Yeouido wine bar for Korean food pairings: Wine Joomak Chacha

After doing the Goguma Run along the Han River, it felt a little sad to just say goodbye like that. My friend and I went, “Should we have just one glass of wine before we go?” and headed to Wine Joomak Chacha Yeouido Station Branch, a place I’ve often gone for Yeouido work dinners.

Wine Joomak Chacha (와인주막차차) is also somewhere I occasionally visit with foreign guests for Yeouido work dinners. But today wasn’t a work dinner—we just stopped by for a casual glass of wine with a friend.

It’s close to Exit 2 of Yeouido Station, so it’s easy to get to. More than anything, it’s a place where you can enjoy wine without making it feel difficult, so it often comes to mind when I’m looking for somewhere to drink wine in Yeouido.

Easy wine pairings, even for beginners

Wine Joomak Chacha makes wine feel really approachable! You choose your wine first, then pair it with foods that suit it.

Honestly, if you don’t know much about wine, standing in front of a menu can feel a little overwhelming. Here, though, you can choose the style you like and pick a wine based on that preference, which makes it much easier.

And one of the charms here is that the food with your wine doesn’t have to be Italian or French!

There’s a wide selection, from Korean food to familiar dishes like tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), as well as dishes substantial enough for a meal. It’s a fun space that makes you let go, just a little, of the idea that “wine has to be paired with Western food.”

Why I also visit for Yeouido lunch wine

I actually go to Wine Joomak Chacha fairly often for lunch, too. Wine Joomak Chacha Yeouido Station Branch is in a convenient location for Yeouido office workers to visit at lunchtime, and it sells separate lunch dishes as well.

They also run an unlimited-wine event at lunch, so I think it could be a good option for anyone who wants to enjoy lunch and wine together at good value.

If I take a half-day off, it’s absolutely here!!!!!

An easy evening wine with a friend

This time, I visited with a friend in the evening, and the atmosphere was so relaxed.

It wasn’t overly serious or formal like an upscale wine bar, so it was great for simply chatting with a friend over a relaxed drink.

Besides wine, they also sell a variety of other drinks, including traditional liquors such as Jipyeong soju and Igangju, plus whisky!

What is the corkage fee?

I imagine many people will be curious about corkage at Wine Joomak Chacha. At the time I visited, corkage was ₩20,000 per bottle for wine and ₩50,000 for alcohol other than wine, plus a separate glass charge of ₩5,000 per glass.

We stopped in because it felt too sad to part ways after running hard along the Han River, but Wine Joomak Chacha Yeouido turned out to suit this kind of casual meet-up even better.

If you want to enjoy wine casually without finding it intimidating, or let an international friend experience Korean food and wine together, I really, really think it’s a great space.

If you’d like a lunchtime glass of wine in Yeouido, or are looking for somewhere relaxed to drink wine after work, keep it in mind. Next time, I’d like to try pairing another Korean dish with wine too :)