted to sit in. I visited after making a reservation, and they had set the window seat aside as the reserved table. On nice days, they can open the whole window and use it like terrace seating. I was going to sit by the window, but there were guests at the table right behind it, so I moved to an inner seat. The inside was warmer and cozier anyway.

The bar is not very large; it has a cozy mood and can seat about six groups. Because of that, there may be a wait if you come during peak hours. I visited on a weekday afternoon, and by around 9 p.m. it was full. I recommend coming a little early.

The otoshi was seasoned vegetables. It was unique because katsuobushi was sprinkled on top. The flavor was nutty, savory, and really addictive. It was so good. When I came back from the restroom, the owner had set everything up beautifully.

Cheongyang cream udon. Buta no Kakuni.

We were pretty hungry, so we ordered two main anju: the Cheongyang cream udon, which had a recommendation star on the menu, and Buta no Kakuni. I was especially excited for the Buta no Kakuni.

For reference, the otoshi is provided free only once, and there is an extra charge if you add more. Since we ordered dishes that were a little rich, the otoshi paired really well with the other food. It was the first basic side dish that made me seriously consider ordering more.

There was an aquarium next to our seat, so we watched the cute fish while waiting for the anju. There was also a turtle on one side, and it kept rubbing its face by itself, which was funny enough that I filmed it.

After a short wait, the anju came out quickly. The presentation looked amazing. I honestly did not expect too much from a neighborhood bar, but this place was impressive. I was surprised by how genuinely Japanese-style the anju felt.

Buta no Kakuni is a dish of whole pork belly simmered in soy sauce. It is also described as a Japanese-style dongpo pork. I kept wondering how it could be this tender. Even though the meat was thick, it was cooked just right, and most of all, it was not salty despite being a simmered dish. The soft-boiled egg and radish served with it were tasty too. The best way to eat it was wrapped in the lightly braised napa cabbage.

For the Cheongyang cream udon, we scraped the bowl clean. The sauce was seriously incredible. I usually do not like pasta-style dishes as drinking food, so I did not expect to be scraping up every last bit of sauce myself.

We put the sauce on the baguette that came with it, and at that point I wondered if this was a bar or a brunch cafe. Because it was udon, the noodles were thick and chewy, which made it even better. While eating both dishes, I kept wondering whether we had simply chosen well or whether everything on the menu was just good.

The Buta no Kakuni was served on a warmer. It was exactly the kind of dish I wanted to keep warm until the end, but a gas flame seemed like it might burn it or reduce it too quickly. Because it came with a warmer, we could enjoy it warm all the way through. Such a thoughtful touch from Seoksudong Suljip.

This is truly an anju-focused spot, so if you are near Anyang and looking for a real anju gem, I highly recommend Seoksudong Suljip. I heard the sashimi is good too, so next time I want to come back for sashimi. #SeoksuMarketRestaurants #SeoksudongRestaurants #GwanakStationRestaurants #AnyangBars #AnyangAnjuSpots #SeoksudongAnjuSpot #SeoksudongSecondRoundBar #SeoksudongIzakaya #SeoksudongFusionBar #ButaNoKakuni #AnyangButaNoKakuni