Guro, Seoul bar for marinated cockles and omija soju: Eulji Pocha

How big is Eulji Pocha, the retro bar by Guro Digital Complex Station?

I went out for drinks with a friend near Guro Digital Complex Station after not seeing each other in a while, haha. The place we visited was Eulji Pocha Guro Digital Complex Branch! I'd heard the vibe here was fun, so I was curious, and once I got there the place was way bigger than I expected.

Compared to just looking at the entrance, once you walk further in, more and more seats keep appearing haha. There were quite a lot of people too, so I figured it must be a popular bar in Guro. It was comfortable for two friends to sit and have a drink, and it also seemed like a good spot for a bigger group dinner or gathering.

The basic side dish was corn snacks (gangnyeong-i) haha. You know how when a bar gives you corn snacks as the basic side, your hand just keeps reaching for it? We picked at them one by one as soon as we sat down while choosing our order.

What we ordered at Eulji Pocha Guro Digital Complex Branch and what it cost

That day we ordered saero omija (schisandra berry-flavored soju) for 5,500 won, namdo kkomak-muchim (marinated cockles) for 17,000 won, and cold suyuk (boiled pork) for 17,000 won.

The free coins Eulji Pocha gives you with every order

And there was one thing at Eulji Pocha that was really fun — the coin event! When you order drinks or food, you get coins, and with these coins you can enjoy all kinds of things in a space inside the store haha. Cotton candy, dalgona (honeycomb candy), ice cream, claw machines, photo booths, and even stationery store junk food! It wasn't just a bar for drinking — having activities in between was such a surprise haha.

What does Saero omija soju taste like?

First we tried the food we ordered — the saero omija came out first so we knocked it back right away haha. It had that distinctive sweet, tangy omija flavor, so it was a bit different from drinking plain saero. My friend and I clinked glasses and had a drink, then had another while waiting for the food haha. I don't know why, but drinking with a friend, the bottle always empties so fast.

Cold suyuk (boiled pork) at Eulji Pocha

The cold suyuk (boiled pork) came out first!

It looked clean, and one bite in, it was tastier than I expected. Being suyuk served cold, it wasn't heavy, and it worked well as a drinking snack. Paired with the saero omija, it went surprisingly well together haha.

Namdo kkomak-muchim (marinated cockles) and rice balls

And then the namdo kkomak-muchim (marinated cockles)! The seasoning was well soaked in, so it was tasty even on its own.

And eating it together with the rice balls was seriously delicious haha.

Piling the cockles on for a bite, then a sip of the omija saero — that combo was surprisingly good. If you like cockles as a drinking snack, I think you'd really enjoy this dish.

Cotton candy, claw machine and stationery store snacks paid for with coins

After we'd eaten enough of the food, we went off to enjoy Eulji Pocha's other fun side haha. Time to go spend our coins!

Looking further inside the store, some people were making their own cotton candy and dalgona,

and others were playing claw machines, and there was even a photo booth haha. Seeing things like this happening in a bar felt strange at first.

We browsed around wondering what to do, and ended up buying some stationery store junk food haha.

And to finish, we even had ice cream. It felt like the snacks I used to buy at the corner store as a kid, and browsing around with a friend was surprisingly fun. It was especially funny when the mood suddenly shifted mid-drink to "let's go do the claw machine" or "should we make cotton candy?" haha.

Why Eulji Pocha works as a second-round bar in Guro, Seoul

It's not simply a place to eat snacks and drink — having activities mixed in made it a fun spot to visit for a second round with a friend too. Above all, the store was really spacious all the way to the back and had a lively atmosphere with lots of people. If you want to have a comfortable drink with a friend while also enjoying some fun activities, this place seems worth a visit.

That day we browsed the stationery corner, bought junk food, and finished off with ice cream — we had a really full night out haha. If you're looking for a bar with a slightly different vibe near Guro Digital Complex Station, try some tasty snacks and drinks at Eulji Pocha Guro Digital Complex Branch and enjoy various things with your coins haha. Going with a friend is surprisingly a lot of fun haha.

Eulji Pocha Guro Digital Complex Branch: address, hours and prices

• Address: 12 Digital-ro 32na-gil, 1st floor, Guro-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• About 3 minutes on foot from Exit 2 of Guro Digital Complex Station
• Hours: Daily 17:00–06:00 (next day)
• Last order: 05:00 (next day)
• Group seating available / Reservations available / Wi-Fi / Separate men's and women's restrooms