Hapjeong bar for 5pm Friday yukhoe and seafood ramyeon: Bako Jumak

5pm on a Friday after work: heading to Bako Jumak near Hapjeong Station

Bako Jumak (바코주막) is a Korean pub on Dongmak-ro 7-gil near Hapjeong Station, and on the last Friday of the week I bolted out of work and headed straight there for 5pm. The sun sets so late in this summer weather! I was looking for a place for a casual daytime drink and found Bako Jumak. It's perfect for those days when you want a drink in the middle of a weekday afternoon, so I wanted to share it.

• Name: Bako Jumak (바코주막)
• Location: 27 Dongmak-ro 7-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (1st floor)
• Hours: Daily 17:00 - 04:00 the next day (last order 03:00)
• Type: Korean pub specializing in Korean beef yukhoe (seasoned raw beef) and beef sashimi

When to go to Bako Jumak for a quiet drink near Hapjeong Station

To enjoy Bako Jumak quietly, go early, right after opening. From Friday evening the area around Hapjeong Station gets really loud with people enjoying their weekend, but we ran over straight from work and could start in relative peace. If you like a calm atmosphere, I recommend going in the daytime hours!

So we dashed over at 5pm right after work. It was one of those days when I wanted a drink in the middle of a weekday, and I found this place while searching for somewhere good for daytime drinking. Menu scan before heading in~ Bako Jumak is a Korean-style pub, with everything from yukhoe to jeon (Korean pan-fried savory pancakes). Soju and makgeolli (Korean rice wine) really do go best with Korean food. I'd eaten a lot of Western food lately and was craving something spicy and Korean, so I was already excited about the menu haha.

Bako Jumak's atmosphere and the 'Today's Service' event

Bako Jumak is decorated with warm lighting and a traditional jumak (old-style Korean tavern) interior, and at the entrance there's a 'Today's Service' event made of sticky notes. It's cozy and friendly, perfect for relaxing over a drink early on a weekday. Seating is roomy too, so a group should be fine.

The most fun part was this 'Today's Service' event. Free side dishes or drinks are written on the sticky notes, and you peel off the one you want to get it as a service. Such a clever idea! But sadly we only discovered it at the very end, lol, so we missed out. You guys should join the event as soon as you get there and grab lots of freebies! haha

Draft beer to wet the throat, then a bottle of Jinro

Our first order at Bako Jumak was one Korean beef yukhoe, draft beer and Jinro. The menu was so varied that I wanted everything, but we were heading to a second round, so we just ordered the yukhoe first ㅎㅎ Thinking back, we could have eaten anything at the second round too, so I regret ordering only yukhoe a little.. because honestly every side dish here is really delicious….

But first, draft beer to wet the throat! Then a bottle of Jinro, let's gooo.. In this weather you absolutely have to wet your throat with beer before starting soju. Downing a beer in one go right after coming in from outside is pure honey….

I usually only drink Chamisul, but having Jinro for the first time in ages, why is it so tasty? haha

How to eat Bako Jumak's Korean beef yukhoe

Bako Jumak's Korean beef yukhoe was fresh and generous in portion, more than good enough as a daytime drinking snack, and it comes with chojang (sweet-and-sour chili sauce), sesame oil sauce, plus water dropwort, gamtae (seaweed) and garlic. Trying different combinations is half the fun! I used to be strictly a 'yukhoe with Asian pear' person, but it was so good with water dropwort and gamtae too haha

Recommended combo: gamtae + yukhoe + green chili + water dropwort

My recommended combo: put a piece of Korean beef yukhoe on gamtae, then add a piece of green chili and water dropwort.. This combo is so good, you've got to try it!

My hand keeps reaching for it, keeps reaching..

How was the seafood ramyeon we added at Bako Jumak?

Bako Jumak's seafood ramyeon was spicy and went well with alcohol. Halfway through the yukhoe, stopping at just one dish felt like such a shame, so we ordered it as an extra, and with another cold glass of draft beer it was a perfect combination.

We only meant to stop by for something light, but every dish at Bako Jumak left us really satisfied. The yukhoe in particular tasted clearly fresh, so you can eat it with confidence.

Who is Bako Jumak near Hapjeong Station for?

I especially recommend Bako Jumak to anyone who wants a drink early on a weekday. On days when you want a drink right after work, Bako Jumak near Hapjeong Station will definitely come to mind :)