Gunja jazz bar date with chili cheese fries: Kick Ass Jazz Club

Looking for a nice date spot near Gunja Station over the weekend, I visited Kick Ass Jazz Club, where you can enjoy a live show together. From the high-quality live sound to the pizza and draft beer we happily ate, here's my honest, satisfied review.

Where is Kick Ass Jazz Club and how do you book a table?

Kick Ass Jazz Club is on Neungdong-ro in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, a 300m walk from Exit 3 of Gunja Station. Booking through the Catch Table app is required in advance, with a ₩10,000 per-person deposit that's automatically refunded when you show up.

• Location: Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul (300m walk from Gunja Station Exit 3)
• Hours: [need to confirm opening hours]
• Booking: Advance reservation via Catch Table app required (₩10,000 deposit per person / auto-refunded on visit)
• Parking: No dedicated parking (public transit recommended)
• Restroom: Shared building restroom (separate for men/women, kept very clean)

Welcome drink and what we ordered, with prices

As soon as we walked into Kick Ass Jazz Club, we were welcomed with a refreshing lemon liqueur as a complimentary drink, which was perfect for lightly stirring up our appetite. Ordering was done smartly through a QR code placed at each table, which was really convenient.

• Pastry Pepperoni Pizza: ₩23,000
• Chili Cheese Fries: ₩16,000
• Kick Ass Highball (2 glasses): ₩18,000 (₩9,000 per glass)
• Budweiser draft beer (3 glasses): ₩24,000 (₩8,000 per glass)
• Live show cover (2 people): ₩24,000 (₩12,000 per person)

Pastry pizza and Budweiser draft: the pairing that worked

Pastry pepperoni pizza, 23,000 won

The Pastry Pepperoni Pizza costs ₩23,000, and when it arrived, the generous pepperoni and cheese on top really stood out visually. Especially notable was the crust — not a regular dough but a crispy, layered pastry, so even to the last bite it felt like eating a different kind of bread altogether. Honestly tastier than most dedicated pizza places I've been to.

Chili cheese fries, 16,000 won

The Chili Cheese Fries were ₩16,000 — I ordered this as light finger food to snack on during the show, and it tasted great. Rather than plain cheese fries, they were topped generously with a rich, well-cooked chili ground meat sauce, which gave it a nice variety of texture and flavor.

Drink pairing tip: highball first, draft beer after

Kick Ass Highball: served in a dedicated glass with dedicated ice, with a good balance of fruity aroma and whiskey flavor, easy to drink without feeling heavy. (Careful — because it's so tasty, gulping it down can get you drunk fast!)

Budweiser draft beer: it reminded me of the freshness of draft beer I enjoyed on a past trip to Japan. Personally, this ranks among the best draft beers I've had in Korea recently.

💡 Menu combo tip — enjoying the pastry pizza and highball heartily during the break before the show, then pairing the chili cheese fries with cold draft beer once the show starts, worked out really well.

What is the Friday night live set like?

We came for the Friday, September 18th, 7:30pm show, so we arrived with plenty of time around 6pm. That night, the Kick Ass Jazz Club stage was filled with a performance by the 'Kim Byeongryeol Friends' band — a rich lineup including saxophonist Kim Byeongryeol, vocalist Kwon Hyeri, pianist Ban Geomseo, bassist Im Daeseop, and drummer Seo Yonggyu. Before the show we enjoyed pizza and beer while soaking in the cozy atmosphere, then got completely absorbed in a vibrant live stage for the next two hours.

Sound quality and audience etiquette at Kick Ass Jazz Club

This place has the charming, dense sense of space unique to a small jazz club. You could immediately feel that the owner had paid special attention to sound setup and audio balance. The audience also had great manners, with no chatter or noise — everyone was fully absorbed in the stage, letting us take in the music completely.

How much is the cover charge?

There's a ₩12,000 per-person cover charge for the live show, but given the quality of the stage, the musicians' skill, and the venue's atmosphere, it was a fully worthwhile experience.

Verdict: is Kick Ass Jazz Club worth it for a Gunja Station date?

If you're looking for an anniversary date spot or a nice place to drink with atmosphere near Gunja Station, Kick Ass Jazz Club is a live jazz bar worth visiting. On show nights, since the space isn't very large, booking ahead is essential, and it's best to arrive 1 to 1.5 hours before showtime to slowly enjoy your meal and the atmosphere.

By the way, I think this place would be great to visit even on a day without a live show. The venue's distinctive atmosphere, pleasant scent, cozy lighting, and excellent sound all come together nicely, making it a comfortable spot to casually grab a beer even without a performance.