Dish guide · Drinks
Makgeolli
막걸리
Cloudy Korean rice wine
A milky, lightly sweet and tangy rice wine, usually about 6 to 8 percent alcohol. It's Korea's oldest style of alcohol, and a classic match for savory pancakes.
What it is
- It's brewed from rice, water and nuruk, a traditional fermentation starter. The sediment settles, so it's gently turned or stirred before pouring.
- It often comes in a kettle with shallow bowls. In Jeonju, a kettle comes with a spread of small dishes.
- Moju is a warm, sweet relative boiled with spices, popular in Jeonju.
How to eat it
- 1Serve it chilled, with a pancake or other savory dish. It goes down easily, so pace yourself.
History
- Records of it reach back at least to the Goryeo period, and some trace it to the Three Kingdoms. It was long known as a farmers' drink, called nongju.
- Pajeon and makgeolli are a well-known rainy-day habit in Korea.
Allergies and diet
Usually contains
- The traditional starter, nuruk, is often made from wheat.
- It contains alcohol. Some bottled brands add sweeteners.
Recipes differ between restaurants. If you have an allergy, always ask the staff before you order.
🗣️ Allergy card for the staff
Pick your allergy to see the sentence in Korean.
📍 Where to try it
- 🍶
Yetchon Makgeolli 옛촌막걸리
Pubs · Jeonju Hanok Village & Nambu Market · Since 2002
Jeonju's makgeolli tradition is unique: you order a kettle of rice wine, and it comes with a table full of small dishes. This Seosin-dong house, open since 2002, is known as an original of that style. Order a table set. It's a short taxi ride from the Hanok Village.
Try: Makgeolli hansang (rice wine with a table of dishes)
Locals' pickShort wait - 🍶
Ahn's Makgeolli (Hanguk Suljip) 한국술집 안씨막걸리
Pubs · Itaewon
A Michelin-recommended Korean drinking house by Gyeongnidan-gil, pairing a long list of traditional makgeolli, cheongju and distilled soju with modern Korean dishes. It's a stylish, grown-up way to try Korean rice wines, and many of the guests are visitors from abroad.
Try: Traditional liquor (makgeolli, cheongju, distilled soju)
30-60 min wait - 🥞
Bakganae Bindaetteok 박가네빈대떡
Market food · Jongno
One of Gwangjang Market's two famous mung bean pancake houses. You can watch the beans being ground in a stone mill out front, then sit upstairs for crispy bindaetteok, beef tartare and makgeolli.
Try: Mung bean pancake (bindaetteok)
Short wait - 🍶
Sinsajeon 신사전
Pubs · Gangnam
A big, lively jeon (Korean pancake) and makgeolli house off Garosu-gil. Its trademark is honeycomb makgeolli: staff cut a slab of honeycomb at your table to sweeten your rice wine. Order a platter of mixed jeon or the cheesy potato pancake, and expect plenty of foreign visitors around you.
Try: Sinsa-dong makgeolli with honeycomb
30-60 min wait - 🌶️
Wooirak Mangwon 우이락 망원본점
Market food · Hongdae
The original shop of the Mangwon Market stall famous for gochu-twigim: giant mild green chilies stuffed with seasoned meat and deep-fried until crisp. Inside it is a Korean-style pub, with soupy tteokbokki, pancakes and creamy makgeolli to go with them, and many people take the fried chilies to the Han River park nearby.
Try: Gochu-twigim (stuffed fried chili)
Short wait
Sources
We check every fact against at least two sources and write it in our own words. Last checked: 2026-10-31.