Bucheon bar for vongole clam suljjim: Yeongpo

The lively area around Sinjung-dong Station is somewhere I often go for a drink while soaking up the open-air bar atmosphere on cool days like these. I noticed a new bar called Yeongpo (영포) had opened! Carrying on the vibe of Gangnam Yeongdong Pocha, Yeongpo in Sinjung-dong is a pocha-style bar that cooks its food to order—so it immediately popped up on my restaurant radar,,✨ I had to see for myself, and properly enjoyed both delicious bar snacks and the open-air atmosphere.

Yeongpo at a glance

• Address: 1133-9 Jung-dong, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
• Hours: Daily 18:00–06:00 (last order 05:00)
• Parking: There is no on-site parking, so I recommend using a nearby public parking lot if you drive.

Sinjung-dong Station has a whole stretch of bars with an open-air drinking vibe, making it just the place to head for a drink once the weather cools down.

Yeongpo also has open-air seating. There was one especially nice open seat by the window—it felt so spacious and breezy.

A varied menu, from dinner to second-round snacks

Yeongpo had such a varied menu. It is not simply a pocha where you only drink; you can enjoy hearty Korean dishes and a range of house-made snacks, so it seemed great for taking care of both dinner and drinks in one stop.

There were lots of light options perfect for a second round, plus plenty of side dishes, so I spent ages deciding what to get!

They were also running a receipt-review event. Sweet tomatoes or a fried egg would make such perfect drinking snacks too, right? 😆

The complimentary snacks were spicy shrimp crackers and barley tea!

Why do I like places that serve something other than plain water so much,,😂

There was plenty of seating inside too. It had a comfortable, retro pocha feel. The snacks were varied and generously portioned, so it seemed perfect for gatherings and even company dinners!

When you come to an open-air bar, somehow you just have to start with a cold draft beer 🍺

Vongole pasta clam suljjim

We ordered the vongole pasta clam suljjim (clams steamed with alcohol), ₩25,000.

Vongole pasta clam suljjim is an essential drinking snack, of course! From shrimp to Manila clams, it was packed full and looked delicious from the moment it arrived. I also loved that it came on a burner, so we could let it bubble away and enjoy it warm even outside.

Sometimes when you order suljjim, the clams have not been purged properly, right? But these were well purged, plump, and fresh—approved,,✨

There was so much piled on top that I could barely even see the pasta 😂

But underneath, there was another generous pile of pasta hiding away! Pasta with suljjim—what more is there to say? 😭 The portion was seriously generous, so next time I want to come for a first round rather than a second and enjoy it properly as the main snack. During open-air bar season, the drinks really do go down so easily 🤤

The owner even gave us fruit on the house,,❤️

With that extra treat too, I was having such a good time eating that I had another drink, got a little more tipsy,,😂 And yes, I ended up ordering more food!

I’m the kind of person whose piggy appetite rises twenty-thousand percent when I’m drunk, the kind who keeps ordering snacks,, At this point it was not a second round—it was practically another whole first round 🤣

Crispy cheese potato pancake

Cheese gamjajeon (potato pancake), ₩25,000.

Our second snack was cheese gamjajeon. It had loads of cheese tucked between thinly shredded potatoes, and arrived thick and crisp. I’m someone who cuts every jeon like pizza.

You know that combination of a crispy exterior, salty cheese, and sweet potato,, I’m firmly on team ketchup,, We ate very, very well and left completely stuffed 〰️ 😵💫

Final thoughts on open-air drinks in Sinjung-dong

Located on the open-air drinking street by Sinjung-dong Station, new bar Yeongpo had an overall menu varied enough for both drinking snacks and a full meal. Rather than the simple, meal-kit-heavy pocha you might expect, it cooks each order from scratch, and you can really feel the care that goes into the food—I had a delicious meal. With open-air tables as well as window seats, it is also just right for a drink outdoors on a nice day. I’m planning to come back soon for a first round and definitely try their signature basil baeksuk (herbal chicken soup) 😋