Jeonju’s Makgeolli Alleys: An Evening Around a Shared Kettle
Jeonju’s makgeolli alleys bring a kettle of the drink together with dishes to share. Explore this food-and-drink culture, the alleys in different neighborhoods, and a few things to consider when planning an evening with your companions.
Jeonju’s Makgeolli Alleys: An Evening Around a Shared Kettle
An evening in Jeonju’s makgeolli alleys is as much about the food beside your cup as the drink itself. Jeonju City’s introduction to Samcheondong Makgeolli Alley describes a culture of sharing a kettle of makgeolli and an assortment of anju, the dishes served with alcohol. It is a chance to choose a drink, but also to sit around one table with your companions and try several different foods.
A makgeolli meal in progress in Jeonju, photographed in October 2019.
Several plates beside the kettle
The city’s description of the spread includes jeon (savory pancakes), stews, seasoned vegetables known as namul, and meat and seafood dishes. Picture a table of large and small plates, with everyone taking a little of what appeals to them. In the photograph, too, several plates sit among the kettle and drinking bowls.
If you enjoy sharing a variety of foods rather than building a meal around a single dish, this is an option worth exploring. The dishes depend on the spread you choose, so if there is something you particularly want to try, look for it on the menu.
Time together over one kettle
The kettle is a vessel for pouring the drink into individual cups; anju means food eaten alongside alcohol. When several unfamiliar dishes arrive, you and your companions can choose what looks interesting and try things as the meal unfolds. “One kettle” refers to the container holding the drink.
An illustrative photograph of a kettle and makgeolli cups, taken in May 2010; the location is unknown.
Not everyone in your group needs to drink the same amount. Plan the evening around how much each person wants to eat and drink. If a meal without alcohol would suit you better, a restaurant focused on food is another option.
Makgeolli alleys in different neighborhoods
Alongside Samcheondong, Jeonju City introduces makgeolli alleys in several areas, including Gyeongwondong, Seosindong, and Inhu–Uadong. The city also presents Samcheondong Makgeolli Alley as Jeonju Future Heritage. This is why it helps to include the neighborhood name when looking for a makgeolli alley on a map.
If you are just starting to explore the options, Samcheondong, with its official city introduction, is a useful starting point. For dinner after a visit to Hanok Village, decide where your walk will end and which neighborhood you want to eat in, then look at transport between them. Rather than planning to visit several alleys in sequence, consider choosing one place to spend the evening.
A few things to know before going together
The dining culture described by the city is one thing; how you order depends on the restaurant. Its menu is the place to see which food and drinks are included and choose a spread that suits your group. If you are going alone or with someone who does not drink, it is worth asking ahead whether the restaurant can accommodate your party size and whether you can order without alcohol.
If you need to avoid particular ingredients, ask about broths and seasonings as well. If you plan to drink, do not plan to drive afterward; have your accommodation address and transport back arranged in advance.
For ideas on spending the daytime in Jeonju, read a short walk through Hanok Village. If you are choosing your first meal in the city, see choosing between bibimbap and bean sprout soup with rice.
Photo credits
• Cover: SpaceFox, Une bouilloire de magkeolli et beaucoup trop de plats · CC BY 4.0 · Converted to sRGB, resized, re-encoded as JPEG, and stripped of metadata.
• Kettle and cups: Jon Åslund · Makgeolli · CC BY 2.0 · Color-converted and resized, then cropped by 240px at the top, re-encoded as JPEG, and stripped of metadata.