Nakseongdae bar with spicy jjamppong soup and soju: Hwarong Jujeom
In short
Hwarong Jujeom is a Korean bar at the entrance of Sharosu-gil near Nakseongdae Station in Gwanak-gu, Seoul. Stopping by late one evening already full, the writer ordered the spicy beef brisket jjamppong soup for 19,900 won and pickled plum tomatoes for 5,900 won with a bottle of Hallasan soju, finishing at just over 30,000 won. With blue crab, shrimp, mussels, beef brisket and udon noodles in a clean broth, Hwarong Jujeom is an easy pick for a simple drink with food.
Good to know
- Spicy beef brisket jjamppong soup
- 19,900 won
- Pickled plum tomatoes
- 5,900 won
- Total paid
- Just over 30,000 won
- Hours
- 5 PM–1 AM (until 2:30 AM Fri–Sat)
- Location
- 82 Gwanak-ro 14-gil, 1st floor, Gwanak-gu, Seoul — Sharosu-gil, near Nakseongdae and Seoul National University stations
- Drinks
- Hallasan soju available
- Seating
- Indoor seats plus street-facing outdoor tables
- Price reference
- ₩5,900 ≈ $4.3 · ₩19,900 ≈ $14.5 (2026-09-19)
as written by the visitor on Sep 18, 2026
A second visit to Hwarong Jujeom, this time for a spicy broth
I loved the pork belly stew last time, so I ended up going back to Hwarong Jujeom (화룡주점), a Korean restaurant near Seoul National University entrance. This time I was craving something spicy... so I went again.
Here you're pretty much required to order the spicy braised octopus-and-chicken stew, but I was already too full and just wanted some soup, so I kept it simple.
What we ordered at Hwarong Jujeom
- Spicy beef brisket jjamppong soup — ₩19,900 (refreshing broth, great value, nicely spicy)
- Pickled plum tomatoes — ₩5,900 (dropped into soju, tasted like a very healthy infused liquor, tangy-sweet)
Hwarong Jujeom is a Korean bar near Seoul National University entrance station, on the Sharosu-gil side by Nakseongdae station. It's open from 5 PM to 1 AM, until 2:30 AM on Fridays and Saturdays.
Ordering like this came out to about 30,000 won total — great value for a casual drinking session.
Inside Hwarong Jujeom: lighting, seats and the Sharosu-gil street tables
If you've been to Sharosu-gil often, there's no way you don't know Hwarong Jujeom. That bold red neon sign with the Chinese characters for its name is unforgettable.
Sure enough, the moment you walk in, the smell of the octopus-and-chicken stew hissing away in the pressure pot fills the air. This place is just a chicken stew spot for Sharosu-gil... sigh. Now I suddenly want chicken stew again.
The outdoor seats are nice too, but I'll sit where I always sit.
Late on a weeknight, it's always quiet. Did I come too late? Usually this place is packed, but this time I lucked out and got a totally private, cozy meal before the crowd showed up.
They still serve this caramel-flavored Banana Kick as the house snack. Is it made specially for them, or is it something you can buy? Makes me curious. Oddly enjoyable, not too sweet — a solid basic side dish.
Mona Lisa's smoking. Smoking is bad for your health and gives off a nasty smell that's terrible for your body... everyone, let's quit.
Pickled plum tomatoes, 5,900 won: the side you drop into your soju
Hwarong Jujeom's pickled plum tomatoes cost ₩5,900. Think cherry tomatoes pickled in plum juice from a green bottle.
It had a bit of that Japanese umeboshi vibe too. Subtly sweet, with a slight tang from the plum — quite enjoyable, honestly.
A light flavor that pairs perfectly with soju. Eaten with soju, it tames the bitter aftertaste, and maybe because it's plum and tomato, it also felt easy on the stomach and helped with digestion.
Dropping the pickled plum tomatoes into soju like this tasted really good.
Try it this way or don't, your call~
Spicy beef brisket jjamppong soup, 19,900 won: what's in the pot
Hwarong Jujeom's spicy beef brisket jjamppong soup (jjamppong-tang), ₩19,900, is a Nakseongdae/Sharosu-gil favorite. Refreshing, the beef brisket was decent, and with udon noodles, mushrooms, and mussels all packed in, it was a very clean, satisfying bowl.
The lighting inside was dim, so I asked for a phone flashlight to be used for photos. Always so grateful, they never fail to make my day.
Dim bars have great atmosphere and are perfect for drinking, but hard for taking good photos. Still, the food was so good it didn't matter.
For just ₩19,900, this jjamppong soup is great value. Sharosu-gil's Hwarong Jujeom is a perfect spot for a low-key soju session like this. The dim lighting is cozy, and it's not too loud or chaotic either.
The broth wasn't murky or gritty at all — just a bit oily, exactly the classic jjamppong soup broth we all know.
There's crab in it too, which gave the broth a refreshing sweetness. Why does this photo look like I just woke up and hazily snapped a picture of crab stew in front of me........ Still, using the flashlight seemed to make it come out nicely...?
As soon as the jjamppong soup arrives, crank up the heat and boil it down hard — that's how the broth gets richer and tastier. Broth needs to reduce to really shine.
I prefer Hwarong Jujeom's meat-based jjamppong soup over the seafood-only version.
Make sure to eat the udon noodles too. The shrimp in there were also good quality.
They peeled the shrimp for me so I could enjoy it easily. Much appreciated.
Where to drink Hallasan soju on Sharosu-gil
There aren't that many bars on Sharosu-gil that carry Hallasan soju, but this place does, so I ordered it with lemon and drank it that way.
Drank it perfectly, right down to the last glass.
There are also outdoor seats facing the street like this — next time I think it'd be nice to sit here and enjoy a cold drink. Great meal!
Where it is
82 Gwanak-ro 14-gil, 1st floor, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, South Korea서울특별시 관악구 관악로14길 82 1층
