Soju First, Wine Very Much Second
Downtown · Ann Arbor · Korean BBQ · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 4, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Tomukun Korean BBQ’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Tomukun is seven bottles long — and that feels like exactly the amount of effort that went into it. This is a soju-and-beer house through and through, and the wine program reads like a legal obligation rather than a genuine offering. No shame in that, honestly, but you should know what you're walking into.
Seven labels, all of them recognizable from the bottom shelf of a grocery store wine aisle: House of Brown Pinot Noir, Gen 5 Merlot, OTWC Cabernet Sauvignon, a Loosen Riesling from Germany, something from Friuli Venezia in Italy, Comtesse Marion from France, and Sean Minor from Napa. There's no real throughline here — no attempt to build a list that complements the food, no deep dive into anything. The Loosen Riesling is the one wine on this list that actually makes sense next to Korean BBQ, and even that feels like a happy accident. Everything else is filler.
Three pours available — House of Brown Pinot Noir, Gen 5 Merlot, and OTWC Cabernet Sauvignon — all Californians, all in the $12–$13 range. The pour program doesn't rotate, doesn't surprise, and doesn't particularly inspire. If you came here hoping for a glass of something that enhances the experience of grilling galbi at your table, keep hoping.
House of Brown California Pinot Noir — $12/glass, $38/bottle
At $38 a bottle it's the least painful option on a short list. Light enough not to steamroll the food, and House of Brown at least has some pedigree behind it. Damning with faint praise, but here we are.
Loosen Germany Riesling
Dr. Loosen is one of the most respected Riesling producers on the planet, and a cold, slightly off-dry Riesling is genuinely one of the best things you can drink with Korean BBQ — the acidity cuts through the fat, the residual sugar handles the heat. It's the one wine on this list that belongs here, and most people will walk right past it to order a Hite.
Gen 5 California Merlot
At $45 a bottle it's the priciest pour on a seven-bottle list, and Gen 5 is a bulk-production Central Valley Merlot that retails for around $10-$12. That math doesn't work in your favor. Order soju instead — it's cheaper, it's better, and it's actually meant to be here.
Loosen Germany Riesling + Tabletop Korean BBQ (Samgyeopsal)
Fatty pork belly straight off a charcoal grill needs acid and a little sweetness to reset your palate between bites. Riesling is purpose-built for this job. It's the one moment on this list where the wine actually shows up for the food.
The Bottom Line
Tomukun is a great place to eat Korean BBQ and drink soju with friends — the wine list is just not the reason to come here. Order the Riesling if you must, or do yourself a favor and let the soju do the work.
Downtown / Campus · Ann Arbor · New American / Hotel Restaurant
Eve is a dependable, well-kept hotel wine list that earns its place as Ann Arbor's go-to for faculty dinners and anniversary meals — just don't come expecting to be surprised. Order the Merry Edwards, skip the Stag's Leap markup, and let someone else handle the tab.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
West Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor · Upscale-casual Italian
Bravo! is a chain doing chain things with its wine list — predictable, approachable, and not particularly exciting. But the markup is fairer than most chains, the by-the-glass range is functional, and if you show up on a Wednesday, $7 Provençal rosé on the patio is a genuinely good time.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown · Ann Arbor · American Gastropub
The Ravens Club isn't a wine destination — it's a late-night Ann Arbor institution that happens to have a functional wine list. Show up on a Wednesday, order the Gruet for $6, and let the spirits program do its real job.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown · Ann Arbor · Japanese-inspired ramen, noodle dishes, and izakaya-style small plates
Slurping Turtle is a genuinely fun spot to eat, and the ramen deserves your full attention — but the wine list is on cruise control and nobody seems to mind. Stick to a glass of Riesling or grab a beer, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that reciprocates it.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor · Sushi / Japanese
Nagomi is the rare sushi spot that made an actual choice with its wine program instead of just phoning it in with grocery store staples — a focused BC lineup at fair prices is exactly the kind of unexpected that earns a second look. If you're curious about Canadian wine and want a low-stakes way to explore it, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Ann Arbor · Asian noodle bar featuring Korean, Japanese, and other East Asian dishes
Come to Tomukun for the ramen — come for the bibimbap — just don't come for the wine list. Order a beer, or lean into the plum wine and have some fun with it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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