In the Mood for Makgeolli? Here Are My Recommendations!

Have you ever tried Makgeolli [막걸리]? In case you have never tried or have never heard of it, it is a traditional Korean wine made from rice.

It has a milky white color, is a little sparkly and a little sweet. Words cannot describe it. You must try it!

Wine is best paired with cheese and fruit, but with Makgeolli, the first thing that pops into my head is “Haemul-Pajeon [해물파전],” which is a Korean seafood – green onion pancake. Makgeolli and Pajeon make a great combo. So, if you are in the mood for Makgeolli, here are my recommendations!

Boksoondoga [복순도가] at F1963

Boksoondoga is one of the most well-known Makgeolli breweries in the Busan Kyeongnam Province. When they opened their own restaurant, they used the name of their representative, Makgeolli. Boksoondoga serves traditional Korean fusion food and you can either order a bottle (18,000 won) or a glass of Makgeolli (4,000 won).

Location: First floor at F1963

Hours: 11:00 – 20:00 closed on Monday. On break from 3:30 pm to 5 pm.

2. Mia Jeon [미아전]

Mia Jeon is a relatively small/ cozy wine bar decorated with a vivid orange color. But surprisingly, they brew their own Makgeolli! The bottle comes in two different sizes, one is 375 ml and the other is 750 ml. The price is 32,000 won and 58,000 won respectively. At Mia Jeon, I recommend the Gamjajeon [감자전](potato pancake) over the Pajeon. This place is more suitable for a night-out.

Location: First floor of the Hyperion Apartment Complex, Marine City.

Hours: 5 pm – 12 am (closed on Monday).

3. Haeundae 31cm Haemul Kalguksu [해운대 31cm 해물 칼국수 Seafood Hand-cut Noodle]

This place is located in Gwangalli, but the name features Haeundae, which is a little confusing. It is nothing too fancy, just a good local restaurant. If you visit, make sure you order a bowl of seafood noodle, Kalguksu, Pajeon and Makgeolli. The three of them make a very tasty combo. Their portions can easily feed two to three people, and the prices are super reasonable.

Location: Gwangnam Road 144, Suyeong-gu. Just a five-minute walk from Gwangan Subway Station

Hours: Open from 11:00 am to 10 pm.

4. Solbat jib [솔밭집]

This place is very authentic. You may like it… or you may hate it.

I first came here a long time ago. My first time there felt so odd (in a good way). It was nice to be able to enjoy Pajeon, noodle and Makgeolli in a forest surrounded by trees. It almost felt like the middle of nowhere.

However, I recently went back in order to better recommend this place to my readers, but my family hated it there. Personally, I would still recommend Solbatjib to someone looking for a very different experience.

It is located in the mountains near Busan National University. The restaurant is close to the Art Building of BNU. You could even walk up toward the mountain from the North Gate, which is about a 5-10 minute walk.