Weekday bar in Gwangalli, Busan: seafood platter & coin game, Maenggu

Why a seafood bar in Gwangalli?

Maenggu Pocha Gwang-an Main Branch (맹구포차 광안본점) is a pub I visited after hearing you can really enjoy seafood there. Gwangalli is one of Busan's signature tourist spots. In the daytime people come to see the sea, and at night the mood naturally shifts to people looking for a drink. So there are a lot of bars in Gwangalli. But once you actually visit, many have a similar vibe, and quite a few have disappointing food. I try a new place every time I go to Gwangalli, and this time I ended up at Maenggu Pocha, which is said to do seafood properly.

Where is Maenggu Pocha Gwangan Main Branch?

You'll find Maenggu Pocha Gwang-an Main Branch as you walk from Geumnyeonsan Station toward Gwangalli Beach. It's not far from the main Gwangalli commercial area, so access is good. It's easy to reach by subway, and it also works as a second or third stop after looking at the Gwangalli sea. There are plenty of bars around, but this was a place where customers kept going in steadily, so it wasn't hard to find.

What's on the Maenggu Pocha menu?

The Maenggu Pocha menu has quite a lot of choices, from sashimi to seafood, stews and side dishes (anju), and the most famous items are the live fish sashimi set and the seafood platter. There was a menu board outside the shop, and I looked at it before going in; it was more varied than I expected. Among Gwangalli bars, being able to enjoy a variety of seafood and live fish all at once felt like a real draw.

A busy pocha atmosphere, even on a weekday

I visited on a weekday, yet several tables were already full, and customers kept coming in as time passed. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was how many people there were. It felt like a definitely popular spot among Gwangalli bars. The interior nicely captured a pocha (Korean street-tent-style pub) feel. It wasn't too loud and not quiet either, just a comfortable buzz.

Free side snacks and drinks in an ice-filled tin basin

The free side snacks at Maenggu Pocha are black beans, crackers and sweet-and-sour pickled radish. They were nice to nibble on while waiting for drinks, and the snacks were pretty fun too. What impressed me most was that the drinks come in a tin basin full of ice. Besides keeping them cold, it adds to the pocha feel and lifts the mood.

What's in the Maenggu Pocha seafood platter?

The Maenggu Pocha seafood platter piles a huge tray with abalone, abalone innards, sea cucumber, sea squirt, live octopus, shrimp and more. After ordering and waiting a bit, the platter arrived. Honestly, I was overwhelmed by the look of it at first. Just seeing it makes you want a drink. It was a presentation you can't help but photograph.

Abalone and abalone innards

With the abalone on the platter, the first thing I noticed the moment I bit in was that signature chewy texture. The faint sweetness of fresh abalone was there too, and the abalone innards served alongside were quite richly nutty. Dipping the abalone lightly in the sesame oil sauce made the flavor of the sea come through even more strongly.

Sea cucumber and sea squirt

Sea cucumber and sea squirt (meongge) can be hit-or-miss, but if you like them, this lineup will satisfy. The sea cucumber was crunchy and crisp, with a faint sweetness rising the more I chewed. The sea squirt spread its signature ocean aroma as soon as it hit my mouth, and because it was fresh, it was clean with no fishy taste.

Shrimp and live octopus

The shrimp on the platter had a nice bouncy texture and a light, clean sweetness. The live octopus (sannakji) caught my eye first with its wriggling look, and when I took a bite, the chewy texture that clings to your mouth was impressive. Dipped in the sesame oil sauce, it gained a nutty richness that made it a perfect drinking snack.

The Maenggu Pocha coin game: a total loss to the staff

One of the fun things about Maenggu Pocha is a simple game using coins. You can play with a staff member or with customers at nearby tables, and it felt like it lifted the mood of the drinking session even more. I was curious and took on a staff member for one round, and the result was a complete defeat.

A Gwangalli favorite where the drinks go down easily with just one fresh seafood platter

Is the Maenggu Pocha seafood platter worth a return visit?

Maenggu Pocha Gwang-an Main Branch isn't just a Gwangalli bar with a nice atmosphere; "seafood restaurant" suits it better, and it's a hot spot. The seafood platter, with abalone, abalone innards, sea cucumber, sea squirt, live octopus, shrimp and more, was fun to look at and fun to eat. Overall the freshness was good, so I could enjoy it cleanly with no fishy taste, and it held up fine as drinking food. Add the drinks that come in an ice basin and the simple game, and there was plenty of fun to be had. If you want a drink with fresh seafood at a Gwangalli bar, this place will more than satisfy you.