Suwon Station room bar with golbaengi somyeon at 5pm: Manseokjip

I visited Suwon Station on the weekend for the first time in ages. Meeting up with a friend I hadn't seen in even longer, we were trying to figure out where to go and landed on a private room bar that isn't open-plan. Manseokjip was even better for having an old friend along — let's get straight into the post.

Manseokjip Suwon Station Branch at a glance: hours and rooms

• Hours: Daily 16:00 – 03:00 next day
• Group-friendly, WiFi, reservations
• Separate men's/women's restrooms, corkage allowed, no parking

Where is Manseokjip Suwon Station Branch on Rodeo Street?

This Suwon Station bar isn't hard to find. Head down Rodeo Street toward Hansin Pocha and it's on your right. The name Manseokjip is plastered across the front in huge letters, so there's no way to miss it.

I came here once in my early twenties, and it was already a room bar back then. The inside is huge, but even at this early hour it was already surprisingly full of customers! Truly lives up to its reputation as a Suwon Station date spot.

What are the rooms like, from two-person to group seating?

There are various seating options, from two-seat rooms to eight-seat rooms to group rooms for 10 or more. Since it was just the two of us, we were shown to a two-seat room. It looked great for group gatherings too.

I was seated on the 2nd floor so I didn't realize at first, but there's a 3rd floor too. The 2nd floor has a mix of two-seat and group rooms, while the 3rd floor seems to only have tables for four or more. Each room has its own air conditioner, so it's comfortable even in peak summer.

Even the group tables are set up as private rooms, so you can drink privately with just your own crew. When I visited it was 5pm, and plenty of people were already having a great time. There was even a waiting line when we left! Manseokjip's popularity as a date spot is through the roof..!

The women's restroom is at the end of the hallway on the 2nd floor, and the men's restroom is up the stairs at the end of the hallway on the 3rd floor. Each floor has separate men's and women's restrooms, so it's easy to use.

How ordering, time limits and rules work at Manseokjip

The usage instructions are clearly posted. Use the tablet to order according to your party size. When there's a waiting line, the time limit is 2.5 hours. Smoking is not allowed inside the rooms, but there's a smoking room on the same floor. Outside food isn't allowed, though birthday cakes are an exception.

Also, if a room is used excessively messily or damaged, a cleaning fee (₩30,000) will be charged, so let's all show some manners and keep things tidy!

Golbaengi somyeon: what the spicy whelk and noodles taste like

I ordered golbaengi somyeon (spicy whelk with thin wheat noodles)! I think it's one of the best of the best side dishes to pair with soju. The order took about 15 minutes and then came out right away.

My friend was mixing the noodles up expertly. There were quite a lot of big, chunky whelks in it, and the golbaengi somyeon at this Suwon Station bar, with its tangy-sweet sauce coating the noodles, was really satisfying. The noodles weren't overcooked or too chewy, and paired with the tangy-sweet whelk salad, they really were best friends — perfect as a drinking snack, I think.

Apparently whelk is rich in taurine, protein, and minerals, so it's a seafood that helps with fatigue recovery and weight management! Between whelk salad and soup-type dishes, I tend to prefer whelk salad as a drinking snack. I'm curious what you all prefer!

Is Manseokjip Suwon Station Branch worth a visit? Honest verdict

Since my friend and I are both the type who don't really eat much when drinking haha, we ended up leaving more than half the golbaengi somyeon behind — and now I'm regretting it a little, thinking about what a waste that was. With fall weather bringing more gatherings and more get-togethers with friends these days, this is a good place to stop by if you're planning a group outing. That wraps up my review of Manseokjip, a Suwon Station date bar.