Seongnam bar for seafood and kalguksu finish: Bacha Jeongja

Looking for a bar in Jeongja-dong with great food?

Today I’m bringing you a review of a Jeongja-dong bar I’d wanted to visit for ages. The first time I came, the wait was so intense that I had to turn around disappointed. This time, though, I won the timing game and made it in.

Bacha Jeongja, the place that had me curious from its sign

The Jeongja-dong food-and-drink spot I’m recommending today is Bacha Jeongja (바차 정자점). At first, I got curious just from seeing its sign—what is this place? I saw the letters “vrㅊr” and wondered, “Is that really Bacha?” It was!

Then I looked at the menu out front, wondering what they sold. That was the moment it completely won over this dedicated anju person. Seriously, all my favorite drinking snacks were here?

So I kept thinking, “I should go, I should go,” but gave up the first time because it was so packed. When I visited on a weekday evening, there was finally a table. It’s already a hot spot among Jeongja-dong bars, and once you go, you’ll see why.

Part bar, part pocha, with a pleasant atmosphere

Bacha Jeongja also has an atmosphere unlike the usual. Looking at the setting and the anju menu, you find yourself wondering: is it a bar, or a pojangmacha (Korean tent bar)?

If you like a comfortable, pleasant atmosphere, you can’t help but like it here. You might wonder whether there are group tables, but if you reserve ahead, they can join tables together for a group. I recommend booking in advance for a company dinner!

The complimentary snack is pretzels. A nice light bite with beer, too.

We munched on the complimentary snack while ordering. Bacha Jeongja has a seriously extensive menu. There are lots of different anju dishes, as well as whiskey, highballs, beer, wine, and more.

Here’s what I ordered: Bacha Bada-jjim (steamed seafood), beef brisket and mung bean sprout stir-fry, and Terra beer. I also added kalguksu noodles.

The drinks came first.

One thing that looked a little different: usually you see lots of beer glasses supplied by the beverage companies. Bacha has its own dedicated glasses. They somehow felt a little more stylish and special?

Our order was all set out. There was so much that I wondered whether the two of us could finish it.

Beef brisket and mung bean sprouts piled high

This is the beef brisket and mung bean sprout stir-fry.

You might think it’s just loaded with mung bean sprouts, but underneath, it’s all beef brisket.

The rich brisket and crisp sprouts were a great combination. With a gentle pepper aroma and perfectly balanced seasoning, it was so delicious. One bite was enough to tell me, “They really know how to cook here!”

Bada-jjim loaded with whole squid and shellfish

And here is the Bada-jjim I’d been looking forward to. It’s the signature dish here, generously filled with whole squid, shrimp, scallops, red scallops, and clams.

The whole squid looked so fresh that I just wanted to dig in right away.

Such a beautiful cut. You can tell how springy it is just from the cross-section, right? It was wonderfully bouncy without any chewiness, and the squid’s natural sweetness was lovely. I naturally thought, “They use great seafood here~”

The scallops here are excellent, too. Dip them lightly in chojang (sweet-spicy vinegar sauce), and the balance of heat, tang, and savoriness is perfection.

The red scallops need no further explanation, either. I could immediately tell they use incredibly fresh seafood!

Peel the plump shrimp and have it as anju—it’s perfect!

There are also fish cakes simmered in the refreshing seafood soup. With that cool, clean broth, it’s just right for the chilly morning-and-evening weather we’ve been having.

The dishes were so good that I think I ate without even realizing it.

Finishing with kalguksu noodles for the carbs

And then there’s something Koreans simply can’t give up: ending the meal with carbs. You can add udon or kalguksu noodles, so I went with kalguksu.

Let it bubble away for the final course. The broth itself was so clean and tasty that even the kalguksu was amazing. No need to travel far just to eat seafood kalguksu. Bacha takes care of everything.

Great anju and a drink..! This is exactly the little happiness after work, isn’t it~? If you’re looking for tasty food to drink with or a place with a good atmosphere in Jeongja-dong, try Bacha! I’m 100% willing to come back.