Gizzard stir-fry and boneless dakbokkeumtang at Gaebong pocha

Don't you ever get that Friday-after-work craving for soju and a spicy side dish?? Made plans with a friend for a drink after a while, and here's my real review of Apgujeong Sinpocha, an anju (drinking food) spot near Gaebong Station~~

Where is Apgujeong Sinpocha near Gaebong Station?

The place is on the 2nd floor of a shopping building in the food alley right out of Gaebong Station Exit 1. It might be a little hard to find the first time, but there's a helpful sign and directions on the stairs going up, so keep your eyes peeled!!

They're running an event where ordering 2 dishes gets you a discount on soju and beer, so if you're thinking of a drink after work, Apgujeong Sinpocha seems perfect for a value dinner gathering?!

The vibe and the basic side dish

The cozy, retro pocha atmosphere hit you the moment you walked in, that anju smell that puts you right in drinking mode lol. Seemed like a great spot for a Friday after-work gathering or a date. It also felt like a good place for a company outing to chat quietly?!

They gave us sweet ppeongtwigi as the basic side, and it was so sweet and crunchy that we asked for two refills lolololol

What we ordered and the prices

• Garlic gizzard stir-fry ₩13,000
• Boneless dakbokkeumtang (braised spicy chicken) ₩22,000
• Rice ball ₩3,000
• Udon noodle add-on ₩2,000

Looking at the menu, there were so many delicious-looking dishes I almost couldn't decide, but I went with the classic pocha staples

Garlic gizzard stir-fry ₩13,000

First to arrive was the garlic gizzard stir-fry (₩13,000). The price was pretty reasonable so I didn't expect a big portion, but the plate came piled high, which was my first surprise

The combo of nicely browned whole garlic cloves and still-chewy gizzard was insane...

No off-taste at all, and dipping it in the savory sesame oil sauce practically summoned a shot of soju haha... The more you chew, the more savory it gets—my new favorite drinking food

Boneless dakbokkeumtang ₩22,000 (+udon noodles, rice ball add-ons)

Next up, the main dish, boneless dakbokkeumtang (braised spicy chicken)!!! As someone who loves extra-spicy food, I couldn't resist adding udon noodles

I loved that it was boneless so you don't have to pick out bones, super easy to eat. The spicy, reduced broth was totally on point, and it really needs to be eaten with the rice ball...

The meat had no off-taste, so tender and soft that I couldn't stop reaching for it... chopsticks just kept going back and forth

Eating this spicy, savory broth, I couldn't not order rice, so I added a rice ball (₩3,000)!!

Rolling up the rice ball packed with savory seaweed flakes and sesame seeds and dipping it in the dakbokkeumtang broth was just insane... you really must order this together with the dakbokkeumtang...

The dishes clearly went well together, and I felt like this was one of the best spots near Gaebong Station for handling both dinner and drinks at once

Overall thoughts

Apgujeong Sinpocha near Gaebong Station has quality anju at reasonable prices, so I think I'll be coming back often! It's great for a solid first-round dinner with drinks, and also good for a light second round with the garlic gizzard stir-fry and a soju. Plus the owner was so friendly that I had a really good time

If you want a satisfying drink with delicious anju near Gaebong Station after work, definitely check out Apgujeong Sinpocha, this Gaebong Station anju spot