After-work makgeolli pub near Yeoksam Station, Seoul: Kkeutjang

You know those days after work when you want something warm and soupy, but just having a plain meal feels a bit lacking?

That was exactly the kind of day it was when I headed to Kkeutjang Yeoksam. It's a place near Yeoksam Station where you can enjoy jang kalguksu (spicy noodle soup), savory pancakes, and makgeolli all together, so I stopped by for dinner. It's close enough to walk from Exit 7 of Yeoksam Station, which made it easy to swing by after work.

The vibe of the place isn't like the clean, modern Korean restaurants you see these days — it feels more like a cozy old-school tavern, and honestly that suited this kind of menu even better.

Potato pancake: the makgeolli side dish to order first

The first thing I ordered at Kkeutjang Yeoksam that day was the potato pancake! The moment it arrived, it already looked mouthwatering.

The outside was golden brown while the center kept that signature chewy texture of a good potato pancake — the kind of thing where you just keep picking up piece after piece. And potato pancake paired with makgeolli always somehow tastes even better.

Starting from the crispy edge and working toward the chewy center, the whole pancake disappeared before I knew it, haha. This place actually serves a bunch of other pancake options too — kimchi pancake, seafood scallion pancake, zucchini pancake, and more — so if you're looking for a makgeolli spot near Yeoksam Station, this seems like a great place to pair drinks with pancakes.

How is the jang kalguksu at Kkeutjang Yeoksam?

Next up was the main dish I ordered that day: jang kalguksu. I personally love jang kalguksu and tend to order it whenever I see it on a menu, and this time, paired with the potato pancake, the combo was really great.

Slurping up the noodles in that signature spicy, savory broth filled me up with warmth. Especially while eating pancake as a drinking snack, taking a spoonful of the kalguksu broth in between cut through the richness, so I kept going back for more. The noodles also had a nice chewy bite that went well with the broth.

Apparently Kkeutjang offers a wide variety of kalguksu besides the regular jang kalguksu — roe and pollack milt jang kalguksu, kalbimyeon, bean kalguksu, and more. I'd love to try the other noodle dishes next time!

Potato pancake + jang kalguksu + makgeolli: does the combo work?

And of course, can't skip the makgeolli.

A sip of makgeolli with the potato pancake, a spoonful of jang kalguksu broth, then back to another piece of pancake.

This combo worked way better than expected. Rather than just drinking makgeolli on its own, having a warm soup dish like jang kalguksu alongside meant I could handle dinner and drinks at the same time, which I really liked. It's a good spot for a casual drink with a friend after work, and the atmosphere works well for a work dinner or an evening get-together too.

Where to grab an easy drink near Yeoksam Station

Kkeutjang Yeoksam is easy to get to since it's close to Yeoksam Station, and its biggest strength is being able to enjoy jang kalguksu, pancakes, and makgeolli all in one visit. It seems like a great setup — a filling bowl of jang kalguksu for lunch, then pancakes and makgeolli for a proper drinking session in the evening.

Personally, I went in the order of potato pancake → makgeolli → jang kalguksu that day, and this kind of Korean food combo is honestly hard to get wrong.

On a day when you'd rather have warm broth, a pancake, and a glass of makgeolli than something heavy and spicy after work, this is a place worth remembering if you're looking for a good restaurant or makgeolli spot near Yeoksam Station.