Soju, for the first time
The world’s best-selling spirit, and you have probably never tried it.
What soju is. Which bottle to start with. What to eat with it. And where to drink it near you — no jargon, no gatekeeping.
Start here
Five minutes and you will order like you have done it before.
What is soju?
Korea’s national spirit — clean, faintly sweet, about half the strength of vodka.
02Soju vs. sake vs. shochu
They get confused constantly. Here is the difference in one page.
03Which bottle first?
Start green-bottle classic, or start fruit. Both are right — for different people.
04How to drink it
The pour, the two-hand rule, and why nobody fills their own glass.
05Fruit soju guide
Peach, grape, green grape, yogurt. What each one actually tastes like.
06Soju cocktails
Somaek, soju tonic, and four more you can make tonight.
The food is half the point
Soju was never meant to be drunk alone. Classic soju goes with salt, fat and heat; fruit soju goes with fried, spicy and sweet. Our pairing guide covers Korean BBQ, fried chicken, stews and seafood — and which bottle belongs with each.
Where to drink it
We keep a directory of restaurants and bars across the U.S. that pour soju — what each is known for, and a link straight to its reviews. Browse the directory →
Why soju, why now
American drinking is going down. Soju is going the other way.
Reach people discovering soju for the first time
Our readers are not the Korean-American market — they are Americans looking for their first bottle and a place to try it. Restaurant listings are free; brand placements are open now.
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