Spicy rosé sujebi and monkey cocktail near Gangnam Station: Jusindang

If you're looking for a bar near Gangnam Station with a slightly different vibe, Jusindang Gangnam is worth a visit.

Jusindang Gangnam location and hours

• 📍 9 Gangnam-daero 96-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea, B1
• ⏰ Daily 11:00–15:00 / 17:00–02:00
• 🚗 No parking
• 🎫 Reservation available via Catch Table

The name Jusindang (주신당) already has a distinctive feel to it, and once inside, the interior matches — a sindang (shrine) atmosphere layered with an Oriental mood, so it feels different from a regular bar right from the entrance.

It's also conveniently close to Exit 11 of Gangnam Station.

Is there a wait? Book on Catch Table

I booked ahead through Catch Table for this visit. I heard there's usually a wait on weekends or Friday evenings, so if you're planning to go, I'd recommend reserving in advance.

Gangnam Station gets really crowded, especially on Friday evenings and weekends, so if you want to walk straight in and eat without waiting, a reservation will put your mind at ease.

I'd assumed Jusindang was only a nighttime drinking spot, but it turns out they also do lunch service with a separate lunch menu. So it seems worth visiting even if you're just looking for lunch near Gangnam Station, not only for an evening plan.

Spicy rosé sujebi — how is it as a drinking snack?

The first thing I want to introduce from what we ordered is the spicy rosé sujebi (hand-torn dough soup). It's rosé sauce with a spicy kick added, and with sujebi in it, it feels quite different from a regular rosé pasta.

The chewy texture of the sujebi went well with the smooth rosé sauce, and the spiciness made it good as a drinking snack too.

Rosé can sometimes feel a bit heavy, but the spicy kick cut through that, and the more I ate it, the more it felt like the perfect dish to pair with drinks. If you like sujebi, I'd recommend this — familiar yet with a bit of a twist.

Four cocktails at Jusindang Gangnam — a taste review

Since we were at Jusindang, we ordered cocktails alongside the food. That night we had a negroni, a Hendrick's-based cucumber cocktail, and a cocktail named after the monkey. We also asked about an off-menu cocktail and they made it for us.

The signature monkey cocktail

The monkey cocktail I ordered is Jusindang's signature drink, based on the monkey from the 12 zodiac animals. Apparently it's inspired by a Korean children's song that goes "the monkey's bottom is red, red things are apples." It's made with apple-based traditional liquor, banana, cinnamon, cranberry, and lemon. The subtle cinnamon aroma stood out to me in particular, and with apple and banana in the mix, it felt like a fun departure from a typical cocktail. I was impressed that even a single menu item comes with a zodiac story built in.

• 🐒 Monkey cocktail
• Apple-based traditional liquor
• Banana
• Cinnamon
• Cranberry
• Lemon

Hendrick's cucumber cocktail

I also tried a cucumber cocktail based on Hendrick's gin, which I happen to like. Hendrick's uses cucumber and rose as its main botanicals, giving it a subtle aroma and a clean feel, and adding cucumber on top made it even fresher and cooler. It wasn't too heavy to drink alongside food, and it paired well with the spicy rosé sujebi. What was fun was that every cocktail came in a different glass — the shapes were unique and pretty, great for photos too.

Gimlet and an off-menu negroni

The gimlet we also ordered is a classic cocktail — gin with the bright acidity of lime added. It was clean and tart, good to drink with the meal, and had a different appeal from the earlier cocktails. Each cocktail again came in its own glass, and the gimlet's glass was pretty and unique too, nice to photograph.

That night we also asked, a bit specially, for a negroni to be made for us. Because it was made to order, the whole process of asking for it was fun, and the glass had a design unlike a typical cocktail glass, so it was fun just to look at. Once it arrived looking so pretty, I couldn't not take a photo. 🍸

Great atmosphere — recommended for a blind date or date night

Jusindang Gangnam isn't just about the food — the space itself has a charming atmosphere. The unique sindang-inspired mood combined with the lighting made it clearly different from a typical bar near Gangnam Station.

So I actually thought it would suit a blind date or date night even better than a group hangout with friends. For a blind date, somewhere with a bit of atmosphere, where you can naturally chat about the menu and the space, is nice — and Jusindang seemed good in that respect.

With such a wide variety of cocktails, picking menu items together and talking about the flavors would naturally keep the conversation going. It's also convenient for a date because you can handle both food and drinks in one place, and it's a good option when you want somewhere a bit more special than a typical bar. Plus it's close to Exit 11 of Gangnam Station, so it's easy to set as a meeting spot.

In summary

Overall, Jusindang Gangnam felt like a place where you can enjoy food, drinks, and a distinctive atmosphere all together. Gangnam Station has no shortage of restaurants and bars, but if you're looking for a space with a slightly different vibe, Jusindang will likely catch your eye.

From the spicy rosé sauce paired with chewy sujebi, to the negroni, the cucumber Hendrick's cocktail, and the cinnamon-scented cocktail, there was a lot to enjoy. Above all, the distinctive interior meant it wasn't just about eating and leaving — it was fun to spend time in the space itself.

If you're looking for a good-atmosphere date spot, blind date venue, or a bar with a different vibe near Exit 11 of Gangnam Station, I'd recommend Jusindang Gangnam! I'd like to come back next time to try other menu items and cocktails.