Sangsu Station liquor bar for octopus and Gamtanju: Dambaek Jujeom

My friend and I both finished work and made a last-minute plan. We were looking for a place with a nice mood and good food-and-drink pairings, and this is where we ended up.

I'm bringing you an honest, "dambaek" (plain and clean) review of Dambaek Jujeom (담백주점), a tidy Korean pub near Sangsu Station that's easy on the stomach! True to the name, none of the dishes are harsh or over-seasoned, which makes it a great date spot too. Let me tell you its charms.

What kind of place is Dambaek Jujeom?

Dambaek Jujeom is a Korean food-focused pub near Exit 1 of Sangsu Station. It's open 18:00-24:00, and there's no parking. With tasty Korean dishes, a range of traditional liquors and makgeolli, and a lovely atmosphere, I'd recommend it for solo drinking, dates and gatherings alike.

• Tasty Korean side dishes to drink with
• A variety of traditional liquors and makgeolli
• A atmospheric space
• Recommended for solo drinks, dates and gatherings
• If you're looking for a bar in Sangsu or Hapjeong, a place to enjoy things light and clean
• A cozy spot to visit after work

Is the mood at Dambaek Jujeom near Sangsu Station good for a date?

Dambaek Jujeom, near Sangsu Station, felt comfortable from the entrance all the way inside.

Soft lighting wraps the whole space, so it suits chatting quietly over a drink. It's clean, relaxed and unpressured, so couples can be lovey-dovey and friends can have a calm catch-up. I'd recommend it if you're looking for a date spot among Sangsu bars. I dragged my tired after-work self there, and the mood alone calmed me down.

A spicy, nutty combo: spicy octopus and seaweed rice balls with gamtaju

For our first order we followed the owner's recommendation: the signature pairing of spicy stir-fried octopus (nakji-bokkeum) and gamtae (seaweed) rice balls, plus gamtaju. While deciding, I chose to trust the owner's picks for both food and drink, and I added gamtaju, whose name alone made me curious.

Shall we go through each item together?!

Spicy octopus and seaweed rice balls: red sauce, but really plain and clean?

The octopus here is tender and plump, in a sweet-spicy sauce with real wok fire flavor. My eyes lit up at the red octopus next to the round rice balls wrapped in green seaweed. The octopus had a proper chew, the sauce soaked right in, and the fire flavor was legit!

The crunchy bean sprouts piled on top tame the heat, so the balance was good. You'd think it's harsh, right? But guess what!!! Strangely, it's clean and light. A red-sauce dish that isn't harsh yet the seasoning is spot on and clings to your mouth~ (*I used to be a cook, so seasoning matters to me*)

Then mix the nutty, slightly bitter seaweed rice balls into the octopus sauce and it's pure heaven! Spicy and nutty play together in your mouth, a straightforward kind of flavor.

What is gamtaju? Is it okay if you're a light drinker?

Gamtaju is a traditional liquor served in a pretty glass bottle, with a clean, smooth finish. My heart fluttered with anticipation~ would it live up to the price and the name? I'd been curious, and it has a gentle sweetness and a fresh aroma.

It's light, not harsh, a trendy drink that even light drinkers can enjoy without worry. (I instantly understood why it's recommended to women 🫡)

A second round instead of cocktails: perilla-oil tofu and bamboo liquor

After cleanly finishing the octopus and gamtaju, we ordered perilla-oil grilled chodang tofu and bamboo liquor as a palate cleanser and second round. The original plan was cocktails for round two, but we liked the food and the calm atmosphere so much that we never moved. This choice was another no-fail, satisfying combo!

How is the perilla-oil grilled chodang tofu?

The perilla-oil grilled chodang tofu (soft tofu made with seawater brine) really fit the word "dambaek" in the pub's name. The outside is golden and crisp, while the inside is moist and soft like pudding. The deep, nutty flavor of perilla oil soaks through the tofu, so the nuttiness pops with every bite. Eaten after the red-sauce dish, it felt like a clean finish.

What is bamboo liquor like?

Bamboo liquor comes in a fresh green bottle, with a clear, refreshing bamboo aroma you can really taste. The strength is easy, and the subtle fragrance and clean aftertaste made it a perfect match for the nutty perilla tofu. The more I drank, the fresher my mouth felt, so it was ideal as a closing drink.

Would I recommend Dambaek Jujeom as a date course near Sangsu Station?

Dambaek Jujeom truly lives up to its name. Bar food is usually heavily seasoned and leaves you bloated, but even after finishing everything here my stomach felt very comfortable. The trendy yet no-frills food and the variety of traditional liquors are really appealing.

It's a cozy place for quiet conversation, so it should work if you want a quiet Hongdae-area bar or a date course near Sangsu Station. The food lineup is great too, so drop by comfortably after work. If you want clean, tasty Korean food in a nice space, this is the place!