Sangsu bar where a hot plate keeps pork suyuk warm: Dambaek Jujeom

I was looking for somewhere near Sangsu Station where I could eat well and still enjoy a good vibe, so I went to Dambaek Jujeom (담백주점) haha. With everything from suyuk to Korean bar snacks on the menu, it's a solid Sangsu bossam spot for a meal and drinks combined~!

Where is Dambaek Jujeom? A short walk from Sangsu Station Exit 1

Dambaek Jujeom sits between Sangsu and Hapjeong stations, so it's convenient from either one~ It's at 99-11 Yanghwa-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 1st floor, and it's a manageable walk from Sangsu Station Exit 1 too haha. It's tucked inside an alley, so you get to walk in a little more calmly instead of off a busy main street~~

Right at the entrance was a motto reading 'sincerity, honesty, humility'!! It felt understated rather than showy, like they'd just written down the basics of treating food and guests with care haha. It matched the name of the place well, so I was already looking forward to it before even stepping inside~!

Inside Dambaek Jujeom: traditional touches in a modern space

Walking into Dambaek Jujeom, it was cleaner and cozier than I expected haha. Soft lighting paired with comfortable table layouts made it look like a good spot to sit and talk for a while~! It kept the feel of a traditional Korean pub while the space itself was arranged in a modern way~~

Ceramics, bowls, and fans — Korean touches like these were placed here and there~ It wasn't the rustic feel of an old-school pub, more like traditional elements reinterpreted with a modern sensibility hahaha. True to the name hansik jujeom (Korean pub), the space itself carried that Korean atmosphere naturally, not just the food~!

What's on the menu at Dambaek Jujeom

Looking at the menu, there was quite a lot to pick from, from lunch through dinner!! Suyuk, savory pancakes (jeon), stir-fries, kalguksu, and rice — plenty of options haha. With dessert available too, it's built to carry you from a meal straight into drinks~! With a lineup like this, I think anyone looking for a Sangsu bossam spot would be satisfied~

The samgyeop suyuk spread: wrap vegetables, kimchi and dried radish

When I ordered the samgyeop suyuk at Dambaek Jujeom, it came with a full spread of wrap vegetables, kimchi, and dried radish strips~! Barley ssamjang and doenjang came along with garlic and chili, so it was easy to mix and match to taste haha. Having so many sides beyond just the meat made it fun to eat each bite a little differently~!

There were plenty of wrap vegetables too, so I could eat generously alongside the suyuk!! Crisp vegetables, a slice of meat, and kimchi on top — the combination speaks for itself haha. With kimchi, dried radish, garlic, and chili all laid out, the suyuk spread felt pretty substantial~! Especially the kimchi, which balanced out the suyuk's mild richness really well when eaten together hahaha.

How the hot plate keeps the pork suyuk warm

Since I'd come specifically for a Sangsu bossam spot, I was looking forward to the main event — the samgyeop suyuk!! There's a device under the meat that keeps it warm, so it stayed hot the whole time I was eating haha. The moist, tender texture that pork belly does so well came through, so it was satisfying from the very first bite~!

From every angle, the meat looked well cooked and appetizing~! It was sliced into easy bite-sized pieces, so it was convenient to load into a wrap, with lean meat and fat balanced nicely for tenderness haha. Being able to eat it warm the whole way through was especially great~~!

Nakji bokkeum with rice balls: the spicy course at Dambaek Jujeom

It felt like a waste to eat only suyuk, so I also ordered nakji bokkeum and rice balls haha. The nakji bokkeum comes with rice balls to pair with the spicy seasoning, so it was a nice change of pace from the suyuk~! It was also a good combination for sharing among a group~~

Picking up the octopus, the flesh looked plump, which had me excited for the texture right away!! The seasoning is spicy enough to enjoy on its own, and eating it with the rice balls softens the heat a bit haha. Slipping the spicy octopus in between bites of the mild suyuk felt like it kept pulling my appetite back up~!

This time I piled suyuk on top of the wrap vegetables, added garlic and chili, and tucked in a rice ball too~! It was a mouthful that filled up nicely, with meat, vegetables, and rice all together, so it felt quite satisfying hahaha. Adding kimchi on top of that too — this really is how suyuk should be eaten~~!

Finishing with kalguksu, vegetables and mushrooms in the leftover broth

Dambaek Jujeom doesn't stop once you finish the suyuk — vegetables, mushrooms, and kalguksu noodles are all prepared to go into the leftover broth!! Since the whole thing is built to lead into kalguksu at the end, it seemed like it would make for a pretty filling meal haha. For anyone who likes to finish meat with carbs, this course is very welcome~!

After eating a good amount of the suyuk, they simmered vegetables and mushrooms first in the leftover broth~ The flavor from the meat had already infused into the broth, so it felt different from kalguksu just boiled in plain water hahaha. Adding the noodles on top of that made me want to eat it properly all the way through~~!

Once it had bubbled away, the broth had soaked properly into the noodles!! Making use of the leftover suyuk broth meant a full meal came together naturally even after all that meat haha. The way it flowed from suyuk straight into kalguksu is what stuck with me most about this Sangsu bossam spot~!

Is Dambaek Jujeom worth a visit? Final verdict

At Dambaek Jujeom, the suyuk stayed warm so I could eat it moist right to the end, and the wrap vegetables and side dishes were generous too~! Ordering something spicy like the nakji bokkeum alongside kept the flavors from feeling one-note, which would work well for a group sharing food haha. If you're looking for a Sangsu bossam spot, I'd recommend Dambaek Jujeom for enjoying a meal and drinks together in one visit~~!