Guro, Seoul bar for 1++ beef tartare and sugar tomato: Eulji Pocha

I was looking for somewhere to grab drinks and good side dishes in the evening in Guro Digital Complex when I found Eulji Pocha Guro Digital Complex Branch. The retro-yet-hip vibe stood out right away, and even though I visited pretty late, the place was almost fully packed. I guess a popular Guro Digital Complex bar just has a different energy even late at night.

What the retro-style Eulji Pocha in Guro looks like inside

Walking into Eulji Pocha Guro Digital Complex Branch, retro touches were everywhere — it felt like a pocha (Korean street-style pub) decorated with a modern sensibility. It's not just a place to eat and drink; there are things to look at and enjoy, which made it more fun.

In particular, there's a fun corner called Eulji Munbanggu (을지문방구, meaning "Eulji Stationery Store"). You can earn coins based on the amount you order, as well as through Instagram stories or writing reviews. I used my coins to try a gacha draw and exchange for snacks and ice cream. Little touches like this make it a great spot for friends or a date.

Eulji Munbanggu: dalgona, cotton candy and coin snacks

Eulji Munbanggu isn't just about snacks — there are hands-on experiences too. Making dalgona (honeycomb candy) or cotton candy brought back memories, and it felt refreshingly different to do this kind of thing at a bar.

I exchanged coins for some snacks, and the friendly manager even made cotton candy for me himself — it was delicious. He was welcoming throughout, which made the whole visit feel great. Being able to enjoy tasty side dishes on a date and also try these little experiences makes this place a great fit for anyone looking for a Guro bar.

The basic side dish was macaroni, and I liked that it stayed crisp rather than going soggy. There's also a restroom inside the store and Wi-Fi available, so I didn't run into any inconveniences during my visit.

Byeolbit Cheongha, 6,000 won: the safe order

For drinks, I ordered Byeolbit Cheoha for ₩6,000. Byeolbit Cheoha really is delicious every single time, haha. It's sweet and smooth, making it easy to drink alongside the side dishes. Alternating between the tuna tartare and tomato while sipping Byeolbit Cheoha, it went down way too easily.

1++ beef tartare (tuplus yukhoe), 27,000 won: the signature dish

We ordered the tuna tartare for ₩27,000, sugar tomato for ₩7,000, and Byeolbit Cheoha for ₩6,000. The tuna tartare, which arrived first, caught my eye just from the name alone — and once it arrived, the visual was quite striking too.

It's made with genuine 2+ grade beef tartare, served with an egg yolk on top, grated Grana Padano cheese, and house-made broccoli purée — a different style from typical yukhoe (raw beef tartare). The savory cheese paired well with the tartare, and popping the yolk to mix it in added a smooth richness that made it great as a drinking snack.

It looked so good that I had to take a photo the moment it landed on the table. If you're after something a bit different from the usual Guro Digital Complex side dishes, this one's worth ordering.

Sugar tomato, 7,000 won: a combination that never fails

The sugar tomato we also ordered, at ₩7,000, was satisfying too. Sugar is sprinkled generously over the tomatoes, and there was a surprisingly generous portion.

The tangy tomato paired with sweet sugar made for an easy, light bite, and it worked well alongside heavier dishes like the tartare. Personally, this kind of dish is crowd-pleasing and easy to eat, so I tend to order something like it whenever I'm out drinking — and the portion size here was satisfying too.

Is Eulji Pocha worth it near Guro Digital Complex Station?

If you're looking for a Guro Digital Complex restaurant that also doubles as a bar with a good atmosphere, Eulji Pocha Guro Digital Complex Branch is worth considering. It's not just about food and drinks — with Eulji Munbanggu's coin-based snack exchanges and experiences like dalgona and cotton candy, time flew by.

I understood exactly why the place was nearly full even late at night. It's somewhere you can enjoy tasty side dishes, a drink, and a fun experience all at once, so I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a Guro Digital Complex bar. The manager was kind and the atmosphere was great, so I'm 200% planning to come back — next time I want to try some other side dishes :)