Draft beer bar in Changwon for chicken skin tempura: Ganppa Maekju

After eating my fill at Godansu, I dropped by, I didn't want the night to end just yet, so I headed to Ganppa Maekju in Sangnam-dong for a second round.

Actually I've liked Ganppa Jinsae for a while now — I've even sought out the Gwangan-ri and Euljiro branches. When I heard a new one had opened in Sangnam-dong, Changwon, I kept thinking I should go check it out sometime. And this time I finally made it! I was already stuffed, so it was perfect for a light snack and a cold draft beer.

If you're looking for a spot for a light second round in Sangnam-dong, or if you love draft beer, this place is worth keeping an eye on — let me introduce it.

Where is Ganppa Maekju in Sangnam-dong, and what are the hours?

• 🍻 Ganppa Maekju Changwon Sangnam Hyeongje Branch
• 📍 Address _ 10 Madimi-ro 43beon-gil, Seongsan-gu, Changwon, Gyeongnam, South Korea (Moa Ent Mall, Unit 105)
• 🕒 Hours _ 18:00 – 02:00 (last order 01:00)
• 💡 Notes _ waiting area, separate men's/women's restrooms, no-kids zone, local currency (paper/mobile/card), Zero Pay, easy pay
• 🚗 Parking _ available (free) * use the underground parking lot at Moa Ent Mall

Ganppa Maekju Changwon is on the 1st floor of the Lululala building near Sangnam-dong's five-way intersection, so it's easy to find. Above the storefront, a big 'SAPPORO' sign makes it obvious right away that they serve Sapporo draft beer. The walls are covered in Japanese-style posters, and stacks of actual beer kegs sit by the entrance, giving off the vibe of a small beer bar tucked in a Japanese alley.

Standing bar tables only: how long is the wait?

Ganppa Maekju Changwon Sangnam Hyeongje Branch doesn't have a huge number of seats, so on weekends or busy hours there may be a wait. There's a separate spot by the entrance where you can write your name on the waitlist.

The interior is mostly bar tables. The walls are packed with notes, photos, and posters left by customers, giving it that distinctive Ganppa Maekju feel of a Japanese back-alley bar.

There are spots good for drinking solo and ones good for sitting side by side with a companion — overall there's a lot of cute little detail to look at, and it was fun reading the notes stuck on the walls.

Ganppa Maekju menu and set prices

• 🍺 Draft beer — Ebisu draft ₩11,900 / Sapporo draft ₩8,900
• Meat-packed yakisoba ₩9,900
• Hot jeong (affection) ramen ₩9,900
• Authentic Japanese Napolitan ₩9,900
• Ganppa special tebasaki (3pc) ₩9,900
• Osaka chicken ₩8,900
• Chicken skin tempura ₩8,900
• Spicy-sweet gyoza addiction (4pc) ₩7,900
• Butter octopus grill ₩7,900
• Busan tteok-oden ₩4,900
• Real honey yogurt ₩7,900
• Chewy squid somen ₩5,900
• Random ice cream ₩5,900
• Yuzu cabbage salad ₩4,900
• 🍻 BEST SET MENU — Ganppa special tebasaki + 2 Sapporo drafts ₩26,900 / Ganppa chicken skin tempura + 2 Sapporo drafts ₩25,900 / Spicy-sweet gyoza addiction + 2 Sapporo drafts ₩24,900

Since this was our second round, I didn't want anything too filling, so I picked the chicken skin tempura with the 2-glass Sapporo draft set.

• Ganppa chicken skin tempura + 2 Sapporo drafts ₩25,900
• Ebisu draft ₩11,900
• = Total ₩37,800

The draft beer poured in front of you

Once you order, the staff pours the draft right in front of you. Pouring the beer into the glass is Ganppa Maekju's whole thing. Watching them pour is basically like watching a show, haha.

Why the draft beer at Ganppa Maekju tastes so clean

• 1. Every keg cut off at 24 hours — kegs are meant to be finished within 24 hours of opening, keeping freshness up through fast turnover.
• 2. Direct-line system — instead of going through a chiller, the beer travels through less than 1m of tubing, pulling out the keg's freshness as-is.
• 3. Ultra-thin glasses imported directly from Japan — the only shop in Korea using these ultra-thin imported glasses, so the beer's coldness reportedly hits your lips within 0.1 seconds.
• 4. Stored at 2°C — never kept at room temperature, always managed at the ideal temperature in a dedicated fridge, 24/7, 365 days a year.
• 5. Pre-rinsing — glasses are rinsed with 0°C ice water to remove any off-smells and bring out the beer's flavor.

Look at that foam on the freshly poured beer. It looks even softer than the cream on an einspänner haha. Cloud-like beer foam, so, so good. Standing at the bar, I took a sip of the foam first before finding a seat lol.

We settled in by the window. There's no seating at Ganppa Maekju — it's all standing!

A full dinner, tasty beer, and good chats — this day was so great haha.

The chicken skin tempura was a little disappointing

The chicken skin tempura came out too! I wish it had been a bit crispier — it was a little lacking. I was already so full I barely touched the food that day lol. And that cat belly plushie stuck on the wall totally stole the show lol, I kept touching it too haha.

Sapporo vs Ebisu draft: how the two taste different

We ordered one more Ebisu draft too. And once again, got to watch the beer-pouring show.

Gorgeous — they really pour it like it's an art form.

Drinking both side by side, you can really tell the difference — Sapporo is clean and crisp, good for drinking lightly, while Ebisu has a richer maltiness and a heavier, deeper finish. Personally, when I'm drinking several glasses I reach for Sapporo, and when I want to really savor the beer's flavor, Ebisu feels right.

Is Ganppa Maekju a good second-round bar in Sangnam-dong?

You get to choose between Sapporo and Ebisu draft beer, there's a good variety of light snacks to pair with them, and the prices aren't heavy on the wallet, so it was a solid value for a drink. The atmosphere is fun and there are good spots for drinking solo too, so it seems like a fine choice for solo drinking in Sangnam-dong, and I'd especially recommend it to anyone like us looking for a second-round bar after dinner in Sangnam.

I was personally happy that Ganppa Maekju finally made it to Changwon! Next time I'll make sure to save some room in my stomach and try the other snacks too 🍺