Changwon beer bar for Sapporo draft and Napolitan: Ganppa Maekju

Today, in the name of tracking calories, we went all the way from our first stop to a second one. The place my husband and I visited was Ganppa Maekju Changwon Sangnam Hyeongje Branch (간빠맥주 창원상남형제점), the izakaya that never seems to be left out of the conversation when people mention Sangnam-dong bars these days! The sign boldly said it was a Sapporo collaboration store, so my curiosity was exploding already haha.

Ganppa Maekju Changwon Sangnam Hyeongje Branch: Exterior and Interior

That Sapporo sign really catches your eye even from far away 🍺 It definitely stands out in Sangnam-dong's bar alley, lol. It is on the first floor of the building with Lulu Ralla Night at the very bottom of Changwon!

I was craving beer so badly that day that the moment we opened the door and walked in, wow... we ordered beer first!! The walls were packed with customers' signatures and photos 😲 It kind of looked like graffiti, but also had its own cozy charm? Haha.

I also thought it was fascinating to see beer kegs piled up inside the refrigerator! You can feel everywhere that this is a place seriously devoted to draft beer. They say they manage turnover with a rule of finishing each keg within a set time after opening it.

Apparently, they even use ultra-thin dedicated glasses imported directly from Japan! Ganppa Maekju pays attention to details like this!! You really have to come try it 👍

The Osaka Chicken and Japanese-Style Napolitan We Ordered

• Sapporo draft beer: ₩8,900
• Yebisu draft beer: ₩11,900
• Osaka Chicken: ₩8,900
• Yakisoba: ₩9,900
• Napolitan: ₩9,900
• Ramen: ₩9,900

We ordered Osaka Chicken + authentic Japanese Napolitan + two draft beers! I was wondering what Osaka Chicken would be, and its appearance instantly reminded me of the chicken nanban I ate so deliciously on a past trip to Miyazaki, Japan!!

The Osaka Chicken came out first 🍗 It was the perfect crispy-outside, tender-inside chicken, and picking it up with the mayo dressing on the cabbage salad was an absolutely amazing match. That sweet-and-salty sauce was the kind of flavor that kept making me reach for another bite, hehe.

And then there was the authentic Japanese Napolitan 🍝 It came with a slice of cheese over ketchup-based sauce, and I completely fell for it from the look alone 😍 The Napolitan pasta was delicious even after it cooled down, so it is surprisingly well suited as a bar snack!!

Crisp Draft Beer and a Second-Stop Atmosphere

The staff poured the draft beer themselves, paying attention even to the foam, and the crispness was different from the very first sip. As you would expect from a Sapporo collaboration store, it made me think, wow, their beer really is on another level 🍺✨

Oh, and this is a standing bar^^ We came for a second round, and it is just perfect for that because the menu prices are such great value!! But the food was also so delicious, and especially the beer really was different.

An Izakaya I Want to Visit Again for a Second Round in Sangnam-dong

I happened to find it while looking for a Sangnam-dong bar, and I really loved the relaxed yet exciting atmosphere that is so characteristic of an izakaya. It was the perfect space to have a leisurely drink and chat with my husband for the first time in a while. I think we will stop by again next time. Then I am trying the Yebisu draft beer and yakisoba too!

I would strongly recommend it to anyone looking for an izakaya with a great atmosphere in Sangnam-dong!