Gaoliangjiu Guan

Open the door of a single hanok right in the middle of Jongno and the mood shifts completely. Mother-of-pearl tables are set with crystal glasses, and it's a Chinese bar where you can taste baijiu by the glass — recommended if you're into Sichuan-style Chinese food specifically.

The Shandong Cold Platter arrives colorful and layered, and mixing it into the sesame sauce spreads a nutty flavor through your mouth. The Sichuan pork has thick slices of whole pork belly piled over cabbage, tender enough to melt in one bite, and the spicy sauce suits it perfectly. The Sweet & Sour Pork Ribs are crispy outside and tender inside, and the Eggplant Shrimp in Fish Sauce — eggplant packed with shrimp under a rich sauce — is about the best thing you could ask for as a drinking snack.

The Mapo Tofu is full Sichuan style with a heavy pour of chili oil, and finishing with the Brisket Fried Rice cleans the palate. It's a great place to cut through the richness with a clean pour of baijiu, and it works well for group gatherings too.