Songpa bar with a 22:30 patio cutoff and spicy pork jowl: Daegang

Once the weather gets nice, all I want is to drink outside, right? So I went looking for a spot in Jamsil with outdoor seating and picked Daegang, a sashimi place in Songni-dan-gil, and went with a friend ★·.·´¯`·.·★

I checked the prices before going and it was cheaper than I expected, and more than anything, the outdoor patio vibe was pure romance. Bottom line up front: this is a place you have to go for the patio seats, so let me cover the wait times and closing time too ꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱₊˚⊹

Where is Daegang on Songni-dan-gil, and the basics

Daegang is on Songni-dan-gil between Seokchon Station and Songpanaru Station, and it's dinner-only, so it's closed if you go during the day. It's right along the route if you're looking for Seokchon Station or Songpanaru Station restaurants anyway.

It's a bit of a shame there's no free parking, but since you're going there to drink, the subway is the most convenient anyway.

What Daegang's outdoor patio feels like, and how photos turn out

The core of Daegang is the outdoor patio. In the space in front of the shop they've lined up standing tables and chairs, and there are quite a lot of tables.

And still, it was completely full.

The string lights under the umbrellas combine with the shop sign's glow, so photos just turn out well ᰔᩚ♡ᰔᩚ In this kind of weather, drinking outside is neither too hot nor too cold — the perfect temperature for feeling the romance. When you search for outdoor bars in Songpa there really aren't that many options, but Daegang starts off strong just with how many tables it has. It's got the vibe to justify coming just for the photos.

Let's look at the interior too. High ceilings, wood tones, ivy and string lights wrapped around — it's not a street-cart feel, it's closer to today's trendy bar aesthetic. There are handwritten menu boards and notices the owner wrote themselves stuck up here and there on the walls, which is oddly entertaining.

There are also bar-style seats, so it wasn't awkward coming as just the two of us. It's also good for a second stop after walking around Seokchon Lake, so it works well to end a Seokchon Lake restaurant course here too.

Daegang menu and prices

Menu and prices are organized based on Naver Map (the ordered marks are what we actually ate). *Menu and prices may vary depending on the store.

The traditional liquor lineup is surprisingly wide. Gyeongju Beopju, Andong Soju, Solsongju, Ihgangju — all good to drink alongside sashimi, and available by the glass too.

The four dishes two of us ordered at Daegang

Here's what the two of us ordered.

• Aged sashimi platter (small) · ₩29,000
• Spicy braised pork jowl · ₩18,000
• Grilled chicken · ₩11,000
• Cheese corn hot plate · ₩7,000
• Plus two more bottles of soju and a cola

Aged sashimi platter (small), 29,000 won

This was the most satisfying one. It comes with a variety of white fish and salmon, and the mix apparently changes with the season. Maybe because it's aged sashimi, the texture wasn't mushy at all — the more you chewed, the sweeter it got.

It came with chojang (vinegar-chili sauce), soy sauce, ssamjang (thick dipping sauce), fresh wasabi, and garlic chili all together, so it was fun switching up how I ate it. At this price range, this much of a spread is decent value.

Spicy braised pork jowl, 18,000 won

Pork jowl braised spicy with paprika and green onion over onions, sprinkled with sesame seeds. There's an egg yolk on the side, and dipping into it really tones down the spice. The pork jowl is chewy and this was the dish that paired best with soju.

Grilled chicken, 11,000 won

Chicken thigh meat cut into big pieces and grilled in butter. Crispy outside, juicy inside — squeezing lemon over it keeps it from feeling greasy, so you keep reaching for more. At ₩11,000, the price is nice too.

Cheese corn on a hot plate, 7,000 won

For ₩7,000 the cheese is piled on thicker than expected. It's good to pick at between bites of sashimi, and the sweet-salty combo works fine as a drinking snack too. If you want to squeeze in one light dish, this is the one.

We ordered all four and it came to ₩80,000 for two. Sashimi plus three side dishes and two bottles of soju — I'd call that reasonably cheap.

Daegang's self-service bar and review event

There's a self-service bar on one side of Daegang. Small plates, paper cups, utensils, wet wipes, and even chojang and soy sauce dispensers are there, so you can just grab what you need yourself.

Being able to grab more sauce yourself without having to call someone over was surprisingly convenient. There was also a sign next to the self-service bar saying they give out Gyeongju Beopju if you write and show a review. We didn't participate, but if you're going, keep it in mind ᰔᩚ

Going to Daegang for the patio? Know this first

Daegang FAQ before you visit

How late is Daegang's outdoor patio open?

Only until 22:30 (per the store's posted notice).

Is there a wait at Daegang?

On a weekday around 7:30pm the patio was full, so we put our name down and waited about 5 minutes to get in. Indoor seating had space.

What are Daegang's opening hours?

Mon–Thu, Sun 17:00–24:00 (last order 23:00), Fri–Sat 17:00–01:00 (last order 00:00). No break time.

Is there parking at Daegang?

No parking support. You'll need to use a nearby paid lot.

How much does dinner for two at Daegang cost?

We ordered four dishes, two bottles of soju, and one cola, and it came to ₩80,000.

Can you book a table at Daegang?

There's a Naver reservation option. Patio seating depends on the day's situation, so it's more accurate to confirm by phone.

Does Daegang have a big drinks list?

Soju, draft beer, highballs, plus traditional liquors like Gyeongju Beopju, Andong Soju, Solsongju, and Ihgangju.

Who Daegang suits best

• Anyone looking for outdoor seating among Songni-dan-gil restaurants
• Anyone searching for Seokchon Station bars or Songni-dan-gil bars
• Anyone hunting for Jamsil or Songpa outdoor patio bars
• A night you want sashimi with a shot of soju
• Anyone who wants a casual drink for two around ₩80,000
• Anyone chasing a photogenic atmosphere
• Anyone who loves pairing traditional liquor with good snacks
• A good way to close out a Seokchon Lake bar or Lotte World Tower course

Overall verdict on Daegang, Songni-dan-gil

Rating ★★★★★ 5 out of 5. Both the sashimi and the side dishes were satisfying, but honestly, what stuck with me most was the patio atmosphere. Sitting outside in this weather with sashimi and a shot of soju turned out exactly like I imagined.

₩80,000 for two isn't a big burden considering Songni-dan-gil prices. No need to search far and wide for an outdoor bar in Seoul — when you're craving a Jamsil bar, Daegang alone covers it. Just know going in that the outdoor tables close at 10:30pm.

If a friend comes up to Seoul, I think I'd bring them here. I'd definitely go back! ꙳⸌♡⸍꙳