Sadang bar in Seoul: eggplant fritters and minari pancake at Sisibibi

What we ordered at Sisibibi in Sadang

On a day when I wanted dinner in Sadang to naturally turn into drinks, I went to Sisibibi Sadang. That day I ordered the Chinese chili nurungji (crispy rice) eggplant fritters, the barley shrimp minari (water celery) pancake, and two draft beers.

I don't usually pick vegetable-centered dishes first, but both menus stayed clearly in my memory that day. Within the familiar combo of fritters and pancake, the crispy textures were alive in different ways, and with beer alongside, the evening felt a lot more relaxed.

At first, just seeing the menu name made me curious about the eggplant fritters. Eggplant's soft texture can be polarizing, so I was curious what it would be like combined with nurungji. I also ordered the minari pancake because I wanted two different kinds of crunch on the table. In the end, ordering both split the mood — one leaning spicy from the chili sauce, the other leaning savory from the minari and barley shrimp.

Seating, reservations and the mood at Sisibibi

Even on the day I visited, seats at Sisibibi Sadang seemed to fill up fast. If you're going on a day with a set mealtime, it feels safer to book ahead.

While waiting for our order inside, I could see other tables' dishes, and there were enough eye-catching menus to make me want to try something different next time. Still, my memory of that day leans more toward slowly sharing two dishes rather than greedily ordering a bunch.

Menu items, prices, and current availability can change depending on when you visit, so it's worth checking the in-store menu when ordering. I focused on the Chinese chili nurungji eggplant fritters and the barley shrimp minari pancake. Ordering beer first and waiting for the food to arrive set the mood early — this was going to be an evening of bite-sized snacks with drinks.

Once the draft beer was set down, I got even more excited for the pairing with food. We started lightly with two glasses side by side — and it wasn't just a beer that goes well with greasy food, it felt like it sharpened the crispy texture itself. For a table where you're chatting and eating slowly, dishes that don't disappear all at once but let you take a bite here and there work well, and that day's order fit exactly that.

How do the Chinese chili nurungji eggplant fritters taste?

The Chinese chili nurungji eggplant fritters come with nurungji, so how it looked on the plate already gave a different impression from an ordinary eggplant dish. I waited while watching the side dish that came out first, and once the main food landed, the whole table's mood shifted.

Before dipping into the sauce, I tasted the crispy part first, then added the chili sauce. The nurungji was crispy enough to make an audible crunch, and the eggplant fritter was fried well without getting soggy, so the two textures matched well on one plate.

The chili sauce set the direction of flavor no matter which fritter it touched. When the soft side of the eggplant and the light crispiness of the nurungji met the spiciness of the sauce, my hand naturally reached for the next piece after finishing one. Even I, who don't usually go for vegetables, felt more like I was enjoying a delicious fried dish than being conscious of the eggplant as an ingredient. That's why I think even someone hesitant about a vegetable dish would be worth trying this once.

The barley shrimp minari pancake was thick and crisp

The barley shrimp minari pancake was satisfying in a different way from the eggplant fritters. It had noticeably more thickness than a thinly fried pancake, so it had presence from the moment it landed on the plate.

The outside stayed crispy while the inside didn't let the minari's aroma overpower, so even someone who doesn't like vegetables could eat it without hesitation. It looked good with its golden-brown texture, and the crisp sound when picking it up with chopsticks added to the fun of the meal.

The barley shrimp on top of the pancake seemed to balance the minari's aroma so it didn't lean too strongly in one direction. Rather than ordering it expecting minari's distinctive scent to be strong, it suited someone who likes crispy pancakes looking for a savory point. Taking a bite, drinking beer, then moving back to the eggplant fritters made it clear the two dishes weren't a repetitive, overlapping combo.

Eating the fritters and the pancake in turns

Dipping the eggplant in chili sauce and then taking a bite of the minari pancake was especially good. One led toward spicy, crispy fried food, the other toward the savoriness of a thick pancake, so there was no feeling of the same ingredient or flavor repeating.

So it's a good pick when two people are eating together, each finding their own favorite, and even if one person hesitates over the vegetable dish, sharing it doesn't feel like a big ask.

Taking photos as we ate, what stayed with me was less each individual dish and more the flow of that meal. A sip of draft beer paired well with a crispy piece of nurungji, and the minari pancake was good to pick at bit by bit between conversations. I thought this place suits an evening when you want to enjoy good snacks and conversation together, more than a day when you're just looking for a dish to fill your stomach heavily.

I especially liked that with both dishes, the crispiness stood out in memory more than the fact that vegetables were involved. The eggplant fritters had a contrast of texture and flavor thanks to the nurungji and chili sauce, and the minari pancake finished savory thanks to its thickness and the barley shrimp. Even going with someone who doesn't usually pick vegetable dishes, you could focus on the enjoyment of delicious fritters and pancake rather than the feeling of 'eating vegetables.'

What kind of night suits Sisibibi?

It's also worth remembering when looking for a dinner spot for a date in Sadang. On busy days there can be some waiting, so I'd recommend making a reservation before visiting. It suits a day when you want to spend time sharing dishes over a beer, more than quietly eating one thing quickly and leaving.

Next time, I want to order one more of the other menu items that caught my eye that day.

The Chinese chili nurungji eggplant fritters and barley shrimp minari pancake I had at Sisibibi Sadang made for a combination where I could enjoy two very different kinds of crunch. The eggplant fritters with nurungji were fun to dip in chili sauce, and the thick minari pancake, made even more memorable with the savoriness of the barley shrimp. Thanks to slowly sharing them with two glasses of draft beer, even I, who don't particularly like vegetables, enjoyed every last bite of this Sadang evening.