Soju First, Wine Very Much Second
Downtown · Ann Arbor · Korean BBQ · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 4, 2026
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 · 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
Downtown · Ann Arbor · French-Inspired Café / Bistro
Cafe Zola won't be your next wine destination, but it's a dependable neighborhood bistro where you can drink something decent and French without much risk. Stick to the Rhône or the Jadot Chardonnay, avoid the Cloudy Bay markup, and let the crêpes do the heavy lifting.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Ann Arbor · North Indian, Tandoori, and Mughlai
Shalimar isn't a wine destination, but it's playing a smarter game than most Indian restaurants in its bracket — fair prices, a Rhône red, and a Michigan Riesling that was practically designed for the menu. Order the Chateau Grand Traverse, get the Tandoori Chicken, and stop being surprised that it works.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Depot Town / Near North Campus · Ann Arbor · American Seafood and Steak
Gandy Dancer delivers exactly what it promises — a handsome, safe, California-anchored wine list that holds up fine against the prime rib and seafood platters without ever exciting you. Send a friend here for the room and the food; just set expectations accordingly on the wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor · Italian, Wood-Fired Pizza
Bigalora isn't trying to be a wine destination and doesn't need to be — but its tight, Italy-leaning list with generous by-the-glass coverage earns it a reliable spot in the Ann Arbor rotation. Markups could be friendlier, but the bones are good.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Ann Arbor · Spanish Tapas
Aventura isn't trying to be a wine destination, but its all-Spain list is focused and fairly priced in a way that makes the wine program feel like an asset rather than an afterthought. Take a date, order the Albariño, and work through the tapas menu.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.