Jongno5-ga bar with dakgangjeong and kimchi udon: Nogari Superette

I met up with a friend who works in Seoul for a much-needed catch-up ~ we went to a retro-vibe bar near Gwangjang Market, and the atmosphere was great, the music was totally my taste, so we hummed along and enjoyed our drinks together 🎶

Where is Nogari Superette Jongno5-ga, and when is it open?

Nogari Superette Jongno5-ga is located at 3 Jongno31ga-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 1F, and is open daily from 17:00 to 24:00 (last order 23:30). Group seating, separate men's/women's restrooms, takeout, reservations, wifi, corkage, and Zero Pay/easy pay are all available.

Finding the entrance from the street

It's a 5–10 minute walk from Gwangjang Market and also a 5–10 minute walk from Jongno5-ga Station, so accessibility is fantastic. It's the perfect course: browse Gwangjang Market, then come here for a drink ❗

Turn the corner and there it is — Nogari Superette Jongno5-ga. 🍻 The exterior alone gives off retro vibes. Turns out it's already a well-known hidden bar for locals here in Jongno5-ga ♥ It's also a hot spot for work dinners, so if you visit after office hours it might be packed with no seats left. (By the time I looked up from eating, the place was nearly full ㄷㄷ)

Even the little standing sign with its short handwritten note has that cute retro charm ••´͈ ᵕ `͈ ♡°◌̊ There's also a brightly lit LED menu board out front so you can check what kind of snacks and dishes they serve before going in 📝

What is the atmosphere like inside Nogari Superette Jongno5-ga?

Inside, Nogari Superette Jongno5-ga is decked out with wooden tables and dark green chairs for a retro feel. The interior is quite spacious, so it was comfortable for chatting, and a group was having a work dinner there too 👥

A lot of places claim a retro vibe but turn out to be kind of meh once you're inside — Nogari Superette Jongno5-ga is a place that's actually serious about its retro spirit! 👍🏻🎞 And the best part: the lighting is dim just enough that you can enjoy both the atmosphere and your drinks.

The lighting, temperature, humidity — all perfect 🎶 (and the music too!!)

Are there restrooms inside the bar?

Nogari Superette Jongno5-ga has separate men's and women's restrooms inside, so you don't have to step outside to use one comfortably.

The restroom is also super spacious and clean '◡'! They even had hand sanitizer, hand towels, and air freshener all set up — such a thoughtful touch ~ ჱ̒ ｰ̀֊ｰ́

Cute little retro touches everywhere ★☆

• Utensils and tissues are set up at each table, and there are aprons hanging on the wall!
• You can hang up your coat or bag, so feel free to make yourself comfortable
• 10% off with a Naver reservation if you arrive before 18:30!
• You can order via QR code (or just ask a staff member directly)

Menu and drink prices at Nogari Superette Jongno5-ga

Nogari Superette Jongno5-ga has a huge variety of snacks by category — dry snacks, fried snacks, meal-style dishes, sides — so it works well as your first stop or your second round of the night. The drink menu isn't limited to soju and beer either; they also have highballs, Hwayo, Seoul-ui-bam and more 💯

📝 What we ordered 📝

• Slightly spicy chicken bites — ₩16,000
• Spicy kimchi udon — ₩16,000
• Soju — ₩5,000 (3 bottles)
• Beer — ₩5,000
• Total: ₩54,000

How do the dakgangjeong and spicy kimchi udon taste?

The slightly spicy chicken bites (₩16,000) we ordered came plated with a generous side of fries, and the spicy kimchi udon (₩16,000) had a real kick from chili flakes and Vietnamese chili peppers. As a complimentary snack, they bring out shrimp chips — the second they hit your mouth they're crunchy, then melt away, my absolute favorite snack 😍

Fried snack — chicken bites (slightly spicy). My friend and I both love spicy food so we went with the slightly spicy option! (It was 'slightly spicy' but honestly pretty spicy — I was satisfied haha) It's not just chicken bites either — a generous portion of fries comes plated alongside 🍟 ❗❗

And of course, the classic ketchup salad you can't skip at an old-school hof-style bar ~ dipping the freshly fried fries in ketchup, there's no way around it — you have to chase it with a somaek (soju + beer). My super pumped friend 🙋🏻‍♀️ mixed us up a refreshing round 🍺

Soup snack — spicy kimchi udon (it's got a kick)

Both dishes came out at almost the same time, so we got to enjoy them piping hot together — so nice!

If the chicken bites were sweet with a little heat, the kimchi udon was spicy and warming — I really enjoyed both. The udon noodles in particular came in a generous portion and were nice and chewy — as a noodle lover, this kimchi udon was totally my style 👏🏻👏🏻 Especially recommend it if you like spicy food.

🔺With chili flakes and Vietnamese chili peppers in the mix🔺 it's even more delicious, spicy, and warming 🌶

No wonder the broth tasted so refreshing with just the right amount of sweetness and umami. Radish and cabbage, my favorite ingredients, were in there too ~ Most kimchi udon dishes just have noodles and kimchi, kept simple, but this place is clearly serious about its broth — a real find in Jongno5-ga ❗

We said we'd keep it simple, but the food was so good, the two of us dove right back in 🫢 (yes, that was a mistake). If you're looking for a bar near Gwangjang Market, a bar in Jongno5-ga, or a bar near Jongno5-ga Station, I recommend 'Nogari Superette.' Just 5 minutes on foot from Jongno5-ga Station and 5 minutes from Gwangjang Market — the accessibility, atmosphere, and service are all top notch -👏🏻 Bring your friends here and you'll definitely get a hundred compliments for knowing about such a hidden gem haha

Is Nogari Superette Jongno5-ga worth a visit?

• Great interior atmosphere, good for photos
• Group seating available, suitable for work dinners or gatherings
• Wide variety of food, works well for a first round or a second round
• Owner and staff are friendly, which is a plus
• Restroom is indoors and clean, very convenient
• Generous portions and affordable prices — great value
• Great accessibility (5-minute walk from the market and Jongno5-ga Station)
• Plenty of food and sights nearby, which is a nice bonus