Mapo Korean pub for pork belly tofu kimchi: Dambaek Jujeom

Dambaek Jujeom, a Korean pub near Sangsu Station

I found Dambaek Jujeom while looking for a bar around Hongdae and Sangsu. If you’re searching for a proper Korean pub in Sangsu-dong, stay with me through the end of today’s review. I’ll give you an honest rundown of exactly what I ate on my visit.

Dambaek Jujeom at a glance

• Address: 99-11 Yanghwa-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울 마포구 양화로6길 99-11 1층)
• Location: About a 5-minute walk (387 m) from Sangsu Station Exit 1
• Monday–Friday: 11:00–23:00 (break time 15:00–17:00; last order 22:00)
• Saturday: 15:00–23:00 (last order 22:00)
• Sunday: Regularly closed
• Reservations, group visits, and Wi-Fi available

It isn’t far from Sangsu Station, so it’s just right for walking over. Since reservations are available, I recommend booking ahead if you’re going with a bigger group. Some days have a break time, so it’s best to check the hours once more before visiting.

A quiet, cool Sangsu-dong alley atmosphere

There are so many bars around Hongdae and Sangsu that I’m always wondering where to go. This time, I wanted to try a proper Korean pub in Sangsu, so after looking through several reviews, I chose Dambaek Jujeom. I liked that, true to its name, it has lots of dishes that aren’t overly intense and bring out the ingredients’ natural flavors. Tucked into one of Sangsu-dong’s characteristically quiet yet cool alleys, it suited both a date and a low-key drink with friends.

Just how crisp was the seafood buchu pajeon?

The first dish I ordered was seafood buchu pajeon (seafood garlic chive pancake). It looked striking from the start: large shrimp were piled generously over the pancake. With a bite, it was crisp outside and moist inside, with the fragrant chives pairing beautifully with the shrimp’s clean umami. It’s a really great dish alongside a glass of makgeolli (Korean rice wine) or soju, so I recommend ordering it at least once if you’re looking for a Korean pub in Sangsu.

The most memorable dish: samgyeop dubu kimchi

The second dish was samgyeop dubu kimchi (pork belly, tofu, and kimchi), and personally, it was the most memorable menu item of this visit. The combination of nicely grilled pork belly, soft tofu, and perfectly fermented kimchi was absolutely spot-on. The savory pork juices, the tofu’s mildness, and the kimchi’s tang came together in a flavor that stayed on my mind. It was satisfying enough to work as drinking food or a side dish with rice.

The nutty aroma of perilla oil grilled tofu

The last dish, perilla oil grilled tofu, stood out from its aroma alone. The tofu was browned, then generously drizzled with perilla oil, so a nutty fragrance really bloomed with every bite. The perilla oil’s flavor enhanced the tofu’s naturally mild taste, making it a dish I kept reaching for. I strongly recommend it to anyone who wants a deep flavor without anything overly intense.

Korean bar dishes I’d order again

Dambaek Jujeom was, just as its name suggests, a place where the mild Korean bar dishes that highlighted the ingredients’ natural flavors really stood out.

All three dishes—the seafood buchu pajeon, samgyeop dubu kimchi, and perilla oil grilled tofu—were satisfying. In particular, I think I’d reorder the pork belly tofu kimchi and perilla oil grilled tofu on my next visit. If you’re looking for a Korean pub near Hongdae and Sangsu with a great atmosphere and reliably good food, I confidently recommend Dambaek Jujeom.

If you’re planning a visit, just be sure to check the break time and regular Sunday closure. If you have a large group, I recommend making a reservation before you go.