Sokcho bar where abai baeksundae meets flounder jeotgal: Seo Jubang

While traveling in Sokcho, I went looking for somewhere to have a light drink with good food in the evening and ended up at Seo Jubang, a well-known spot on Sokcho's pojangmacha street. Seo Jubang sits on Yeongnanghaean 6-gil, near the pojangmacha street between Deungdae Beach and Yeonggeumjeong. It's also close to Yeongnang Beach, making it a good stop for a drink in the evening during a Sokcho trip.

Where is Seo Jubang and when is it open?

• Seo Jubang, a bar on Sokcho's pojangmacha street
• Address: 강원특별자치도 속초시 영랑해안6길 12 1층
• Hours: Mon–Thu, Sun 18:00–03:00 / Fri–Sat 18:00–04:00

The first thing that caught my eye at Seo Jubang was the exterior. The signage had a slightly retro feel to it. The overall atmosphere reminded me of a restaurant made by renovating a factory building, like the ones in Mullae Art Village, so I was curious what the inside would look like.

Retro exterior, calm interior at Seo Jubang

Once I opened the door and stepped inside, the mood was a bit different from what I'd expected from the outside. While the exterior felt retro and rough-edged, the interior was surprisingly calm and neatly put together. The soft lighting made the space feel even more relaxed, so instead of a loud, crowded pojangmacha vibe, it seemed like a good place to sit and talk with friends, a partner, or family over drinks.

Little props around the restaurant added to the retro atmosphere. There were things like an old-style telephone and an aluminum kettle scattered around. Nothing felt overdone — they were placed naturally throughout the space, which gave it a warm, nostalgic feeling instead.

When I sat down, staff brought over water, and even the water bottle had a design that reminded me of old-fashioned orange juice bottles, which I found amusing. It was impressive that they paid attention to details like this.

Ordering the juansang set with spicy stir-fried baby octopus as the main

Ordering was easy thanks to the table kiosk system. One of Seo Jubang's signature menu items is the juansang set — a spread that lets you enjoy several side dishes at once, which seemed great for a group visit. What I especially liked was that you can choose the main dish when ordering the juansang set, so you can customize it to your taste. This time I chose spicy stir-fried octopus (bulju-kkumi-bokkeum) as the main.

After ordering, it wasn't long before the juansang set arrived. A big tray, the kind you might remember from childhood, arrived loaded with food, and it looked generous from the first glance. My set came with spicy stir-fried octopus as the main, along with scallops, abai baeksundae (white blood sausage), boiled squid, pollock roe potato salad, baek kimchi and more.

Rather than ordering just one dish, being able to taste a little of several side dishes felt especially well-suited to a group visit.

Side dishes: pickled tomato and baek kimchi

The pickled tomato side dish was quite unique. I was curious what it would taste like at first, but it worked surprisingly well. It had a tangy, oddly appetizing flavor that paired nicely with the other dishes on the tray. The baek kimchi (white, non-spicy kimchi) was refreshing and clean-tasting, good to have between bites of spicier food.

Scallops on the juansang tray

I started with the scallops. The meat was plump but not as chewy as I expected — soft and enjoyable. Sometimes scallops can be tough or have a strong fishy smell, but these were clean, without either issue. They already had enough seasoning that you didn't need to dip them in chojang (vinegar-chili sauce), and you could still catch a gentle hint of the sea. Being in Sokcho, this kind of seafood dish felt like a must.

Boiled squid, served pre-sliced this visit

Next was the boiled squid (ojingeo sukhoe). It's usually served whole, but the whole squid ran out that day, so it came sliced instead. Still, there was nothing to complain about in terms of taste. The squid was boiled tender, not chewy at all. It works well as a drinking snack, but it's also mild enough that it could be nice for kids if you're visiting as a family.

Abai baeksundae with flounder jeotgal: how it tastes

The abai baeksundae came with flounder jeotgal (salted fermented flounder) on the side. The owner personally showed me the best way to eat it — spooning the flounder jeotgal over the sausage — so I tried it that way. It tasted noticeably different from eating the sausage plain. The mild flavor of the sundae, combined with the salty, spicy kick of the flounder jeotgal and its distinct fishy texture, worked better than I expected. I was glad I followed the owner's suggestion.

The main: spicy stir-fried baby octopus with bean sprouts

Now for the main dish I chose for the juansang set — spicy stir-fried octopus. While I was working through the side dishes, they gently simmered and reduced the octopus. As time passed, the spicy smell drifted over and kept building my appetite. Bean sprouts were laid underneath the octopus, which helped keep it from burning directly on the pan while letting you eat the sprouts and octopus together.

Eating the spicy octopus with the crunchy bean sprouts gave a nice contrast in texture. The sprouts helped tone down the spiciness while adding a refreshing note, so I kept reaching for more. The octopus pieces were a manageable size, easy to eat in one bite. For anyone who likes spicy drinking snacks, this dish is a great match.

Is Seo Jubang good for group dinners?

I'm not usually a big drinker, but it felt a shame to pass up a drink that evening. Traveling around Sokcho in the cool weather with good food naturally made me want a drink. Most of all, I liked that Seo Jubang isn't just a place to drink — it's a proper drinking restaurant (yorijujeom) where you can enjoy a range of dishes alongside your drinks.

It's worth considering if you're looking for a Sokcho bar for a group dinner or a place to visit with several people. It's also close to Yeongnang Beach, so it works well as part of an evening course — take in the beach, then head over for a meal and drinks. If you're after group seating at a Sokcho pojangmacha-street restaurant, it's worth checking whether they have tables large enough for your group before visiting.

If you're looking for a bar with a good atmosphere near the sea in Sokcho, a spot known for its variety of drinking snacks, or somewhere to bring friends for a Sokcho get-together, Seo Jubang is worth considering.