It’s not even suppertime yet, and there’s already a backlog at the reservation table. The barrier tape in front of the door shows what it’s like at peak times in the “89 Anju”.
Without an eleven-hour flight, a different world opens up behind the vestibule. Namely one that is modeled on the urban canyons of Seoul. A tangle of cables stretches above the heads of the guests, neon signs advertise beer brands or 7-Eleven, posters of K-pop bands and Korean films are stuck to the wall and “You are the beer to my Anju” is written in neon letters. Wild and funny.
Many of the guests seem to be of Korean descent, which on the one hand is of course a good sign – on the other hand, there is nothing in Munich that compares to the “89 Anju”, hip and informal in Korean. The “Hallyu Wave”, as the trend in South Korean pop culture is called, is sloshing, as trends tend to do, rather slowly and leisurely to Munich.
Internet reviews are divided on how authentic the food is. The companion, who was recently in Seoul, thinks the “Tteokbokki” (16.90 euros) is just as spicy as she found it in Korea. At least it’s a classic snack dish and something you won’t find anywhere else in Munich. rice and fish cakes in hot sauce with cabbage; “Küchlein”, as it says on the menu, doesn’t quite fit, the rice is more like a sausage and crumpled like an octopus arm, the fish cakes are small, soft plates. The glass noodles “Japchae” come with sautéed vegetables and, in our case, tofu, with a very harmonious soy-sesame-garlic sauce (14.90 euros – these are good prices, by the way, as there are many items on the menu definitely more expensive than we expected).
Neon signs like in the street canyons of Seoul.
(Photo: CATHERINAHESS/Catherina Hess)
The “Anju”, i.e. the dishes that complement the drink, are very popular with us: Interesting, something different, and good. A classic of the house would also be the KFC, Korean Fried Chicken, or the Kimchi Pancake. But now to the bar qualities of the Anju, which are praised on the menu with the words: “Our bartender, a talented art student, gives every drink a creative touch”. As it turns out, the bartender is definitely inspired by the colorful cocktails of the 90s.
It may also be an ironic quote or a revival that we are already too old for. Maybe even the taste of Seoul’s cocktails, which we’re not used to. The Signature “Seoul Forest” (12 euros) with the Korean rice wine Makgeolli and “mellow sweet”, the exact composition of which the friendly waiter unfortunately does not know, is decorated with mint leaves and has echoes of woodruff. Or maybe pandan, a plant that is often used in desserts in Asia. Both would explain the green color. “Back to the days when we were young, wild and free,” is how the drink is poetically paraphrased. In any case, we feel reminded of young people’s first attempts at umbrella cocktails.
A new world: Korean bars are rare in Munich.
(Photo: CATHERINAHESS/Catherina Hess)
The “Rendezvous” (12) is based on soju, the Korean rice liquor, and comes with a coconut cream topping. Greetings from Pina Colada! In the next round we share a bottle of soju (12.90), which is also available with a taste, but since strawberry is unfortunately out, we see it as fate and drink pure. That’s fine, 16.9 percent, nice and mild, similar to sake. On our next visit we would order beer and mix ourselves a “Somaek”: A classic Korean drink, beer with soju. As a package, a bottle of soju (0.375 l) with three beers costs 24.90 euros. Also interesting is the Makgeolli set with a bottle of Makgeolli (0.7) and two Sprites for 19.90 euros. For this we will leave the artistic cocktails next time.
89 AnjuLuisenstrasse 47, 80333 Maxvorstadt, 089/90901189.