Hapjeong Station pub with raw beef sashimi and egg yolk: Bako Jumak

We'd had a blast in Hapjeong but going straight home felt like a waste, so we said let's just have one more quick drink haha. That's how we ended up at Bako Jumak (바코주막), a Korean bar in Hapjeong 🍶 The name itself sounds like an old-school tavern, and once we stepped inside, the vibe was decked out in proper traditional Korean style.

Where is Bako Jumak and what are its hours?

Bako Jumak is on the 1st floor at 27 Dongmak-ro 7-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, near Hapjeong Station. It's open from 17:00 until 4am.

A Hapjeong pub that really looks like an old Korean tavern

The moment we walked in, the first thing that caught my eye was the cheongsachorong (blue-and-red silk lantern) hanging from the ceiling 🏮 and traditional Korean props like jige (A-frame carriers) and sokuri (woven baskets) displayed all over the walls, giving it a totally different feel from your typical bar these days. With all these little props scattered around, it really felt like stepping into an old-fashioned tavern — such a warm, nostalgic atmosphere haha.

What was especially impressive was the wall completely covered in graffiti. I got curious about when people wrote them and read a few — looks like some date back to 2022 lol. Thinking about all the people who'd passed through here over the years and left their mark made it feel even more charming and fun to read ✍️

Open until 4am: why Bako Jumak works for round two

And here's the thing I loved most about Bako Jumak — it's open until 4am! 🌙 You know those nights out in Hapjeong when it gets late but you're still not ready to head home and want just one more drink lol. This is exactly the Hapjeong bar for that. The side dish menu was seriously diverse too — beef sashimi, beef tendon soup, fish cake soup, savory pancakes, tteokbokki, grilled fish — basically every classic Korean bar food gathered in one place 🤣 Since we were already pretty full, we skipped anything heavy and just went for a light drink: soju plus a large beef sashimi 🥃

Puffed corn on the house, then the first glass of soju

Once we sat down, gangnaengi (sweet roasted corn puffs) came out as the basic side dish, and honestly it'd been ages since I'd had this style of corn snack lol. I just grabbed one as a soju side dish at first, but the sweet, nutty flavor was weirdly addictive — one piece led to another, and another... and I think I ended up eating almost the whole bowl haha 🌽 This is exactly what a good basic bar snack should be — seems like nothing special but your hand just keeps reaching for more lol. While munching on gangnaengi with a shot of soju, the beef sashimi we'd been waiting for finally arrived 🥩

The large raw beef sashimi at Bako Jumak

The beef sashimi landed on the table and the color of the meat was gorgeous haha. It looked so fresh just by looking at it, which got me excited even before the first bite 🤭 And it wasn't just plain beef sashimi sitting there alone — it came with a really solid lineup of garnishes on the side. Onion, radish sprouts, chives, garlic, chili, and even gamtae (dried seaweed) were all prepared 🌿 There's something fun about adding these one by one as you eat haha.

Raw beef sashimi with egg yolk: how it tastes

But the thing I was happiest to see was the egg yolk 🥚✨ Beef sashimi with egg yolk — how could I resist that lol. I popped the yolk, mixed it in smoothly, then dipped a piece of beef sashimi in it — wow, it turns so rich and nutty and soft lol. Eating the beef sashimi plain, you really feel the chewy, dense texture of the meat itself, but dipping it in the yolk adds a nutty richness and makes the texture even softer. Same beef sashimi, but the flavor changes completely depending on how you eat it, so mixing and matching different combos was genuinely fun 😋

Sauces, garlic and gamtae wraps: ways to eat it

There were several kinds of sauce served alongside, so I tried each one. First, dipping it in the gochujang-flavored sauce added a spicy, savory kick that was delicious 🌶️ Then dipping it in the salt-oil sauce brought out a salty umami that had its own different charm. If you want to really taste the meat itself, eating it plain is great, and dipping it in sauce lets you enjoy a whole different flavor too — I liked having both options.

And then I tried wrapping it in gamtae... no words needed 🍶 The gamtae-plus-beef-sashimi combo is basically a flavor that summons soju straight up. The distinct aroma of the gamtae paired with the chewy texture of the beef sashimi made the whole thing nutty and full of flavor. Adding garnishes like onion, radish sprouts, and chives one by one, plus garlic and chili on the side, meant one plate of beef sashimi gave us so many different combinations to try haha. Since we came for round two already pretty full, this was perfect as a light drinking snack 🍶 And of course, when the beef sashimi is this good, the soju naturally keeps flowing — I mean, what else would you expect lol 🤣

Where are the restrooms at Bako Jumak?

I always check the restroom situation when going to a bar haha. The women's restroom is located inside the store, while the men's restroom is outside. Women can use it right away without leaving, which felt a bit more convenient haha.

Is Bako Jumak worth it for a late-night drink in Hapjeong?

Bako Jumak 🍶 was exactly the kind of place to look for when you're out in Hapjeong and don't want to go home yet but want to keep chatting over drinks. Being open until 4am makes it even better on nights when you want to stay out late 🌙 The tavern atmosphere decked out with cheongsachorong lanterns, jige carriers, and baskets was fun, and with such a varied side dish menu — beef sashimi, savory pancakes, fish cake soup, tteokbokki, grilled fish, beef tendon soup — I'd love to try other Korean dishes next time lol. We were too full this time and only had the beef sashimi, but I'm really curious about the beef tendon soup and pancakes too. It's a great spot for a first round of dinner in Hapjeong followed by drinks here, or for stopping by like I did when you just want one more drink before heading home haha. If you feel like a shot of soju in a proper traditional tavern atmosphere, Bako Jumak, a bar near Hapjeong Station, is worth checking out 🍶

• A Hapjeong Station bar with an appealing tavern vibe decked out in cheongsachorong lanterns and traditional Korean props 🏮
• A wide range of Korean side dishes available, from beef sashimi to pancakes and beef tendon soup
• Fun to enjoy beef sashimi multiple ways — with egg yolk, sauces, gamtae, and more 🥩
• Open until 4am, making it a great Hapjeong bar for a late-night drink 🌙
• A good Hapjeong spot for a light second-round drink or staying out late 🍶

Fancy staying out late near Hapjeong Station? How about Bako Jumak?