New Jersey

About

Historic eatery in Namyeong-dong steak alley serving Korean-style teppanyaki mixed platters of hanwoo beef, sausage, and bacon alongside hearty budae-jjigae.

Tucked down an alleyway near Sookmyung Women’s University Station, New Seoji is a storied Namyeong-dong fixture that has anchored Yongsan’s famous "steak alley" for decades. Marked by a bold yellow sign, the unpretentious dining room wears its history openly, its walls plastered with handwritten notes and celebrity autographs. Long favored by neighborhood office workers for after-work drinks, it delivers an idiosyncratic style of Korean-American comfort food rooted in the area's mid-century military base influences. The undisputed centerpiece is the Hanwoo Modeum Steak. Premium Korean beef—specifically 1+ grade Hanwoo cow—arrives on a generous platter alongside thick-cut bacon, sausages, ham, potatoes, onions, mushrooms, and bell peppers. Cooking directly on a hot tabletop griddle, the ingredients sizzle in butter as the kitchen staff guides the grill, searing the beef so the exterior browns while leaving the center tender and blushing pink. Sliced into bite-sized morsels, the rich beef trades off against salty, snappy sausages and crisp bacon. Diners season each bite using an array of accompaniments, from matcha salt and Himalayan pink salt to whole-grain mustard. A spread of down-to-earth side dishes keeps the richness in check: pickled chili peppers to cut through the rendered animal fats, seasoned chives, kimchi, and a shredded cabbage salad dusted with crushed peanuts. While the griddle sizzles, tables fill with bottles of cold beer and soju, turning dinner into a leisurely drinking session. For those with room to spare after clearing the iron plate, New Seoji also simmers classic budae jjigae, offering a spicy, savory stew to round out the meal. It is an unfussy, communal dining experience where sizzling meats, preserved heritage, and warm hospitality come together seamlessly.