Hana Makgeolli - Review - Greenpoint - New York - The Infatuation

"The country’s only makgeolli producer has a taproom at the tippy top of Greenpoint, and you should change your weekend plans to include drinking Korean rice wine there. Get the makgeolli flight as a 101 crash course into the world of the milky-white drink. The three-glass flight ranges from a clarified and nutty yakju that’s made from the slightly oxidized liquid at the top of the tanks, to the sediment-heavy and fruity takju. But for anyone just looking to try one glass, we like the omija makgeolli best. It’s not distributed elsewhere, has a bright, lactic taste, and you’ll probably see a berry floating in your glass. Stop by Hana Makgeolli’s airy space with a friend or date for a several-hour heart-to-heart where you’ll get drunker than you realize. The food menu is small but totally mighty. Do plan to have a full meal here—ideally "linner" (lunner?) on a late weekend afternoon. The Hana 2 Set is pretty much the move. It comes with a scallion pancake, a boiled pork platter, and a carafe of takju for about $70 total, which keeps things easy for a party of two. But you can also order those things, some spicy cold bibim guksu noodles, and more a la carte. Food Rundown Pajeon A sincerely perfectly cooked scallion pancake. It's crispy on the edges so that it makes a loud crunch when you sink your teeth into it, but the middle layer is melty with garlic and chives. Excellent. photo credit: Arden Shore Anju Platter Nice big plate of protein to share. Build each bite strategically. Layer a bit of boiled pork, some jiggly tofu, a smidge of kimchi. Savor it. Take a swig of makgeolli. Enjoy your life. photo credit: Arden Shore Cocktails We really do recommend sipping some makgeolli straight up before dipping into the cocktails, but these are fun to end on. They change with the seasons, but you can always count on extremely adorable garnishes and obscure fruit juices to make their way into the mix. photo credit: Arden Shore" - Arden Shore