If you’re looking to enjoy delicious Korean snacks and traditional liquors in the vibrant Yeonnam-dong neighborhood, Owl Mt Cabin is a great spot to check out. They offer a traditional liquor pairing with a 4-course lunch or a 5-course dinner, and you can take home your favorite liquor as a gift. Conveniently located just a 5-minute walk from Hongik Univ. Station, it’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy good food and drinks with great company.
Our Visit
Today I visited the atmospheric Korean cuisine pub 'Owl Mt Cabin Yeonnam Branch', located a 5-minute walk from Hongik University Station. They offer 4-course lunch and 5-course dinner pairing meals, paired with a variety of traditional liquors. Menus and types of traditional liquors changes seasonally.
First, I will introduce the lunch pairing course.
Owl Cocktail & Gochujang Ragu Platter
You can dip various Korean-style crispy vegetables in the gochujang sauce. Bugak is a side dish made by coating ingredients with glutinous rice paste, drying them, and then frying them in oil. It is quite crispy and you can taste the original flavor of the ingredients.
Especially, the gochujang sauce has a taste similar to ssamjang but with a distinct depth and is highly addictive, making it great to enjoy with other dishes. Try sipping an Owl cocktail with the bugak platter.
Owl Makgeolli & Assorted Pancakes (Beef, Perilla Leaf, Tofu, Pumpkin)
Next, I tried the pancakes, perfectly cooked with a golden-brown finish and a savory aroma that was very appetizing. The combination of drinking makgeolli with jeon (pancakes) is a traditionally popular food pairing in Korea.
Owl Makgeolli is smooth with a slightly sharp carbonation and a subtle sweetness. The makgeolli cleanses the greasy taste from the pancakes.
Andong Soju21 & Tofu/Boiled Pork/Kimchi Stew Trio
The combination of tofu, boiled pork, and kimchi harmonizes very well with the flavors and textures of each ingredient coming together.
Tofu is moist and has a soft texture; it's mild in flavor. Properly seasoned and boiled pork gives a rich and savory flavor that grounds the dish in your mouth. Well-fermented kimchi has a tangy and spicy flavor, and its unique crisp texture helps balance out richness. Cut the kimchi into bite-size pieces using scissors, and place it on top of tofu or boiled pork, then enjoy it together.
The alcohol I tried together is distilled liquor made from 100% domestic rice and underground water. It went really well together with the seafood trio and was very clean.
Baekryun Clear Liquor & Perilla Oil Makguksu with Pork Ribs
Lastly, I tried perilla oil buckwheat noodles and pork ribs.
The buckwheat noodles, which made my mouth water with the savory perilla oil aroma, and the sweet and salty soy sauce marinated pork ribs were the most delicious.
The white lotus leaves paired perfectly with the traditional Baekryun rice liquor. Its balanced acidity and body provided a refreshing finish that complemented Korean cuisine beautifully.
Next, I'll introduce the dinner pairing course.
Owl Cocktail & Gochujang Ragu Platter
Owl Makgeolli & Assorted Pancakes (Beef, Perilla Leaf, Tofu, Zucchini)
The gochujang ragu platter with assorted fried items is the same as the lunch pairing course.
However, in dinner course, an additional shrimp pancake is included in the assortment of pancakes.
The texture of the large shrimp was good, and the outside was crispy while the inside retained the moistness of the shrimp meat, making it really delicious.
Boksoondoga & Grilled Chicken Thigh
The grilled chicken thigh was impressive with its spicy seasoning. If you cannot handle spicy food well, try dipping it in the sauce next to it.
The spiciness is neutralized and the savory taste and umami are enhanced, so I recommend it. And a slight sprinkle of lemon gave it a subtly exotic taste, which was very nice.
The accompanying Boksoon Dogan had a rich nutty grain flavor and a subtle fruity aroma. Its fine particles avoided the usual murkiness of takju, and the strong carbonation added a refreshing touch. The sweetness made it a perfect match for the spicy grilled chicken thigh.
Andong Soju 40 & Tofu/Boiled Pork/Kimchi Stew Trio
The tofu, bossam, and kimchi stew trio is the same as the lunch pairing course. The Andang soju paired with it, at 40% alcohol, was surprisingly sweet and fragrant. Despite the high alcohol content, it was smooth and easy to enjoy.
Omegi clear soju & spicy blue crab soup with kimbap jeon
Lastly, I had a spicy crab stew and savory gimbap pancakes. The crab and chicken were boiled with spicy seasoning, and it was amazing.
Kimbap jeon can really be described as one of the truly Korean foods. Coating kimbap with egg batter and eating it grilled like a pancake is truly a unique Korean cooking method. The taste is more nutty and warm compare to regular kimbap.
The accompanying Omegi Makgeolli is a premium traditional wine that is fermented for a long-time without artificial sweeteners and additives. A fresh, natural fruity scent arises and its unique sweet and sour taste whets the appetite.
Gopdoritang
(Spicy Braised Beef Small Intestine and Chicken)
Gopdoritang is a signature dish where you can enjoy dakdoritang (spicy braised chicken) made with special sauce and gopchang (intestine) together.
Grilled Spicy Squid
Grilled squid with a special spicy sauce, featuring a chewy texture from being grilled over an open flame. For those who can't handle spicy food well, try dipping it in the mayonnaise next to it.
Cheese Potato Pancake
The cheesy potato pancake was also really delicious. Inside the crunchy potato strings, there is a full load of mozzarella cheese.
Traditional Toast
For dessert, you must try the traditional toast. Even though I was full, the taste made me feel hungry again. Sweet sugar is sprinkled on top of the soft bread slice that has been grilled with an egg coating. It's a taste that everyone, regardless of age or gender, loves without a doubt. If you want to experience a proper Korean meal along with traditional Korean liquor, I highly recommend trying out this restaurant!
How to Get There
Come out of Hongik Univ. Station Exit 3.
Go straight.
Go straight on the path to the right of Gyeongui Line Forest Park.
When you see the 'Saju Tarot' building, make a right turn and enter the alley.
Go straight. 
Turn left at the end of the alley.
Go straight.
Turn right into the alley.
Go straight.
You've arrived!
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