Quiet upstairs hanok bar in Sangsu, Seoul, with free ice: Dambaek

I found a place in Sangsu/Hapjeong that I completely fell for, so here I am running to tell you about it. 💕 Got a lot of plans around Sangsu and Hapjeong these days? Me too — I wanted somewhere with a nice atmosphere for good food and a drink with a friend, so I did some serious searching. I ended up at Dambaek Jujeom, a Sangsu Korean pub with tidy Korean-style side dishes and a quietly old-fashioned feel!

After actually going, both the food and the comfort of the space were perfect, so I really wanted to recommend it to anyone looking for a moody Sangsu date spot or a Hapjeong date course. Here's my honest review!

Dambaek Jujeom in Sangsu: why the second-floor hanok room is quieter

Dambaek Jujeom is a Korean pub on the 2nd floor of a building on Yanghwa-ro 6-gil, between Sangsu Station and Hapjeong. It was so nice to enjoy the place quietly and comfortably, without making eye contact with passersby on the street!

1st-floor bars are sometimes so loud you can barely talk, but thanks to that particular 2nd-floor coziness, Dambaek Jujeom wasn't noisy at all and was perfect for focusing on conversation.

The moment we walked in, what caught my eye was the subtle, old-fashioned Korean-style interior.

It wasn't overdone — the vintage charm blended really well with a modern sensibility, so photos came out great and the atmosphere was warm for chatting.

Hangjeong suyuk and samgyeop suyuk: one serving of each cut

The main dish I was looking forward to ordering at Dambaek Jujeom was bossam-style suyuk (boiled pork)! At a lot of places, if you order suyuk you have to pick just one cut, but at Dambaek Jujeom you can order hangjeong suyuk (pork jowl) and samgyeop suyuk (pork belly) as one serving each!

I happened to be craving the tender, nutty samgyeop suyuk, and my friend wanted the chewy hangjeong suyuk, so we were both really satisfied getting to pick according to our own tastes.

The meat came out freshly steaming, with zero gamey smell, and was truly tender and moist. They also gave us plenty of vegetables to wrap it with, which was such a nice touch.

What sides come with the steamed pork

And honestly, the combination of side dishes that come with it is amazing!

• Bossam kimchi & mu-saengchae (radish salad): crunchy and sweet-spicy!
• Barley doenjang & house ssamjang: rich and nutty, with jeotgal (fermented seafood) for an umami punch!

Wrapping a piece of meat with these side dishes makes the soju go down so smoothly — it's the best. I immediately understood why Dambaek Jujeom is known as one of the best bossam spots near Sangsu Station.

A mountain of ice, brought out on request

That day we went with the familiar, refreshing combo of soju and beer!

Since it was a bit warm out, I asked for ice to drink things cold, and they brought us a literal mountain of it! Thanks to that, we could drink refreshingly cold the whole time. I was totally impressed by the owner's thoughtfulness.

We stuck with somaek and soju, but true to a Sangsu Korean pub, they also carry a lineup of traditional liquors, makgeolli, and traditional soju. Next Sangsu date, I'm definitely trying a traditional liquor paired with the food!

The free kalguksu that finishes the meal

Once you've enjoyed the suyuk at Dambaek Jujeom, at the end they simmer kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) by adding extra stock to the meat broth.

But the portion of kalguksu was seriously huge...! We had a second round planned that day, so we were so full we actually asked them to hold back on the noodle portion.

The portion is generous and the broth is deep, so there's nothing better for wrapping up the meal as a side dish or a hangover cure.

Verdict: is Dambaek Jujeom good for a Sangsu or Hapjeong night out?

Dambaek Jujeom really satisfied me by nailing all three things — great food, atmosphere, and thoughtful service.

With its soft lighting and hanok charm, it's a wonderful space whether you're bringing a date to Sangsu or catching up with a close friend. If you're near Sangsu or Hapjeong and looking for a Korean pub that won't let you down, definitely check it out!