Gwangalli bar for yakisoba and draft beer: Ganppa Beer Gwangalli 2

One of the things I was most looking forward to while getting through day one of my Busan trip was a draft beer tour. I heard that Ganppa Beer, a must-visit for beer lovers, had newly opened its second Gwangalli branch. Since it is such a popular place, I was worried about a long line, but I visited on a weekday evening hoping the second branch might have less of a wait.

If you walk down from Gwangan Station along the beach, it is easy enough to find. Turnover is fairly quick too, so even if you wait a little, seats tend to open up soon.

Inside Ganppa Beer Gwangalli 2 and the wait

It is an official Sapporo collaboration store, so you can get a real taste of local-style draft beer without going to Japan.

The stack of Sapporo kegs right from the entrance caught my eye. “No beer No Life” was a phrase that made me nod along automatically.

You can reserve Ganppa Beer Gwangalli 2 through Catchtable, and there was no waiting after 10 p.m. on a weekday. We had also passed by the first branch, and it looked like there was some waiting over by Geumnyeonsan, perhaps because it is near a draft-beer hotspot.

Inside was a large display refrigerator holding the Sapporo draft beer kegs. The kegs are opened only after resting at 2°C for at least two days, then used up within 24 hours after opening. That seems to be Ganppa Beer’s secret for keeping everything fresh.

The bar is run with standing seating. Since I visited with my old-lady friends, haha, we did look around at first for somewhere to perch.

In the end, we reached a gentle compromise by resting our elbows on the table :) Drinking beer standing up made it feel more like we were out having fun, and we drank faster than expected. It felt like a great place to casually pop into for one beer while walking Gwangalli Beach or heading back to your accommodation alone.

We already knew what we wanted, so we ordered at the entrance and watched the beer being poured.

Sapporo draft beer and bar food

Here is the menu at Ganppa Beer Gwangalli 2, a Gwangalli bar. First, we had to decide which beer to have, but since Sapporo draft beer is the signature item, we each gave it a try. Ebisu draft beer is not always easy to enjoy deliciously in Korea either, so I will have to try it next time.

Tebasaki, sweet-and-spicy gyoza addiction, and fried chicken skin are popular bar snacks. We tried the tebasaki and gyoza set, then added an order of yakisoba.

Draft beer with creamy foam

The way they pour beer here is unusual. It might look like the kind of thing older folks would scold you for, saying you do not know how to pour draft beer, but they fill it with cream until the beer overflows. This removes the oxidized, rough foam and leaves a dense, creamy head. Poured this way, the foam also acts as a seal, so carbonation does not escape as easily and there is less unnecessary gas, meaning less of that bloated feeling.

They also dip the properly poured beer in 0°C ice water and take it out, which washes the outside of the glass and is said to have the two-for-one benefit of locking in the foam too.

In no time, five glasses were ready, and I was more curious about the draft beer than the food.

I loved that the foam did not disappear easily. The moment I took a sip, I went, “Wow~,” and two or three more gulps went down just like that.

I got to see the angel ring, which you supposedly only see with fresh beer, and even after finishing a glass I did not feel bloated at all, so I could not even guess how many more I might drink. The rim of the glass was thin too, so it felt closer against the lips and seemed to carry the beer’s temperature better.

Meat-loaded yakisoba (Japanese stir-fried noodles), ₩9,900

It was Osaka traditional style, with plenty of meat, making it perfect if you are hungry. Overall, the menu felt like good value for money.

Sweet-and-spicy gyoza addiction, ₩7,900

It was not as spicy as I expected, but rather gyoza (Japanese dumplings) with a sweet sauce. Naturally, it went well with beer, and it would be a nice order if you are looking for a light snack.

Ganppa special tebasaki, ₩9,900

The chicken wings arrive lightly fried, with a flavor that anyone who likes chicken should enjoy without reservations. Most people seem to visit Ganppa Beer as a second or third stop, so there were lots of lighter dishes. But I was so impressed by the beer itself that I barely reached for my chopsticks.

Draft beer even my non-drinking friend enjoyed

I also visited with a friend who does not really like alcohol, and when I saw her take one sip of the draft beer and not put it down, I was convinced: yes, this is truly a beer spot. There were little events along the way, and we could leave notes with friends too, making it a memorable Gwangalli beer tour. I think lots of people should try this delicious draft beer as an essential stop on a Busan trip.

This was my honest review of Ganppa Beer, which I would recommend without hesitation when you have seen the sea in Gwangalli, feel the cool breeze, and start craving a delicious glass of draft beer.