Sinnonhyeon standing izakaya with Sapporo draft beer: Ganppa Beer

You know those days when it's a bit hot during the day but cools down nicely as the sun sets, and you just crave a cold beer~? I went to Ganppa Beer Sinnonhyeon Hyeongje branch, recommended as a Sinnonhyeon daytime drinking spot serving Sapporo draft beer.

Where is Ganppa Beer in Sinnonhyeon, and when is it open?

Ganppa Beer Sinnonhyeon Hyeongje branch is located at 3-6 Gangnam-daero 124-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Hours are daily 16:00-24:00, last order at 23:30, and there's no parking.

What is a standing izakaya like? Inside Ganppa Beer

Ganppa Beer Sinnonhyeon Hyeongje branch, a Sinnonhyeon Sapporo draft specialist

Ganppa Beer Sinnonhyeon Hyeongje branch's Lucky Hour, daily 16-18, gives out a lottery ticket per beer bought on your first order

Oh my, what is this vibe? Isn't this Japan? No need to fly to Japan, just come to Sinnonhyeon! How about a cold Sapporo draft in a place bursting with Japanese atmosphere?

Ganppa Beer Sinnonhyeon Hyeongje branch doesn't have chairs, which is a bit of a shame, but that seems to be the whole concept of the place. I think it's meant for those days after work when you crave a cold beer but don't want to head straight home — you drop in lightly, have a draft, and rest for a bit before heading on.

Menu and prices at Ganppa Beer, plus the lucky hour lottery

Ganppa Beer Sinnonhyeon Hyeongje branch's menu: Ebisu draft ₩11,900, Sapporo draft ₩8,900, plus a variety of side dishes sold as sets or light single items — quite a range.

If you visit Ganppa Beer Sinnonhyeon Hyeongje branch, a Gangnam/Nonhyeon draft beer specialist, you can join the Lucky Hour event. Visit between 16:00-18:00 and order Sapporo or Ebisu draft, and you get a lottery ticket! Drink beer and get a lottery ticket, how good is that? If I win first prize I'm going to Ganppa Beer every single day!

How the Sapporo draft beer is poured

What Yungdi ordered was Sapporo draft! Look at the glass they pour it into — it's really, really thin! The owner showed it to me and told me to touch it myself. On your first visit, a staff member explains everything step by step starting right at the entrance. Watching them pour the beer while listening to the explanation was fun, and it somehow made the beer taste even better.

They rinse the glass with powerful water pressure, and you get to watch the beer being poured right in front of you!

The tastiest ratio of beer to foam is 7:3. They pour to that ratio, then sweep off the overflowing foam,

then dunk the glass into ice-cold water before it lands in our hands — a Sapporo draft. Before I even moved to my seat, they told me to take a sip right there, and I went for it on the spot... oh my. I couldn't believe how much went down in one gulp. The beer was so smooth and cold that I just opened my throat and chugged it. This Sinnonhyeon Sapporo draft spot really is different, different~~

Fried chicken skin set with two Sapporo drafts, 25,900 won

Chicken skin fritter set (includes 2 Sapporo drafts), ₩25,900

In an atmosphere that feels like stepping into a beer bar in Japan, having a cold Sapporo draft alongside freshly fried chicken skin fritters — this is what weekend feels like~~~ Such a good mood in this moment. For beer lovers, Ganppa Beer will feel like their local mill. Draft beer lover, that's me. And I especially can't resist Japanese-style draft beer~~~

Claw machine and rock-paper-scissors game for ice cream

At Ganppa Beer, it's great for washing away the day's fatigue with a cold beer, but there are also tons of fun elements. There's a photo zone at the entrance with convex mirrors at various angles that are fun for mirror selfies, and there's a receipt photo machine where you can snap a fun photo too.

While drinking, staff give you a chance to try a claw-style draw if you write a Naver receipt review — that lets you join the draw event. If you get first prize on the draw, you win a whopping ₩100,000 Ganppa Beer voucher!!! Even 4th prize gets you a free Sapporo draft, so I was hoping for at least 4th place~~~ but I got 5th place... hehe

Another fun element is a rock-paper-scissors game machine tucked in a corner of the store. This thing genuinely fires up your competitive spirit and was so much fun. You insert a coin and play rock-paper-scissors against the machine, and if you collect 10 coins you get an ice cream!!

Ice cream aside, once I got into it my competitive drive kicked in and I ended up playing rock-paper-scissors with laser focus, eyes blazing. So how did all that hard-fought rock-paper-scissors turn out?

Look how many coins I got — collected all 10!!! Dopamine at peak levels, Ganppa Beer

The ice cream I got with my 10 coins. After the beer and chicken skin fritters, finishing off with a cool, sweet cookies-and-cream ice cream

Is Ganppa Beer Sinnonhyeon worth a stop?

Sapporo draft poured cold right in front of your eyes. For anyone working in Gangnam, after work head over to this Yeongdong Market draft beer spot, have a cold one, blow off steam with the fun game elements, and recharge your dopamine at Ganppa Beer Sinnonhyeon Hyeongje branch — go go