Idong, Pohang bar for day drinking: kimchi pizza tangsuyuk at Hwamok

A spot I visited for lunch with my parents that turned into a full daytime drinking session — let me introduce Hwamok Restaurant Gaekjan, a drinking spot in Dong-dong, Pohang.

A Pohang drinking spot in Dong-dong with delicious dishes: Hwamok Restaurant, a Chinese restaurant

Where Hwamok Restaurant Gaekjan is in Idong, Pohang, and its hours

Hwamok Restaurant Gaekjan is located at 5-1 Daei-ro 189beon-gil, Nam-gu, Pohang. It's open 10:50 AM to 11:00 PM, closed Tuesdays. Groups, reservations, baby chairs, takeout, and delivery are all available.

Being close to E-mart made it easy to get to. I parked outside Gonjigonji. The exterior of Hwamok is orange, like the color of jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup).

The owner's mindset is really admirable. I hadn't seen a sign like this anywhere else in Pohang — a note welcoming kids who might otherwise go without a meal to come in and eat comfortably anytime outside busy hours.

The dishes at this Pohang drinking spot were delicious. The sweet and sour pork especially had something special about it. That sizzling sound off the hot stone plate, plus a slight kick of spice, made it even better. The kind of flavor that makes the drinks go down smoothly.

Inside Hwamok Restaurant Gaekjan: solo seats and the drinks list

The interior of Hwamok Restaurant Gaekjan is spacious, with tabletop kiosks. It was clean and clearly in the middle of Chuseok prep. It had just opened but was already popular. We visited around 2pm, and customers were leaving right after eating while delivery and takeout orders kept streaming in.

There's a space for solo diners too — a bowl of comfort enjoyed while looking outside.

Just looking at the drinks selection, it feels like a world beer specialty shop. Since it's a Chinese restaurant, they've got everything from spirits to beer, so there's plenty to choose from.

We ordered the small size, but there's also a mini option. Since there were three of us, we ordered generously. Hwamok Restaurant, this Pohang drinking spot in Dong-dong, has a varied menu — definitely check it out and try a few different things.

The spicy stone-plate dish that arrives sizzling

At Hwamok Restaurant Gaekjan, there was no need to choose between jjajang (black bean noodles) and jjamppong. The spiciness comes through gently in the aftertaste, so it worked even for me, someone who isn't great with spicy food.

Maybe the chives are the finishing touch — a sprinkle of green over the red sauce. It comes out sizzling on the stone plate, so it stays piping hot until the very end.

The plump squid, coated in sauce, feels almost upscale. The sauce is on the thicker side, so it's great mixed with rice, or you could cut it small and eat it with a spoon.

But I think slurping the long noodles as they are is the proper way to show respect to the noodles. Spicy yet clean, with a flavor that finishes crisply.

If it starts feeling a bit too spicy, toss in some pickled radish. The tangy flavor gives you a fresh restart. I kept reaching for it and ate endlessly — it's better coated generously in sauce.

What does kimchi pizza tangsuyuk taste like?

The kimchi pizza tangsuyuk at Hwamok Restaurant Gaekjan was a first for me, so I was extra excited. Cheese sprinkled on top like a pizza, with tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork) piled underneath the pepperoni.

The stretchy, premium-tasting cheese is soft and chewy without being greasy — I'd guess it's loin-cut tangsuyuk with the oil well drained off.

Kimchi pizza tangsuyuk, true to its name, has it all: the crunch of kimchi, the tanginess of the sauce, hearty meat, and the chewy softness of pizza.

This was a dish that was trendy about 10 years ago — I guess trends come back around with time.

A sweet-and-tangy dish I really enjoyed — kimchi pizza tangsuyuk. Now that I've tried it once, I can brag about it to anyone. I'd always been curious about it ever since seeing it in a drama, haha.

My dad couldn't let go of the fried mandu. Fried in premium olive oil at the end, crispy and delicious.

Why Hwamok Restaurant Gaekjan works for day drinking with parents

A Chinese restaurant in Dong-dong, Pohang, with delicious food and drinks. You can eat a hearty meal, pick from a wide range of drinks, and the staff are friendly — plus takeout and delivery are both available.

• No break time, so you can eat anytime
• In the evenings, groups come in for drinks, so reserving ahead is recommended
• Wide drink selection, great for picking your own
• Takeout and delivery available

I really liked the owner's open-hearted mindset of running the business with kids who might go hungry in mind. A wish that no child goes without a meal.