Saturday-night remote queue at Gwangalli bar Ganppa Beer Gwangalli 2

A night out in Gwangalli is a must on any Busan trip! After browsing Millak-the-Market and eating your fill of raw fish at Millak Hoetown, you start looking for somewhere light for round two. I heard Ganppa Beer, which started as a single spot in Gwangalli and has since expanded all the way to Seoul, had opened a second branch nearby, so I checked it out. You could order beer without any food at all, and the Sapporo draft was impressively smooth, just like what I had in Japan — here's my honest review.

Where Ganppa Beer Gwangalli 2 is and how long the wait runs

Ganppa Beer Gwangalli 2 is a standing draft beer bar close to Gwangalli Station. There's no dedicated parking, so if you're driving, use the public parking lot near Gwangalli Beach.

Ganppa Beer used to operate under the name 'Ganppa Jinsae' but has since been renamed Ganppa Beer.

The original first branch is near the Gwangalli coastline, closer to Geumnyeonsan Station, while the second branch I visited is a bit closer to Gwangalli Station. There's no dedicated parking here either, so if driving, use the public lot near Gwangalli Beach.

The wait at the original branch was long, so I went to Ganppa Beer Gwangalli 2 instead. As of 9 pm on Saturday, there were about 9 teams waiting. You can also join the queue remotely through the Catch Table app, so if you're planning this as round two, it's worth putting your name in while you're still on the move.

The line moved faster than I expected, and once your turn was close, you just confirm your arrival in the app. It said that if you don't show up within one minute of being called, your spot gets cancelled — and I actually saw that happen to a few groups who didn't respond after multiple calls.

The outdoor Ongdalsaem zone and the standing bar inside

At Ganppa Beer Gwangalli 2, you can also skip the wait entirely by ordering just draft beer at the outdoor 'ongdalsaem' zone. Inside, everyone drinks standing up, which gave it a completely different feel from a typical bar.

Outside, there were chairs and tables set up so you could sit while waiting.

If you just want a light draft beer without any food, you can skip going inside entirely and order at the outdoor zone with no wait.

For anyone who's already had dinner and is looking for a round-two spot, drinking out here seemed like a solid option. You could also order light bites like Shake Shack-style odeng (fish cake skewers).

Everyone drinking standing up gave it a completely different vibe from a regular bar — genuinely novel. It was a mild night outside, but the interior was blasting AC at full power, cold enough that I imagine it stays cool even in peak summer.

There was plenty to look at around the space too. They were running a game where if you chug your beer in under 5 seconds, you get another glass free. More people than I expected actually pulled it off, and successful chuggers got a '5-second success' sticker.

In one corner of the bar, you could also take a photo of your receipt. Pens were provided to decorate it, and there was tape so you could pick a spot on the wall and stick it up — which I did.

The restroom is outside the venue, so make sure to check the password before you head out!

Sapporo at 8,900 won vs Ebisu at 11,900 won: what's the difference?

Ganppa Beer Gwangalli 2 offers two draft beers: Sapporo at ₩8,900 and Ebisu at ₩11,900. Ebisu has a heavier flavor with a somewhat bitter finish, while Sapporo was much smoother, with no bitterness at all.

There were two draft options overall, Sapporo and Ebisu. The menu ranged from sets with one snack and two beers to simple standalone side dishes. Since we'd already eaten a full dinner, we started with one glass of each draft to compare.

You order and pay first, then they bring the beer over. With guests constantly coming in, the draft orders kept piling up, and the staff were nonstop pouring glasses.

What stood out was the smooth, tight foam sitting on top of the draft. It reminded me of a beer bar I loved in Japan that poured glasses exactly like this.

They rinsed the beer glasses in ice water first — apparently this helps lock in the beer's flavor.

Ebisu ₩11,900, Sapporo ₩8,900. When I first got the glasses, I thought there might be a bit too much foam.

But after one sip, the foam turned out to be incredibly creamy and dense, making the beer go down really smoothly.

Ebisu ₩11,900. Ebisu had a heavier beer flavor than Sapporo, with a bit more bitterness at the finish.

Sapporo ₩8,900. Sapporo, on the other hand, had no bitterness and was much smoother. I think even people who usually avoid beer's sharp bitterness could drink this one comfortably.

As you drink, you can also spot an 'angel ring' — layered foam rings left along the inside of the glass. This only appears on fresh beer, and shows up clearly when the glass condition, beer condition, and temperature all line up just right.

The smooth Sapporo was exactly my type, so after the first round, both of us just kept ordering Sapporo refills.

The keg-opening bell and the rock-paper-scissors free beer

Best of all, since the draft turns over quickly, we got to see a new keg being opened — staff ring a bell whenever they crack open a fresh one. When this happens, you can play rock-paper-scissors with a staff member, and the winner gets a free draft beer. I joined in too... and lost 😅

You can also enter a prize draw by writing a review on Naver, Google, Kakao, or Catch Table — even 4th place wins a free draft, so it's worth doing!

Is Ganppa Beer Gwangalli 2 worth it for round two in Gwangalli?

This was a solid spot to stop by for a quick extra beer during round two in Gwangalli. It felt comfortable for solo drinking and just as good for a couple of drinks on a date. If you're into draft beer, Ganppa Beer is worth a visit.