Dongtan sports bar with big screens and pollock set: Sin Gagye Maekju

Sin Gagye Maekju Namgwangjang is a bar near the entrance to the Dongtan food street, and I headed there one evening after a workout, craving a cold beer.

I wasn't super hungry, but it felt too early to just go home, so I looked for somewhere I could have a simple snack with beer. That's how I ended up at Sin Gagye Maekju Namgwangjang.

Where is Sin Gagye Maekju Namgwangjang, and where do you park?

Sin Gagye Maekju Namgwangjang sits near the entrance to the Dongtan food street, so it wasn't hard to find even on my first visit. We walked over that day — searching 'Sin Gagye Maekju Namgwangjang' on Naver Map and following the directions got us there quickly.

If you're driving, the Dongtan Namgwangjang public parking lot is convenient. As of my visit, 1.5 hours of parking was free, so it's a low-pressure option for a meal or a casual drink. The bar is open from 17:00 to 3am the next day, so it works well whether you're stopping by for dinner or staying out late.

• Hours: Daily 17:00 to 3am the next day
• Last order 02:00
• Groups welcome / parking available
• Birthday perks / local cards accepted

What's on the menu at Sin Gagye Maekju Namgwangjang?

The sign at the entrance of Sin Gagye Maekju Namgwangjang caught my eye — 'the original premium meoktae of Jeonju gamaek.' Personally, when I drink beer I prefer something crispy and simple like meoktae over a heavy, filling snack, so I was extra glad to see it as the signature menu item.

Looking through the menu, there was more than just meoktae — a wide range of Korean and Western dishes like sindori-tang (spicy fish stew), fried chicken, and pizza. The selection was broad enough that you could come just for a beer and end up having a full meal too.

Watching live games on the big screens

Walking in, the first thing that caught my eye was the retro interior. It felt cool and comfortable overall, a nice atmosphere for a casual beer. When I arrived, a group of customers had already settled in and were enjoying their beers.

There was a large screen set up on one side, which looked great for watching sports while drinking. That night, an SSG vs. NC baseball game happened to be on. If you're a baseball fan, this is a fitting spot to catch a game with a beer in hand.

Premium meoktae and minari golbaengi set, 40,900 won

Browsing the menu, the set option caught my eye. We ordered the myeongpum meoktae + minari golbaengi set.

The myeongpum meoktae alone is ₩18,900, and the minari golbaengi alone is ₩23,900, but ordering them together as a set came to ₩40,900. It's a good choice if you want to try a few different snacks rather than ordering them separately. If you'd rather share two dishes with your beer than eat just one snack like we did, I'd recommend this combo.

Cass draft 500cc and the free starter snack

First, we ordered two glasses of Cass draft beer, 500cc each. At ₩5,000 a glass, two came to ₩10,000. Maybe because it was the first sip after working out, that cold draft beer felt especially welcome.

The complimentary snack was fried hardtack biscuits tossed in sugar — it sounds like nothing special, but my hand kept reaching for more. A sip of beer, then a sweet, crunchy biscuit, and before I knew it the plate was nearly empty.

Crispy meoktae with two house dipping sauces

Next came the myeongpum meoktae. The seasoned, aged dried pollock arrived with two special sauces. Texture matters most with meoktae, and here the skin was grilled crisp, giving it a nutty, crunchy bite with every chew.

Meoktae comes with two sauces to bring out its flavor — one savory, one spicy.

Minari golbaengi: a whole can of sea snails

The second dish was minari golbaengi. A whole can of sea snails went into the dish, so the portion was more generous than expected. Combined with minari (water celery), the chewy texture of the sea snails paired well with the fresh, herbal aroma.

Where the meoktae was crispy and nutty, the minari golbaengi was tangy and refreshing, so ordering both let us enjoy two very different flavors. If you're like me and prefer a moderate snack with a beer rather than eating a lot, this place is worth a visit.

Who is Sin Gagye Maekju Namgwangjang best for?

It's a spot for a casual drink near Dongtan Namgwangjang, and there were plenty of customers even on a weeknight evening. I'd recommend Sin Gagye Maekju Namgwangjang to anyone looking for a low-key bar in Namgwangjang or Bansong-dong to stop by after exercising.

With its large screen, Sin Gagye Maekju Namgwangjang is a great bar for cheering on a baseball game or the ongoing Asian Games with friends or colleagues over drinks, and it also suits anyone like me who wants a relaxed stop after a workout. Cool, fun, crispy and savory — that's how we ate and drank here.