Sadang Station bar, boneless dakbokkeumtang and soju: Hansabal Pocha

There's always one thing to decide when friends meet up in Sadang: "So where are we drinking tonight?" This time, instead of meat, I wanted something spicy and hot with soju, so I headed to Hansabal Pocha Sadang Branch, a well-known spot near Sadang Station.

What kind of bar is Hansabal Pocha Sadang Branch?

Hansabal Pocha Sadang Branch is a pocha (street-food-style bar) in a great spot for meeting friends and having a drink near Sadang Station. Sadang itself is easy to reach from lots of different areas, so it's a popular choice for friend meetups or office dinners.

It seemed like a great fit for anyone looking for a bar near Sadang Station where you can chat loudly with friends over drinks.

The main dish: boneless dakbokkeumtang

The main dish we ordered that day was Hansabal Pocha Sadang Branch's boneless dakbokkeumtang. Personally, when I'm eating dakbokkeumtang (spicy braised chicken) over drinks, boneless is definitely more convenient than the bone-in version. It was nice being able to just pick it up and eat while chatting with friends, without having to pick out bones one by one.

As the dakbokkeumtang started bubbling on the table and the spicy smell rose up... that's when you fill the soju glasses, haha. A bite of hot broth with boneless chicken, then a shot of soju — that's the real deal. If you're looking for a good dakbokkeumtang spot near Sadang Station, this one's worth considering.

Why boneless dakbokkeumtang works so well with soju

Since it was boneless, it was easy to eat in bite-sized pieces, and the chicken soaked up the dakbokkeumtang sauce nicely, making it great to scoop up with the broth. Having a broth-based snack while drinking is nice because you can keep spooning it up between drinks.

Thanks to the spicy, hot broth, the soju disappeared faster than expected. If you're visiting for a soju session with friends like we did, the boneless dakbokkeumtang was a solid choice.

Adding ramyeon noodles to the dakbokkeumtang

Adding ramyeon noodles to the dakbokkeumtang at Hansabal Pocha Sadang Branch was one of the most satisfying choices of the day. The noodles soaked up the dakbokkeumtang sauce completely, giving a much richer, spicier flavor than eating plain ramyeon on its own.

It was especially perfect after having a fair amount of soju — as both a snack and a final carb to finish things off. If you order dakbokkeumtang, I'd recommend adding at least one order of ramyeon noodles. A bite of boneless chicken, a bite of sauce-soaked noodles, a shot of soju... this combo needs no explanation.

Gyeranmari, the mild side for spicy dakbokkeumtang

Eating just dakbokkeumtang felt like it wasn't quite enough, so we also ordered gyeranmari (rolled omelette). When you keep eating spicy dakbokkeumtang, you start craving something soft in between. That's when a bite of gyeranmari felt like it reset the palate.

Dakbokkeumtang → gyeranmari → soju, with ramyeon noodles thrown in between. The combination worked really well for ordering multiple dishes and drinking with friends. Eating just one snack the whole time can get a little tiring by the end, but ordering gyeranmari alongside it made switching back and forth fun.

Does Hansabal Pocha work for a work dinner near Sadang Station?

We visited with just two friends this time, but based on the atmosphere at Hansabal Pocha Sadang Branch, it seemed like it would suit a larger group drinking comfortably too. Since dakbokkeumtang is the kind of dish that's great to share in the middle of the table with several people, it seems like a good fit not just for friend meetups but also for casual office drinking sessions.

A receipt review is also in progress, so keep that in mind!

Rather than a formal work dinner, the vibe suited people looking for a casual "let's grab soju after work" kind of spot near Sadang Station.

Final verdict on Hansabal Pocha Sadang Branch

Hansabal Pocha Sadang Branch was where we went for soju with friends in Sadang. The boneless dakbokkeumtang was easy to eat over drinks, and the ramyeon noodles soaked in spicy broth were satisfying too. Adding the soft gyeranmari on top made it easy to switch between the spicy dish and something milder.

If you're looking for a place in Sadang to meet friends over hot dakbokkeumtang and soju, Hansabal Pocha Sadang Branch is worth a visit. Especially recommended for days when you want to fully enjoy the pocha atmosphere and chat freely with friends, rather than sit in a quiet, moody bar.