Grilled sea bream and DIY soju highball for round two: Bako Jumak

Today I'm bringing you a review of a place I really love — 'Bako Jumak' — which I visited for round two in Hapjeong not long ago! I'd been here before and the vibe and the side dishes left such a good impression that when I was trying to decide where to go for a second round, this place popped right into my head. And yep, this revisit was a huge success too!

Location & exterior of Bako Jumak in Hapjeong

Walking through the alleys near Hapjeong Station, you'll spot Bako Jumak welcoming you with warm, soft lighting. Even the exterior gives off this quiet, hanok (traditional Korean house) charm that just puts you in a good mood.

In front of the shop there's a standing sign and a full menu board, so you can check out the delicious options before you even step inside!

Hanok-style interior and an indoor restroom

Step inside and traditional jumak (tavern) charm blends sensibly with a modern atmosphere! The blue lanterns hanging from the ceiling and folk props like straw sandals and winnowing baskets decorating the walls make the space so much cozier. Overall it's a great atmosphere for chatting away, so it's perfect for a Hapjeong date course or if you're looking for a round-two bar!

And here's one reason I love Bako Jumak! There's a genuinely clean women's restroom inside the store♥ When you're bar-hopping around Hapjeong, you often end up having to use a shared building restroom or one located outside, which can be inconvenient, right? Here it's kept clean and safely managed inside, so you can use it with peace of mind!

Tablet ordering & browsing the menu

Each table has a kiosk (tablet) installed, so you can order comfortably from your seat while looking at photos of the menu. The staff were just as friendly as before, so I felt good from the moment I walked in! 😊 I took plenty of photos of the menu options, so take a look for reference!

The free snack: rice cracker ssalgangjeong

Once you order, they bring out nostalgic rice cracker ssalgangjeong as a free starter snack — crunchy and sweet-savory, so before the main dish even arrives you end up popping them one by one until the plate's empty in no time!

Happiness for just ₩2,000! Our own 'DIY soju highball'

Since this was our second round, we were drinking soju mixed simply with sparkling water, and while looking at the menu I spotted that lemon slices were only ₩2,000!

I expected a small portion for ₩2,000, but they brought out a bowl piled high with generously sliced fresh lemon — I was genuinely touched!

Pouring soju and sparkling water into a cold, icy glass and piling in plenty of lemon slices, we ended up with our own 'DIY soju highball' that could rival any dedicated highball bar! It was refreshing and crisp, and honestly the drinks just kept going down smoothly. Definitely add the lemon — highly recommend it♥

Chewy outside, moist inside! The standout grilled sea bream

Looking for something quality but not too heavy for a second-round snack, I ordered the grilled sea bream!

The presentation alone, neatly arranged on a bamboo basket, grabbed my attention right away!

Usually when you think of grilled fish, you picture either fresh raw fish or fully dried fish, right? But Bako Jumak's sea bream turned out to be semi-dried fish, grilled to perfection!

Maybe that's why the outside was savory and the flesh was moist, yet chewy the more you chewed — the texture was genuinely artful! There was no fishy taste at all, just the clean, savory flavor of the fish itself.

Add a bit of the spicy-tangy chive salad and cheongyang chili soy sauce that came with it, and it's the perfect combination! Truly an excellent choice for a second-round drinking snack.

Overall review & summary

• Atmosphere: A cozy hanok-vibe space, highly recommended for a Hapjeong date or round-two bar (a proven spot I revisited because of good memories!)
• Convenience: A clean, safe women's restroom fully equipped inside the store!
• Taste & value: Moist, chewy semi-dried grilled sea bream paired with the ₩2,000 happiness of a DIY soju highball!
• Friendliness: Kind, attentive service that made for a genuinely enjoyable drinking session!

If you're looking for a round-two bar in Hapjeong with great atmosphere and delicious snacks, you have to check out Bako Jumak!