Sinjungdong after-work bar: octopus pork belly, clam vongole — Yeongpo

It feels like it's been a while since I last posted, so I'm a little embarrassed.. haha. Today's story is about Yeongpo, a bar near Sinjungdong Station that I visited after work when a friend and I set up a last-minute meetup.

What kind of bar is Yeongpo, and where is it near Sinjungdong Station?

Yeongpo is a cooking pub on the patio-bar street, a 6-minute walk from Exit 3 of Sinjungdong Station. It uses no meal kits, and serves a variety of handmade side dishes and hearty Korean dishes in a warm atmosphere that makes a drink taste even better. It's close to the station, so it was easy to come straight from work, hahaha.

Yeongpo opening hours, private hire and parking

• Address: 46 Jomaru-ro 291beon-gil, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon, Gyeonggi, South Korea, 1st floor, Unit 107
• Sun–Thu: 18:00 to 6:00 the next day (last order 5:00)
• Fri, Sat: 18:00 to 6:00 the next day (last order 7:00)
• Groups welcome, separate men's and women's restrooms, Wi-Fi
• Private hire available (minimum 15, maximum 40 people)
• Small dogs allowed
• No parking

What we ordered at Yeongpo and how much it cost

We ordered two dishes at Yeongpo: spicy webfoot octopus with pork belly (₩23,000) and vongole pasta steamed clams (₩25,000). I looked over the menu before my friend arrived and ordered what I wanted to eat first, hahaha. Hope this helps when you visit~

• Spicy webfoot octopus with pork belly ₩23,000
• Vongole pasta steamed clams ₩25,000

What is the Sinjungdong patio-bar street like after work?

The patio-bar street in front of Yeongpo had a great atmosphere, and a football match happened to be on, which made it even more fun. My friend kept not showing up even after our meeting time... so I waited and took in the street scenery~

Yeongpo gives you honey twisted-cracker snacks (kkwabaegi, twisted fried dough) to start, and they were great to nibble on one by one whenever I got bored. The side dishes seemed cheaper than at other bars, so the prices wouldn't be a burden even for people just starting their careers. It also seems just right anytime: meetups with friends, dates, company dinners, even drinking alone!!

How does Yeongpo's spicy webfoot octopus with pork belly taste?

Yeongpo's spicy webfoot octopus with pork belly (₩23,000) has a spicy, salty sauce that really whets the appetite. Above all, the webfoot octopus pieces are really big, and they caught my eye the moment the dish came out~ Biting into a plump one, I could really feel the chewy, springy texture!!

The spiciness hits first, then a salty savoriness follows, so it goes well with rice too. The rich, mild flavor of the pork belly tempers the spicy sauce nicely, so the octopus and pork belly pairing worked better than I expected, haha. Chewy rice cakes come with it too, so I was very happy with this dish.

How do Yeongpo's vongole pasta steamed clams taste?

Yeongpo's vongole pasta steamed clams (₩25,000) comes with generous clams and shrimp in a flavor-packed broth. Spicy peperoncino adds a subtle kick, and together with the savoriness from the clams it tasted clean yet deep~ Eating it with the chewy pasta noodles felt different from an ordinary vongole pasta!!

A giant Korean flag over the Sinjungdong patio bars on National Foundation Day

While sipping away at Yeongpo, I saw a giant Korean flag (Taegeukgi) waving on National Foundation Day (Gaecheonjeol, October 3), and it looked really impressive!! I've been worried about our country lately, so sitting there drinking I felt a bit of a reality check.. but on the other hand, I felt relieved that there are people like this.