After-work Yeongdeungpo bar: gopdoritang and roe rice balls, Yeokjeon

Found a genuinely delicious spot that's perfect for starting off a night out right after work, so let me introduce it. I was craving something spicy with a deep broth and headed to the Yeongdeungpo Station food alley, and honestly it was even better than I expected — found myself a real gopdoritang (spicy chicken hot pot) spot I'd want to come back to.

Where is Yeokjeon Pojangmacha Yeongdeungpo?

Yeokjeon Pojangmacha Yeongdeungpo sits on the 2nd floor of a building on Yeongdeungpo-ro 50-gil, right in the heart of the Yeongdeungpo Station food alley. The big, retro-style sign caught my eye from far away. About a 5-minute walk from Yeongdeungpo Station? Really convenient spot to set as a meeting place.

How much are soju and draft beer at Yeokjeon?

The air-balloon standee sign outside Yeokjeon Pojangmacha Yeongdeungpo reads soju ₩3,900, draft beer ₩2,900. The big standee caught my attention, and I was genuinely surprised at how low the drink prices were. In this era of high prices, being able to drink this cheap — how can you not go!

The vibe inside and how to order

Inside Yeokjeon Pojangmacha Yeongdeungpo, round pojangmacha-style tables and retro decor set the mood. Walking in, that retro feeling hit right away — the round tables and interior together create a cozy, comfortable atmosphere. Perfect for chatting with friends over drinks.

Also, each table has a tablet ordering device, so ordering is easy and hassle-free haha.

What did we order for the first round after work?

Hadn't eaten dinner yet, so we ordered the signature hanwoo gopdoritang and the flying fish roe rice ball. The gopdoritang lets you choose your spice level, and we picked the safest option, level 1, Shin Ramyun heat! And the flying fish roe rice ball, which pairs perfectly with the gopdoritang broth, isn't optional — it's a must haha.

After a short wait, the hanwoo gopdoritang, rice ball, and cold drinks were all laid out in a generous spread. The moment I saw the hot pot overflowing with food, I couldn't help but gasp lol. Being able to eat and drink at the same time makes this such a great spot for a first round.

Before the main dish started boiling, we snacked on puffed rice crackers to tide us over lol. That nostalgic macaroni snack — nothing special about it but somehow so tasty... lol. Crispy and nutty, perfect for light snacking while waiting for food.

How is the flying fish roe rice ball served?

Yeokjeon's flying fish roe rice ball comes in a big tin pot topped with flying fish roe, finely diced pickled radish, seaweed flakes, and chives, all drizzled with mayonnaise. The ingredients were generously piled on — popping flying fish roe, pickled radish, seaweed flakes, and chives heaped high. With the nutty mayonnaise drizzled generously on top, it's basically a can't-miss combination, sob.

Mixed all the ingredients together well and took a big spoonful — the seasoning was spot on, just plain delicious, sob. A place that gets the rice ball ratio this right? That's a real find, no lie.

₩2,900 draft beer served in a frosted glass

The draft beer at Yeokjeon Pojangmacha Yeongdeungpo comes in a frosted glass. Just looking at that frosted glass cools you down instantly — appreciate the attention to detail haha. Pure happiness for just ₩2,900 — this might be the best bar near Yeongdeungpo Station for that alone.

How's the portion and taste of the hanwoo gopdoritang?

Yeokjeon's hanwoo gopdoritang comes piled high with enoki mushrooms, king oyster mushrooms, chives, glass noodles, udon noodles, and rice cakes on top of the chicken. Yep... today's star, the hanwoo gopdoritang, the visual is honestly insane, sob. The portion is really, really huge — honestly could feed four people.

Lifted a well-cooked chicken leg with the tongs and was amazed by how substantial and hefty it was!! Not a tiny chicken at all — a genuinely big one, and since it's domestic chicken, there's no gamy smell, just delicious. Honestly, with a name like 'pojangmacha' I expected just decent bar snacks, but this gopdoritang is seriously well done haha. They call it a Yeongdeungpo Station bar, but calling it a Yeongdeungpo Station restaurant wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Hanwoo beef intestine simmered in the broth

The hanwoo beef intestine (daechang) in the gopdoritang is simmered thoroughly in the spicy, tangy broth, so the rich fattiness never feels greasy. Take a look at the tender hanwoo daechang, soaked in broth and full of savory flavor. The moment it hits your mouth, that savory richness bursts, haha — soft, chewy texture that's absolutely blissful. The spicy, tangy broth cuts through the fattiness of the intestine, so you can enjoy it cleanly without any greasiness, and the broth genuinely gets better the longer it simmers. Taste the broth and you'll quietly have to crack open a soju lol.

Worth recommending as a first-round bar near Yeongdeungpo Station?

Yeokjeon Pojangmacha Yeongdeungpo is a place where you can enjoy insanely good bar food wrapped in a retro, comfortable pojangmacha vibe. I hope everyone gets a chance to visit... haha. It's really, seriously delicious!!! If you're looking for a great spot near Yeongdeungpo Station to start off a solid first round of drinks and food with friends after work, Yeokjeon is a must-visit.