Noksapyeong Korean pub with non-alcoholic highballs: Sulkkoma

Today I went to a spot near Itaewon that's great for a drink in a good atmosphere. It's a Korean pub called Sulkkoma (술꼬마). Apparently it's already an 8-year veteran of the neighborhood. It's known especially to people looking for makgeolli (rice wine) in Itaewon, and I heard you could enjoy various traditional liquors alongside unusual Korean bar food, so I was curious. Let me walk you through the exterior, the interior mood, and the menu I ordered.

Where is Sulkkoma near Noksapyeong Station?

Sulkkoma sits in an alley off Noksapyeong-daero 40-gil. Rather than a big, flashy storefront, it has the feel of a neighborhood Korean pub tucked into the alley, which actually gave it its own distinct atmosphere. Eight years is no short time, and it's clearly been kept alive by loyal regulars. If you're looking for a place to eat or drink in Itaewon and want something a bit different from the usual menu, this could be a good option.

Inside Sulkkoma: grandma's-house mood, and is it good for group dinners?

Sulkkoma has a main hall and a separate annex, and even split up there's a good number of tables, which I really liked. The interior draws on Korean sensibility, and the space using mother-of-pearl inlay especially caught my eye — traditional in feel, but reworked overall with a younger, contemporary touch. It felt fitting: the coziness of visiting grandma's house paired with Korean dishes given a witty spin by a younger crowd.

The vibe wasn't too formal — it felt comfortable to sit, chat, eat, and have a drink. That means it would suit a get-together with friends just as much as a date or a group gathering. They also said solo visits for a quick drink are fine, so it seems like a place you can use in all kinds of situations depending on the occasion.

What we ordered at Sulkkoma and the non-alcoholic drink options

Scan the tag on the table and you can check the menu right on your phone — and even order directly, which I thought was really neat. That day I ordered Seomun Market flat dumplings with seasoned webfoot octopus, maesaengi (fine seaweed) seafood ramyeon, and for drinks, a non-alcoholic highball and a non-alcoholic Budweiser.

This is the cabbage salad that comes as a default side dish — so crisp and tasty that I asked for a refill and had more.

Sulkkoma stocks a wide range of drinks — makgeolli, soju, beer, and more — but for someone like me who wasn't drinking alcohol that day, having non-alcoholic options was great. And if you go with a group, everyone can pick whatever drink they want, which is another plus. Just note that one drink order per person is required!

Maesaengi seaweed seafood ramyeon at Sulkkoma

This is ramyeon (instant noodle soup) made with seafood and maesaengi, and it's refreshingly clean-tasting. Having a ramyeon dish on the drinking table is always a welcome sight. It's especially nice when a warm soup dish arrives partway through eating other bar snacks — it shifts the whole mood.

With both maesaengi and seafood in it, this felt a bit different from an ordinary bowl of ramyeon. At a place like Sulkkoma with all sorts of Korean bar snacks, ordering a soup dish like this alongside them makes it easy to switch between different flavors. And the paper cup being branded Shin Ramyeon was so funny, haha.

Seomun Market flat dumplings with seasoned webfoot octopus

This is the Seomun Market flat dumplings with seasoned webfoot octopus. Apparently the flat dumplings (napjak mandu) are sourced directly from Seomun Market in Daegu, and eaten together with tangy, spicy seasoned webfoot octopus. Flat dumplings usually bring to mind Daegu's famous dish, so pairing them with seasoned octopus made for a fun combination.

Rather than eating the flat dumplings alone, piling the seasoned octopus on top lets you enjoy several flavors and textures at once. If you're looking for something that pairs well with drinks, this kind of Korean bar snack really fits the bill.

Sulkkoma parking and how to book a table

Sulkkoma recommends Dongho Parking Lot and Segyero Parking Lot as nearby options, and the Yongsan-gu Office parking lot is relatively affordable too. You can make reservations through Naver Reservation, Catch Table, Sulkkoma's Instagram, or by phone. Maybe because a lot of celebrities come by, there were tons of autographs on the walls! If you're looking for a place in Itaewon to enjoy traditional liquor with some unusual Korean bar food, remember Sulkkoma :)

• Address: 59-1 Noksapyeong-daero 40-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Sun–Thu 10:00–23:00 (last order 22:00)
• Fri–Sat 17:00–2:00 (last order 01:00)