Soju Party: How to Drink (And Eat!) Like a Korean

Soju Party is a lively, informative guide to Korean drinking culture, written by chef and culinary historian Irene Yoo. Focused on the social rituals, classic beverages, and drinking foods that define Korean nightlife, the book is equal parts reference, recipe collection, and cultural dispatch.

At its center are Korea’s foundational drinks: soju, the clear distilled spirit found in nearly every bar and home; maekju (beer); and makgeolli, a lightly filtered, slightly effervescent rice wine. 

Yoo walks readers through traditional etiquette—how to pour, when to drink, and what not to do—as well as contemporary customs, from bar snacks and party games to the art of opening a beer bottle with a metal chopstick.

Recipes range from quick snacks (soy sauce jalapeno pickes) to full meals designed for sharing, like loaded bulgogi nachos and, just in case, hangover soup. Drink recipes include both traditional pairings and playful, Korean-American inventions—like the Milkis Shot, a layered mix of soju, beer, and soda made for slamming and sharing.

Throughout, Yoo draws on her background as a chef, writer, and co-owner of Orion Bar in Brooklyn to offer a portrait of Korean drinking that’s both rooted and expansive—respectful of its history, and ready for a good time.

Hardcover. Color photographs throughout.