Kid-friendly Yeongdeungpo gastropub: carbonara chicken at Ho Samchon

I'd been to Ho Samchon in Yeongdeungpo once before with coworkers for a get-together and loved it so much I saved it to visit again — and I finally got to bring my kids! 🥰

Back then, eating the carbonara chicken, I kept thinking of my son and daughter and telling myself, "I have to bring them here someday!" It's got a bar vibe, sure, but the pasta is genuinely delicious, and with chicken and jjamppong (spicy noodle soup) on the menu too, kids love it just as much. It's a place that works perfectly as both a restaurant and a bar, so I really wanted to introduce it! 👍

Where is Ho Samchon in Yeongdeungpo, and what should you know before you go?

Ho Samchon is a bar-restaurant on the 2nd floor at 4 Yeongdeungpo-ro 46-gil, Yeongdeungpo-dong 3-ga, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Here's the store info! 📝

• Name: Ho Samchon
• Address: 2nd floor, 4 Yeongdeungpo-ro 46-gil, Yeongdeungpo-dong 3-ga, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul

What is the vibe like? Pink lighting and a red phone booth photo zone

The moment you walk into Ho Samchon, the hip pink lighting and stylish interior grab your eyes! There's even a red phone booth set up in one corner, which turned out to be a perfect Instagram-worthy photo zone. 📞 There's also a wave-shaped full-length mirror, so my kids and I had fun snapping mirror selfies. 📸 The hip atmosphere had the kids grinning too!

The interior is spacious with comfortable spacing between tables, which made for a relaxed meal. Ordering is easy too, done through the tablet at each table.

Mango highball and mango ade: one for the adults, one for the kids

Before the food arrived, the cold drinks showed up first! 🥭 I ordered the refreshing, slightly boozy mango highball, and the kids got the sweet mango ade — we shared happily.

They came generously piled with mango flesh, so the visuals alone were a win! Sweet yet refreshing, they were perfect for cutting through the richness whenever we ate something spicy or creamy. 🥂✨

Carbonara chicken at Ho Samchon: can kids eat it?

The must-order dish at Ho Samchon is the carbonara chicken. Crispy fried chicken is generously topped with a smooth, rich cream sauce. The cream sauce could easily be too heavy, but jalapeños tucked inside give it a spicy kick that cuts right through the richness! 🌶️

It must have been a bit spicy for the kids, but they still gulped down water and devoured it, saying "Mom, this is so good!" I really felt it was worth bringing them. 😊

Beef brisket cream jjamppong and rosé pasta: how big are the portions?

Ho Samchon is originally known for its generous portions. Our kids have hearty appetites, so we ordered three dishes this time... but after happily plowing through the chicken and pasta, they said they were too full to touch the beef brisket jjamppong! 😂

Normally my daughter is a big eater who can easily finish two dishes on her own, but she's been dieting lately and either her stomach has shrunk or she's holding herself back — either way, she didn't budge even in front of her beloved brisket. 🥺 (As a mom, it was a bit heartbreaking and a bit impressive at the same time...)

Thanks to that, the beef brisket jjamppong ended up all mine! 🍲 It had crab in it, so the broth was wonderfully clean and deep. Plus it came with plump, chewy udon noodles — it was perfect, but I was so full I had to leave the noodles behind, and I still think about it with regret. 😭

Verdict: Ho Samchon works as both a family restaurant and a bar

Even the complimentary chicken leg-shaped crackers that come as a basic side were crispy and delicious enough that my hand kept reaching for more! 😋 The atmosphere was great, the portions generous, and above all, every dish we ordered was a hit — we had a truly satisfying time with the kids.

It's a great Yeongdeungpo spot for a casual drink with friends or coworkers, and just as good for stopping by with kids for a delicious meal like I did! If you're looking for a place near Yeongdeungpo with both great food and great atmosphere, I highly recommend Ho Samchon! ❤️