Counter-seat solo drinking at a Gangseo bar in Seoul: Jeonyeokhanjan

Where is Jeonyeokhanjan Hwagok Station Branch in Gangseo, Seoul?

Jeonyeokhanjan Hwagok Station Branch is a cooking-and-liquor bar you find by walking straight down from exit 7 of Hwagok Station and turning the corner right at the Paik's Coffee. I was looking for somewhere to meet a friend for a drink near Hwagok Station in the evening, and I remembered I'd actually been here once before on a previous Hwagok trip — so I came back!

The exterior fits the alley vibe so well that it's easy to find, and it kind of catches your eye just walking past. There's a menu board right by the entrance too, so you can check what's on offer before you even go in — nice touch!!

Counter seats, 2-person tables and outdoor-style seats at Jeonyeokhanjan

Inside Jeonyeokhanjan Hwagok Station Branch is split into dachi (bar counter) seats, 2-person tables, and 3-4 person tables. There's also a spot leading outside that feels like an outdoor pojangmacha tent!

Tip: stash your bags right under your chair. The place isn't huge, so calling ahead to check seat availability is a decent trick — I called before heading over, they said a dachi seat was open, and I rushed right over haha. It's not too bright or busy — more of a quietly calm mood, which I thought made it a good spot for chatting over drinks.

Traditional Korean liquors and the welcome potato liquor

Jeonyeokhanjan Hwagok Station Branch turns out to have a huge lineup of traditional Korean liquors. I ordered the gamtae gimbap-yukhoe (laver gimbap with raw beef), the bajirak seuji jeongol (clam and beef tendon hot pot), and a bottle of Chamisul soju. There were so many kinds of traditional liquor I totally understood why this place is known for it.

They served the welcome drink in a really pretty glass — it's potato wine, apparently. The finish has this distinct po~ta~to note, you know what I mean? It's around 13% ABV :) I once got totally hooked on potato wine and couldn't stop haha — if you like fruit wines, you'll definitely like potato wine too!

The kitchen is right in front of the seating, so you can see the male and female owners cooking. They seemed really careful about hygiene too. No matter how good the food is, I just don't go back to places that aren't friendly — but no worries here at all! Both owners are so kind!!!

What is gamtae gimbap-yukhoe, the seaweed roll with raw beef?

The gamtae gimbap-yukhoe (laver gimbap with raw beef) arrived. Doesn't the yukhoe look super fresh? Such a pretty color too~

Put a bite-sized gimbap piece with yukhoe on top and it's pure bliss. The rice isn't just plain rice either — it's brown rice, chewy and delicious. And pairing that with gamtae (edible seaweed)? No further words needed 🫶 It goes so well as a drinking snack — the yukhoe is seasoned just salty enough that the soju just keeps going down,,,🤤

Bajirak seuji jeongol: why the beef tendon looks different here

Next up, the bajirak seuji jeongol (clam and beef tendon hot pot). I already like seafood, but I'm basically obsessed with seuji (beef tendon) 😋 It came already fully cooked, so you can dig in right away. And of course, a drinking snack needs a soup, right?

They gave a dipping sauce for the seuji, and it's exactly the kind of sauce I love ㅠㅠ How does it match my taste so perfectly,,🤣🤣 But the seuji here looks a bit different from what I know? Maybe because it's cut into small pieces?

This is the seuji shape I'm used to —

but here it's small like cheonyeop (beef stomach lining) and curls up like a shell. Anyway, it's chewy and delicious haha. Since it's small, piling a spoonful and eating it all in one bite is the move haha. Pick apart the clams one by one, take a sip of the spicy broth — soooo good!!

You keep digging and there's more seuji and clams, and more, hahaha. The broth is also spicy enough to work as hangover cure material. Ordered one more bottle of soju and happily ate my way through hahahahaha.

Hours, closing day and final verdict on Jeonyeokhanjan

Check the business hours and restroom info here~😆❤️ Naver Reservation is available. Closed every Monday.

A good spot for a date, and also great for solo drinking at the dachi seats. I'm curious about the other menu items, so I'll definitely come back next time I'm in Hwagok! Highly recommend⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️