Yongin bar for Friday drinks: wing combo and Terra, Bacha Suji

A Friday evening with a friend at Bacha Suji

On a Friday evening I headed toward Suji-gu Office Station to have a drink with a friend I hadn't seen in a while. Friday is the perfect day to shake off a week's worth of fatigue, so my steps were light, and since this is a bar I go to often, I headed there without a second thought,

and that place is Bacha Suji (바차 수지점)! It sits in the alley where the bars around Suji-gu Office Station cluster, and among locals it already has a big reputation as a great bar in the area.

Where is Bacha Suji, and what about parking?

Bacha Suji is within walking distance of Suji-gu Office Station, so it's easy to reach by public transport. It doesn't seem to run its own parking lot. If you're looking for a spot for a dinner meetup or a second round near the station, the location is just right.

Like most bars around Suji-gu Office, the streets near the shop may not have much room, so I'd recommend the Suji-gu Office public car park or a nearby paid lot. I'm a local, so I enjoyed the night without worrying about parking.

Atmosphere and interior of Bacha Suji

Bacha Suji has the feel of a cozy, stylish cooking pub (yori-jujeom), decorated with soft lighting and tasteful props. The moment you walk in, you can tell it's a cut above the usual neighborhood bar.

Thanks to the soft lighting and stylish decor, it felt less like a rowdy street-tent pub (pojangmacha) and more like a cozy, sophisticated cooking pub.

The tables are spaced comfortably too, so we could chat with my friend over drinks without being drowned out by the next table.

Wood-toned furniture and accent lighting make it a pretty spot for photos, so I think people who care about Instagram-worthy vibes will be happy here too.

The mood suits small gatherings, dates and quiet drinks with friends much better than a loud company dinner.

How crowded is Bacha Suji on a Friday evening?

Maybe because it was Friday evening, the place was packed. What struck me most was that women made up a overwhelming share of the guests, around 70% by my feel! The atmosphere is stylish and cozy, so there seemed to be lots of women and groups of friends. It felt right both for a date and for a casual drink with friends.

The food and drinks we ordered at Bacha Suji

What we ordered at Bacha Suji was the mozzarella chili shrimp, the spicy wing and drumstick combo, and beer (Terra).

We originally wanted draft beer, but it was sold out that day, so sadly we couldn't have it and switched to Terra instead. With the spicy mozzarella chili shrimp and the wing combo, the crisp, refreshing finish was a perfect match, and we kept clinking glasses with each other. Running out of draft beer must be proof of how popular the place is.

This is the complimentary side that Bacha Suji serves by default.

Mozzarella chili shrimp (₩20,000)

The mozzarella chili shrimp is one of Bacha's signature dishes.

Plump, bouncy shrimp come in a spicy chili sauce, topped with a generous layer of mozzarella, so it passed on looks alone. Stretching the cheese and eating it with the shrimp gives you spicy and savory at the same time, and it's quietly addictive.

It's an easy dish to enjoy, whether as a drinking snack or just on its own.

Spicy wing and drumstick combo (₩21,000)

For chicken, we ordered the spicy wing and drumstick combo.

Spicy buffalo wings and drumsticks, french fries and nachos all come on one plate, so it's fun to pick at a bit of everything. The spicy seasoning has soaked in well, so I kept reaching for more. The batter is fried crisp for a nice texture, and with beer it was a really great pairing.

With the spicy mozzarella chili shrimp, the wing combo and beer, the crisp, refreshing finish was a perfect match, and we kept clinking glasses with each other.

What else is on the menu at Bacha Suji?

We didn't get to try them this time, but Bacha Suji has a range of other signature dishes besides what we ordered.

• Seafood dishes: Bacha seafood jjim (steamed dish), Bacha clam jjim (a type of steamed seafood), red seafood gambas, Roach shrimp
• Other popular dishes: onion boneless chicken, rose tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes in creamy sauce), mala beef brisket jjamppong soup (spicy noodle soup), crispy dried pollack

The seafood dishes are especially plentiful, and the dishes above also seem to be counted among the popular menu items. Next visit I want to try the steamed seafood too.

Overall verdict on Bacha Suji

The moment you step into Bacha Suji, you can clearly feel the good atmosphere. The lighting and interior are stylish, and it feels cozy and relaxed rather than the rowdy vibe typical of bars, which is probably why there were so many women and friends chatting quietly over drinks.

The table next to us, and the one next to that, were full of people enjoying beer. The food is clearly good, and I could see why it has a reputation as a top bar near Suji-gu Office.

The mozzarella chili shrimp in particular is something I'm 100% going back for, and I think I'll keep craving that combo of spicy food with a cold glass of Terra. One drawback: maybe because it was Friday evening, seats filled up quickly, so if you plan to visit at a popular time, I recommend making a reservation.

If you're looking for a bar near Suji-gu Office Station with a good atmosphere and tasty food, I strongly recommend Bacha Suji. It suits a casual drink with friends, a date or a small gathering, so stop by as part of your weekend plans.