ITAEWON, South Korea — Cowboy hats, U.S. soldier crew cuts and one honest-to-goodness mullet: a good beginning to another strange night in the Itaewon entertainment district.
The thing that made it even more surreal was that all of those things were found in an Irish pub in the land of barbecued beef and spicy fermented vegetables.
Looking for a bit of adventure, I hit the Wolfhound Irish Pub and Restaurant, which opened on the second floor on an alley of the main strip about seven months ago. About two months ago, the Wolfhound expanded to the third floor when the bar above them went out of business.
Part-owner Wayne Gold and his partners hired the head chef from one of Seoul’s hotels to come in to train the staff and create the menu, he said.
He said the pub sees a good mix of Americans, even with a menu featuring “bangers and mash” (sausages and mashed potatoes) and “Toad in the Hole” (sausages encased in Yorkshire pudding with seasonal vegetables).
“The suits come in for dinner and a few pints,” Gold said of the ex-pat crowd. “As the night goes on, the music gets louder” and the troops are more likely to show up.
The pub can seat about 120 between both floors, with plenty of room to mingle.
A crowd favorite is quiz night, when anywhere from eight to 12 teams test their trivia knowledge.
See previous After Hours reviews here.
Wolfhound Irish Pub and Restaurant
Drink prices: Full pints of Guinness run about $7; single shots of Jameson Irish whiskey are $4 and doubles $6.
Cover charge: None
Food: The great selection includes french fries, mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers, nachos, chicken wings, lentil and bacon broth and salads, each priced less than $10. If you’re looking for something a bit more Irish, you’ll pay between $10 and $15 per dish. Dishes include shepherd’s pie, burgers and champ, fish and chips and Toad in the Hole.
Entertainment: A good selection of tunes, not too loud.
Clientele: A mix of local ex-pats, tourists and base personnel.
Dress: Casual
Location: Leave Yongsan Garrison and head down the main Itaewon street. Turn right just before hitting Burger King. Make another right at the first alleyway and you’ll see the sign up ahead on the right side.
Web site: None
