Gyo-dong bar in Daegu with tomato beer and garlic suyuk: Sangbong

Where is Sangbong Dongseong-ro, and what time does it open?

Sangbong Dongseong-ro is a cooking-and-drinks bar at 32-17 Dongseongno 3-gil, 1F, near the Gyo-dong area of Jung-gu, Daegu. It opens daily at 18:00 and runs until 01:00 the next day (last order 00:00) on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, and until 02:00 (last order 01:00) on Friday and Saturday. Closed days are announced on Instagram and Naver.

There's no dedicated parking lot, so you'll need to use Yuhwa Building Parking (35 Dongseongno 3-gil, Jung-gu, Daegu) or Hyejeong Euro Parking (50 Dongseongno 5-gil, Jung-gu, Daegu).

A converted hanok exterior: first impressions of this Gyo-dong bar

A lot of people look for a good-vibe bar in Gyo-dong, Daegu for dates or catching up with friends around Dongseong-ro. I usually enjoy touring the atmospheric bar alley in Samdeok-dong, but this time I heard about a bar in Gyo-dong that's been getting a lot of buzz, so I went with a friend.

The place I visited is a mood bar called 'Gyo-dong Sangbong' that's been steadily popular for a few years now. The lighting seeping softly out from the entrance was warm, and the moment I stepped in I could feel that signature aura of a good-vibe bar in Gyo-dong, Daegu haha. It has a different feel from the Samdeok-dong bars I usually go to — a stylish space where basically every photo turned into a great shot hahaha.

What is the interior like, and who drinks here?

Sangbong Dongseong-ro is built inside a converted hanok, so the interior itself is worth looking at — the ceiling, styled to evoke traditional roof tiles, was especially striking. But bouncy music was playing pretty loud, so it was a bit too noisy for quiet conversation. It seemed like a place better suited to a lively, boisterous mood than a serious talk.

The crowd definitely skewed more late-20s than 30s, and when we visited there were a lot of tables of women out together. There were also a few tables that looked like couples, so it seemed to work fine as a date spot too.

What we ordered at Sangbong Dongseong-ro

We got a table and looked over the laminated menu. The lineup was more solid than expected, so we spent a while deciding, and ended up going with the shop's signature garlic suyuk (boiled pork) and a spicy soft tofu stew, and

the tomato beer I'd been curious about for a while.

There was no rice on its own, so we also ordered a giant rice ball, and since they happened to be running a review event, we took part in it.

Arriving at the 6pm opening: full within 30 minutes

As soon as we got inside and settled at a decent table, they brought us water and puffed rice snacks. We arrived right around 6pm, right after opening, and at that point there was only one other table besides us, so we could pick our seat at ease. But once it hit 6:30, the place filled up in no time. Seeing people even having to wait made the popularity really sink in. If you're coming later, it seems smarter to book ahead.

How does the signature garlic suyuk taste?

The garlic suyuk (boiled pork with garlic) came out first, and its generous look grabbed our attention right away. At this Gyo-dong mood bar, you can tell they put real thought into the plating. The moment we saw the plate piled high, my friend and I both let out a gasp at the same time. Picking up a thick slice of meat, the pork itself was fresh and had a springy texture that felt great in the mouth,

and a heap of house-made sauce made from minced garlic cut through the meat's richness cleanly with a sharp garlic aroma. I worried the garlic smell might be overpowering, but it actually leaned more toward bringing out the flavor of the meat. It wasn't spicy or off-putting at all. This alone made it obvious why this place has become known as a good-vibe bar and go-to spot for drinking snacks in Gyo-dong, Daegu.

Can you adjust the spice level of the soft tofu stew?

The soft tofu stew lets you adjust the spice level, and I went with the safe middle option, but it was spicy and rich with a deep broth that made the soju go down easily. True to a Gyo-dong mood bar, even the broth felt like it had real care put into it. Soju lovers, this is perfect as a pairing. From the first spoonful, the spicy broth felt like it instantly hit the spot. The pot was packed with enoki mushrooms, vegetables, and soft tofu, so it felt like they weren't skimping on ingredients.

The soup dish alone was hearty enough to work as a full drinking snack hahaha. With this kind of lineup, I'd definitely recommend it as a go-to spot for drinking snacks in Gyo-dong, Daegu hahaha.

The free giant rice ball from the review event

The giant rice ball was very generous in size for a free item. The moment it landed on the table, a nutty sesame oil aroma spread and stirred up my appetite. The sesame oil flavor was strong, so it paired well with the soft tofu stew's broth, and one bite filled my mouth with a nutty taste. Seeing this much care even in a free menu item confirmed once again that this is a proper Gyo-dong mood bar. It's good enough that I wish they'd sell it as a regular item — Sangbong deserves its reputation as a go-to spot for drinking snacks in Gyo-dong, Daegu.

What does the tomato beer taste like?

The tomato beer, which you can only get at Sangbong Dongseong-ro, was also impressive. Since it was hot summer weather, I liked that the beer glass itself came out chilled to frosty cold. I'd been curious about the flavor ever since I first spotted it on the menu, and the beer's crispness combined with sweet-tart tomato juice for a different feel from the usual beer. On the first sip, a subtle tomato aroma lingered behind the sharp carbonation, which felt fresh.

I worried mixing in tomato might make it watery, but the alcohol level was similar to regular beer, so it went down easily. It seemed like it would especially suit women in their 20s who like light, refreshing drinks. Since the food skewed a bit heavy, having a refreshing drink like this was also nice for cleansing the palate. The menu at this go-to spot for drinking snacks in Gyo-dong, Daegu also has plenty of fruit-mixed highballs like mango highball, so there's a lot of choice, and it seems easy for people who can't drink much to enjoy too.

Final verdict: who should visit Sangbong Dongseong-ro?

Overall, Sangbong Dongseong-ro delivered on all three fronts — atmosphere, food quality, and service. If you want a mood bar for pretty photos, I'd recommend it. It has a different charm from the usual Samdeok-dong bars, so if you're looking for a good-vibe bar in Gyo-dong, Daegu for a date or a get-together with friends, I'd recommend it.

Not recommended if conversation matters and you want a quiet setting. If you're tired of touring the Samdeok-dong bar alley, heading over to Gyo-dong could be a good choice hahaha.