OWL Magazine Korea

Seoul Gwanghwamun Beef Restaurant and Wine Bar ‘Wooajigyeong’

The Gwanghwamun area in Seoul can be considered a representative district densely populated with office buildings. During lunchtime, you can often see numerous office workers all at once.

To cater to these office workers, various restaurants are situated in the basements of the buildings. Generally, these restaurants offer a simple dining experience for a quick meal. However, occasionally you can find restaurants with a distinctive atmosphere, and “Wooajigyeong” is one such place.

“Gwanghwamun Beef Restaurant, Wine Bar, Wooajigyeong”

“Wooajigyeong” writes the “Woo” using the “so woo” character, indicating that it primarily focuses on beef. However, when you look at the establishment, whether from the outside or inside, it exudes an ambiance that is quite different from a typical steakhouse commonly found in underground shopping arcades.

Perhaps during lunchtime, it serves as a place for a simple meal, but after evening hours, it operates as a sophisticated venue for both dinner and a wine bar. Thanks to this, the establishment gives off more of a luxurious wine bar vibe rather than a typical restaurant feel.

“Lunch Menu”

Similar to most steakhouses, Wooajigyeong also offers a lunch menu for office workers. There are about three lunch menu options, which are as follows:

  • Tofu Beef Stir-Fry (serves 2): KRW 29,000
  • Eggplant Rice with Hanwoo Soybean Paste Stew (1 serving): KRW 10,000
  • Lunch Joy with Beef (1 serving): KRW 10,000

This time, since we visited during lunch hours, we ordered from the lunch menu. The menu that seemed most straightforward was the “Eggplant Rice with Hanwoo Soybean Paste Stew,” so we ordered one each.

Overall, a neatly arranged table setting awaited us. Light side dishes were served first, followed by the soybean paste stew. While the taste was generally satisfactory, there was a slight disappointment regarding the portion size. The eggplant rice was unique, but it felt like there was a bit lacking in rice, so we added an extra bowl of plain rice, which was a bit on the expensive side compared to other restaurants.

For women looking to have a meal, it offers a pleasant atmosphere and the taste is not bad, making it a place worth recommending. However, for men who eat a lot, it may be a bit challenging to recommend.

“A Great Place to Taste Meat and Wine in the Evening”

I haven’t visited during evening hours yet, but it gives off the impression of being a great place to taste meat along with wine in the evening.

With its atmospheric and subtle lighting, paired with a delicious piece of beef, it seems like a good place to combine with wine.

“Mainly Operates on a Reservation Basis”

Wooajigyeong primarily operates on a reservation basis. Even during lunch hours, most visitors make reservations, so if you visit without one, there may be cases where you cannot dine even if there are empty seats available. It would be advisable to make a reservation in advance before visiting.

“Seoul Gwanghwamun Beef Restaurant and Wine Bar Wooajigyeong”