Holong

About

An intimate, signless 10-seat Korean fusion drinking bar near Yonsei University, with an open kitchen, seasonal dishes, and a playful collection of soju glasses.

Perched on the second floor along Seongsan-ro near Yonsei University, Horong is easy to miss. There is no exterior signboard, just large pane-glass windows fronted by stacked liquor crates, giving it the quiet air of a hidden sanctuary for solo drinkers and small parties. Inside, the space is intimate and counter-focused, seating around ten guests directly along a kitchen bar where a solo proprietor cooks with practiced, rhythmic efficiency. Vintage tunes like Cho Yong-pil’s "Short Hair" drift through the room, matching a retro aesthetic accented by quirky water glasses and tabletop knick-knacks. Hospitality here is personal without being intrusive; orders are taken purely through spoken conversation rather than digital tablets, and guests ordering soju are handed a communal basket filled with whimsical cups—from vintage patterns to Crayon Shin-chan illustrations—to pick their vessel for the night. The meal opens with a savory eggplant side dish before moving into a tight menu that balances comfort with punchy bar-food seasoning. The signature Horong Chicken leans Chinese in style, tossing crisp fried pieces in a spicy sauce reminiscent of kkanpunggi. Equally favored is the deulgireum makguksu, cold buckwheat noodles dressed in fragrant perilla oil, tossed with crispy garlic flakes for texture, and cut with a touch of wasabi to tame the richness. Tables also anchor their drinks with the sundubu gochujang jjigae—a balanced, non-cloying spicy stew tailored for rice—or the savory mapa nurungji, which blankets toasted scorched rice in saucy mapo tofu. When late-night clarity is required, a pot of spicy gemuktang (crab stew) simmers on the counter, often finished with fried rice, before guests close their tabs with sweet candied walnut ice cream. Because the kitchen operates with single-handed precision and seats fill quickly after evening commutes, calling ahead to check the counter's availability is the wisest approach.