Guro late-night bar: grilled tofu kimchi and ₩3,000 soju, Apgujeong

These days the weather's turning cool and the night breeze feels so nice, so I've been craving a good-vibe hideout spot for a chat over tasty snacks and a drink after work or on a weekend evening. And lucky me, I found a real hidden gem of a bar in Gaebong-dong, right next to my neighborhood, and had such a good time there. This is [ Apgujeong Sinpocha ], where the owner — with 13 years of experience in the restaurant business — personally handles every single dish.

Where is Apgujeong Sinpocha, and what are its hours?

• Address: 20-10 Nambusunhwan-ro 97-gil, Guro-gu, Seoul, South Korea, 2nd floor (near Gaebong Station)
• Hours: Daily 18:00–03:00
• Parking: Not available (use Gaebonggoga public parking lot)
• Restroom: Through the door in the hallway — separated by gender!

Access from Gaebong Station is really convenient, so it's great not just for locals but for anyone stopping by on the way home from work. It's on the 2nd floor, so you climb the stairs and get greeted by a cute yet comfortable pocha-style interior.

What is Apgujeong Sinpocha like at 9:30pm?

We visited Apgujeong Sinpocha at around 9:30pm, a fairly late hour, and overall the place wasn't too quiet or too packed — just the right amount of cute and cozy. I felt like there couldn't be a better spot to sit under soft lighting and chat away!

We got a table right in front of the counter, and it turned out to be a fantastic choice haha — watching what's going on at the counter was a lot of fun!

I noticed the whiskey bottles on display and the varied single-glass lineup, and most of all, the draft beer line-cleaning date was written clearly in plain view — you could really feel the owner's thorough hygiene standards and pride from 13 years in the business. My trust shot up before I'd even tasted the food!

Drink deal: soju ₩3,000 and beer ₩4,000 with two dishes

Apgujeong Sinpocha is currently running an event that's such welcome news for drinkers! Order two or more dishes and it's soju for ₩3,000 / beer for ₩4,000. With soju these days running ₩5,000-something a bottle, ordering just two tasty dishes drops the drink prices way down, so you can drink without worry — I thought it was excellent value for money.

What we ordered at Apgujeong Sinpocha

Grilled whole tofu with kimchi, ₩18,000

At most pocha bars, ordering tofu kimchi usually gets you blanched tofu, but at Apgujeong Sinpocha it comes as a 'grilled whole tofu'! The outside is golden brown and nutty, while the inside stays as silky as pudding. Topped with spicy-sweet, smoky stir-fried pork kimchi, the drinks just kept flowing haha.

Owner's pick assorted skewers, 7 pieces for ₩15,000

The second thing we ordered, the assorted skewers, was truly perfect as a beer snack! A variety of skewers come out golden-grilled with just the right smoky char — the chicken skewers had zero off flavor and the dressing and sauce paired so well. It was fun pulling them off one by one, and a clean, satisfying way to enjoy them!

Is Apgujeong Sinpocha better for a first or second round?

Each dish comes in a generous portion with great quality, so it works perfectly well as a first-round spot for a meal with a drink, and I'd also strongly recommend it as a second-round bar for casually enjoying good food with a shot glass or a beer. [ Apgujeong Sinpocha ]. On a late evening after a long day, sitting in a spot as carefully and cleanly kept as your go-to neighborhood bar, sharing a drink over good food with good people — that, I think, is a small but sure kind of happiness haha.

It really feels lucky to have such a skilled and trustworthy bar near Gaebong Station in the neighborhood! Next time, I plan to visit right at opening time, 6pm. I want to grab that prime spot by the big window on the 2nd floor for dinner and drinks, and go through the other signature dishes I couldn't try this time because I was already too full haha. If you're in Gaebong-dong looking for a pocha with neat, tasty snacks and a cozy atmosphere, I highly recommend stopping by [ Apgujeong Sinpocha ]!