Jeongja-dong bar with open windows for sour kimchi kalguksu: Bacha

With that cool, breezy early-autumn air rolling in these days, I went out to catch some proper romantic Friday-night vibes at a moody spot in Jeongja-dong.

This time I visited a cooking-and-drinks bar near Jeongja Station that's known for its breezy open-air feel — Bacha Jeongja!

The outdoor atmosphere you feel through the open windows was just perfect — a perfect Friday-night dinner-and-drinks session, let me show you around!

Where is Bacha Jeongja, and what are its hours?

Bacha Jeongja is at 6 Jeongja-illo156beon-gil, 1st floor, Unit 110, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, and it's open daily from 17:00 to 02:00 the next day. It's about a 330m walk from Exit 3 of Jeongja Station (Sinbundang Line/Suin-Bundang Line), so it's really easy to get to.

Head from the Solbat Samgyeopsal intersection toward Emco Heritz and you'll find it quickly!

Open-window seats made for early-autumn nights

The first thing that caught my eye as soon as I arrived was the wide-open window structure. With that cool early-autumn breeze blowing these days, it's the perfect atmosphere to enjoy a drink and soak in that distinctive open-air-tent mood!

Instead of a stuffy indoor feel, sitting in this open space with the night breeze drifting in brought on a wave of that Friday-night, start-of-the-weekend happiness. A really attractive spot I'd strongly recommend for a date or a hangout with friends.

The signature bacha badajjim steamed seafood, 37,000 won

The first main dish we ordered was Bacha's signature menu item — 'Bacha Badajjim' (₩37,000)! It's a steamed seafood dish loaded with fresh seafood and all kinds of shellfish, sourced directly from the coast.

The dish looked so hearty and gorgeous the moment it arrived that I immediately thought, this is the real deal. I get why it's famous as a Jeongja-dong bar.

Big chunky scallops, plenty of clams, whole squid, and generous fish cakes and vegetables — every piece was truly fresh. No fishy taste at all, just perfectly firm and chewy texture.

The broth had that deep, rich umami of seafood steeped right in, so every bite naturally called for another drink.

The best move: kalguksu noodles with well-fermented sour kimchi

After enjoying the bacha badajjim, there's one key tip you absolutely shouldn't miss! Add the 'kalguksu (knife-cut noodle) sari (extra portion)'!

I put the kalguksu noodles into the bubbling broth infused with deep seafood flavor. But the real highlight here was the very well-fermented kimchi (kimchi, salted and fermented napa cabbage) served alongside!

Try adding well-fermented sour kimchi to the kalguksu and boiling it all together into a kimchi kalguksu. The spicy yet refreshing flavor doubles up and makes for a truly perfect finish! The best choice for tackling both a meal and drinking snacks at once at this true Jeongja-dong favorite, Bacha.

Hoddeok ice cream, 12,000 won: dessert and drinking snack in one

After finishing off the kalguksu to the last drop, I found myself craving something sweet, so I ordered the 'Hoddeok Ice Cream' (₩12,000)!

Freshly fried hoddeok (sweet pancake filled with cinnamon-brown sugar syrup), crispy on the outside and chewy and sweet on the inside! It comes with soft, cool vanilla ice cream and a generous drizzle of chocolate syrup on top.

The harmony of warm, crispy hoddeok and cold vanilla ice cream blended smoothly in the mouth — a textbook example of that sweet-and-savory combo.

It'd pair well with a cold beer or a highball, but surprisingly it goes just as well as a side dish with soju, too — a wonderful way to close out the meal on a happy note.

Is Bacha Jeongja worth a Friday night? Final verdict

From the fresh, hearty bacha badajjim, to the spicy-and-refreshing combo of kalguksu with sour kimchi, to the sweet finish with hoddeok ice cream — it was a perfect Friday-night dinner enjoyed in that early-autumn outdoor-tent atmosphere.

If you're looking for a cooking-and-drinks bar in Jeongja-dong with great vibes and delicious side dishes, definitely pay a visit to Bacha Jeongja!