Gunja Station bar: pollock roe rolls and 40% Andong soju, Saechamjip

I had a dinner plan with my partner near Gunja Station and was looking around for somewhere to go, so I ended up visiting Saechamjip (새참집).

They had a wide variety of Korean-style bar food and a fairly spacious dining room, so it seemed like a good spot both for a date with just the two of us and for bigger group gatherings or company dinners. The hanok-style interior in particular had a subtly nice mood, which made it easy to talk comfortably over dinner~

Where is Saechamjip in the Gunja Station alley, and what is it like inside?

Saechamjip is located in the restaurant alley near Gunja Station, so it wasn't hard to find. Once we actually got there, the place was bigger than I expected.

Besides regular tables, there were also seating areas that were somewhat divided from the rest, so it felt reasonably separated from neighboring tables. Maybe because of that, the mood felt more like a place for chatting with your group than a loud, rowdy bar.

I also liked the wood-toned interior that reminded me of a hanok (traditional Korean house). It was a bit different from the typical bar atmosphere you see these days, which actually made it feel more relaxed. As a couple, we had a great time talking at ease, and I thought it would also work well for anyone looking for a Gunja Station bar with private rooms for group gatherings or company dinners.

Saechamjip's menu: what we ordered

Saechamjip's menu was really more varied than I expected. From signature dishes like the bone grill to pan-fried dishes, stews, and stir-fries, it was set up so you could have a full dinner, not just drinking snacks.

After some deliberation, we ordered the 48-hour-boiled aged kimchi stone plate bone grill, myeongnan gamtae-mari, and myeongnan-mayo daewang gyeran-mari, and picked Ilpum Andong soju to drink. As each dish came out one by one, it turned into quite a hearty spread for the two of us~

48-hour-boiled aged kimchi stone plate bone grill: how spicy is "Shin Ramyeon" level?

The dish I was most looking forward to was definitely the 48-hour-boiled aged kimchi stone plate bone grill. Just the '48 hours' in the name made me curious what it would taste like, and when it arrived, the bones were big with a lot of meat still attached.

I ordered it at 'Shin Ramyeon' spice level, and instead of hitting hard from the first bite, it was a moderately spicy seasoning that was easy to eat.

What I liked most was the meat itself. Bone grill dishes are fun for picking meat off the bone, but if the meat is tough it gets tiring after a while — this one had really tender meat that came off the bone easily.

Staying warm on the stone plate, it stayed hot until the very end, and eaten together with the aged kimchi, the spicy seasoning and tangy kimchi went really well together. I thought this dish alone would be pretty filling for two people.

Pollock roe sea lettuce rolls and the jumbo roe-mayo egg roll

The myeongnan gamtae-mari (pollock roe wrapped in sea lettuce) we ordered alongside the bone grill also exceeded expectations.

You could subtly taste the distinct aroma of gamtae (sea lettuce), and the salty pollock roe inside paired well as a drinking snack. It came in bite-sized pieces, so it was easy to pick at in between other dishes.

And the myeongnan-mayo daewang gyeran-mari (jumbo egg roll with pollock roe mayo) was, true to its name, quite large. Soft egg wrapped around pollock roe mayo gave it a smooth, savory flavor. Since the bone grill was on the spicier side, I thought it was a good call to order this softer dish alongside it.

How 40% Ilpum Andong soju pairs with the food

For drinks, we ordered Ilpum Andong soju at 40% ABV.

It felt quite different from regular soju, and matched well with the mood of a Korean-style bar. Since the dishes we ordered that day were mostly on the salty or spicy side, they worked well as pairings for a higher-proof drink like Andong soju. Best of all, with such a variety of dishes on the table, we didn't get tired of any single flavor and could keep switching between them.

Date night, friends or a work dinner: who is Saechamjip for?

What I liked most about visiting Saechamjip this time wasn't just the food, but the space and atmosphere.

I wanted to catch up with my partner over dinner after a while, and since the place was spacious with seating reasonably separated, it was easy to talk. So I think it would work well not just as a date spot for two, but also for groups of friends or work dinners with several people.

Honest review of Saechamjip

If you're near Gunja Station looking for somewhere to enjoy good Korean food alongside your drinks rather than just a plain drinking spot, I'd recommend Saechamjip.

The 48-hour-boiled aged kimchi stone plate bone grill was the most memorable, with plenty of tender meat, and adding the myeongnan gamtae-mari and myeongnan-mayo daewang gyeran-mari made for a filling spread for two.

With its comfortable hanok-style mood and spacious dining room, this place would suit anyone looking for a Korean bar with private rooms near Gunja Station. If you're looking for a Gunja Station bar that works for everything from a dinner date with your partner to a get-together with friends or a company dinner, it's worth a visit.