After-work Hapjeong pub for spicy gopchang stir-fry: Bako Jumak

Where is Bako Jumak and what are its hours?

Bako Jumak (바코주막) is a Korean pub at 27 Dongmak-ro 7-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 1st floor, about a 5-minute walk from Hapjeong Station. It is open daily from 17:00 to 04:00, with last order at 03:00.

Now that the weather has cooled down, I kept craving a cold draft beer on my way home from work. I'm a bit sick of izakayas after going to so many, and I wanted Korean bar food with my drink, so I headed to Bako Jumak, a Hapjeong Station pub with a great word-of-mouth reputation.

It's an easy trip by subway. If you're driving, I heard you can use the Hapjeong 1 public parking lot or the Seogyo-dong No. 4 private parking lot.

Bako Jumak exterior near Hapjeong Station

The exterior of Bako Jumak was nice to check out before heading in.

What is the atmosphere like inside Bako Jumak?

Bako Jumak is a Korean pub that recreates an old-style jumak (traditional tavern) with cheongsachorong (traditional silk lanterns) on the ceiling and straw decorations like a thatched roof. The moment you walk in, the lanterns hanging in clusters from the ceiling are the first thing you see, and straw decor runs along the walls like a thatched roof, so it really feels like stepping into an old tavern?! It lives up to its name.

The inside was also much bigger than I expected, and the large windows meant it didn't feel stuffy at all. The lighting was soft and warm, just right for sipping a drink. Also, the women's restroom is inside the pub!!

Bako Jumak menu and free corn snack

The menu at Bako Jumak has so many items, from meat dishes to soups and meals, that choosing took me forever. As a Korean pub, it has such variety that I don't think I'd get bored even after coming many times.

Receipt review and event information was posted separately too.

The complimentary snack is gangnaengi (puffed corn snack)!

What we ordered at Bako Jumak and how much it cost

• Beef sashimi (small) ₩21,000
• Vegetable offal and gizzard stir-fry (spicy) ₩19,000
• Draft beer 600cc ₩5,500

How big is Bako Jumak's 600cc draft beer?

The 600cc draft beer at Bako Jumak is ₩5,500 and is almost as big as a water bottle. I ordered the cold draft beer first. If I'm drinking anyway, go big with the 600cc!!

I took a gulp as soon as I got the glass, and it went down clean and refreshing, wiping away all the after-work fatigue. It was my first time seeing 600cc, and it's seriously huge. Almost like a water bottle, the size is crazy.

Is the small beef sashimi (21,000 won) enough for two?

The small hanwoo sashimi (Korean beef sashimi) at Bako Jumak is ₩21,000, and even at the small size it was enough for two people. It's the signature dish you're told you have to try here!

It doesn't come out as just sashimi on its own. The table is filled with garlic, chives, onion, chili pepper and gamtae (seaweed) along with sesame oil dip and chojang (sweet-spicy vinegar chili sauce). It was sliced into bite-size pieces, and the bright red color let you see the freshness with your own eyes.

Dip a piece in the oil sauce and you get a chewy texture with a rush of nutty flavor. Wrapped in gamtae, it picks up a sea aroma, and this combo is the best!! When you start to feel a little full of it, put a chili pepper on it with chojang for a whole new taste!

Is the spicy gopchang and gizzard stir-fry okay if you can't handle heat?

The vegetable offal and gizzard stir-fry at Bako Jumak is ₩19,000, and you can choose salt or spicy seasoning. The spicy one was moderately hot, so even I, who can't handle spice, kept eating it with my beer. For drinking, I picked the spicy one!

It comes out piled on a iron plate, and the look alone makes your mouth water. By the way, the offal here is a little different from the usual pork vegetable offal stir-fry we often eat. I can't eat gizzards if they're fishy or tough, but these had no gamey smell at all and were surprisingly tender. Crunchy onion, whole garlic cloves and big chunks of vegetables kept coming no matter how much I dug, so the portion was much more generous than I expected.

Is Bako Jumak in Hapjeong worth a return visit?

I was happy with everything at Bako Jumak near Hapjeong Station, from the atmosphere to the taste to the portions, and I plan to come back to try other dishes. I found it by chance while looking for a Hapjeong Station pub, and thanks to the interior that's fully committed to the tavern concept, it felt less like just a bar and more like a day out.

The beef sashimi was fresh and chewy, and the spicy offal and gizzard stir-fry was perfect bar food!! It's open until 4am, so it's also great for talking late into the night. If you want Korean bar food instead of an izakaya in Hapjeong, I recommend Bako Jumak!! Next time I'll definitely come back to try other menu items.