Guro tool-market bar for Sichuan kkanpunggi and claw game: Eulji Pocha

I ate, listened, played, and even tried the claw machine at a really fun bar, Eulji Pocha Guro Digital Complex Branch (을지포차 구로디지털점).

This isn't just a place to drink. You eat, listen, play and even try the claw machine. It's Gudi's giant retro playground!

What is the interior of Eulji Pocha Guro Digital Complex Branch like?

Eulji Pocha Guro Digital Complex Branch is a huge pocha (Korean street-stall-style pub) with a retro interior that looks like an old Euljiro tool market moved indoors. I was looking for a fun bar near Guro Digital Complex Station and stopped by, and the place was much bigger than I expected, so I was surprised from the first moment.

The wide space seemed to be around 500 pyeong, and the unique interior caught my eye right away. Inside, old shop signs like Gwangil Gigi and tool-market stores are all around,

and even the tables and lighting are done up like an old street-stall alley, so there was plenty to look at.

The vibe is totally different from the usual pocha these days, so there were lots of spots for photos too.

Retro DJ booth and song requests

Eulji Pocha Guro Digital Complex Branch has a separate old-style DJ booth, and the DJ takes requests and plays songs. This DJ box was especially fun when I visited.

It's great for a drink with music, and it made the mood even livelier.

How do you get coins at Eulji Pocha, and what can you use them for?

At Eulji Pocha, when you order food or drinks you get coins depending on how many you order. It's a fun system unique to Eulji Pocha.

You can use the coins in various ways: instant photos, games, claw machines and more.

Claw machine with 5 coins: a near miss

I got 5 coins that day and happily took on the claw machine! The result... a miss! 😂

I thought I'd won the doll! 🤣 Unbelievable! The doll's loop got all the way to the exit and then caught right on the corner of the acrylic, haha. I definitely grabbed it, but it never made it into my hands. A sad ending 😭 Next time I'll definitely win! 🔥 Still, the whole process was so much fun.

Tteokbokki and ice pops you buy with coins

Inside Eulji Pocha Guro Digital Complex Branch there's also a corner styled like a tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) street stall. You can buy tteokbokki with coins,

and you can get ice bars (hard ice cream) too, which reminded me of the snack shops in front of school from way back.

I think being able to enjoy this kind of fun at a bar is a big part of Eulji Pocha's charm.

What we ate at Eulji Pocha Guro Digital Complex Branch, and what it cost

That day I ordered Sichuan kkanpunggi (spicy fried chicken), tofu kimchi (warm tofu with stir-fried kimchi), draft Cass beer and Pepsi for ₩39,000 in total. Here's the menu.

• Sichuan kkanpunggi ₩19,000
• Tofu kimchi ₩15,000
• Draft Cass beer 300ml ₩3,000
• Pepsi ₩2,000
• Total ₩39,000

The dishes started coming out one by one, and the table filled up fast. So generous! 😍

I marveled once at how hearty it looked, and again because it tasted good too.

Each dish had a generous portion and looked tempting, perfect for coming with a group and sharing a bit of everything.

Seeing such a full spread put me in a good mood! As soon as the Sichuan kkanpunggi and tofu kimchi arrived, I was amazed by the big portions!

Free tteokbokki and sundae on the house

The tteokbokki and sundae (Korean blood sausage) that came as a free extra were a welcome surprise. The sweet and spicy tteokbokki was chewy, and the sundae was soft and tasty, good to eat between the main dishes. The generous extras made it even more enjoyable.

How do the Sichuan kkanpunggi and tofu kimchi taste?

The crispy, spicy Sichuan kkanpunggi went really well with beer, and the tofu kimchi, warm tofu with spicy kimchi, kept me reaching for more. With a glass of Cass and a Pepsi, the table was complete! The portions were generous and tasty, and I was really satisfied.

The Sichuan kkanpunggi kept its crispy, sweet-and-spicy flavor, so it was perfect as a drinking snack,

and the tofu kimchi was comforting and tasty too, with the kimchi and tofu pairing well.

The food was good enough that I thought this isn't just a bar with a fun atmosphere. It's a Gudi bar that does the food properly too.

Add a glass of draft beer and it's perfect for washing away the day's fatigue. Come with friends and you can eat, play games, listen to requests and take photos without noticing time pass.

Eulji Pocha Guro Digital Complex Branch: location, hours and parking

Eulji Pocha Guro Digital Complex Branch is about 198m from Exit 2 of Guro Digital Complex Station, so it's easy to reach. Hours at the time of my visit, per Naver, are daily 17:00 to 06:00 the next day, with last order at 05:00.

It's open late, so it works for after-work dinners and for finding a second or third round.

The place is so big that it seems well suited to group gatherings and company dinners in Gudi. Groups are welcome, reservations are possible, and I could confirm Wi-Fi and separate men's and women's restrooms. There's no parking support, so public transport seems easier.

• Address: 12 Dijiteol-ro 32na-gil, Guro-gu, Seoul, South Korea (1st floor)
• About 198m from Exit 2 of Guro Digital Complex Station
• Hours: daily 17:00 to 06:00 the next day, last order 05:00

Why I'd go back to Eulji Pocha Guro Digital Complex Branch

If you want something different from an ordinary bar in Gudi, a place to play as well as drink, Eulji Pocha Guro Digital Complex Branch is worth a visit. The retro interior, like an old tool market moved over as is, was fun, and a DJ playing requests was something I hadn't seen in a long time, so it was fun and novel.

You order food and drinks, then use the coins for claw machines, games and instant photos, and even tteokbokki and ice bars, so the drinking session itself felt like play. I tried the claw machine with 5 coins and missed 😂 but next time I really want to win something.

The food was good, and there's so much to see and do that I want to go again.