To be honest, this was the first time I’d even heard of a place called Jeokseon-dong. I’m pretty clueless about Seoul geography. It’s right outside Gyeongbokgung Station on subway Line 3. There’s a market alley, and I heard on Twitter that there’s a tiny bar tucked inside it. Small place, but apparently they put a lot of care into their drinking snacks.
Wandering around the area, I also spotted a Hyoja-dong salt-grilled pork place. The meat looked hefty and it was packed. It seemed promising, so I thought I’d like to pick a day and go sometime, but whether I’ll ever actually end up eating pork with someone around there..
Grilled eel
Phone camera, so the picture quality isn’t great. The inside is clean but dark and cramped, so it’s best to come with a really close friend. The menu is a bit on the pricey side overall, and what comes out is carefully made food using good ingredients.
East Sea whelks
They’ve got hold of real whelks and serve them as a drinking snack. Stuff like this isn’t easy to come by. Not cheap, but I was happy with the taste.
Salmon steak
I was actually expecting something Korean-style, but the menu leans a little Japanese. People like me who’ve lived in Japan are really tough graders when it comes to Japanese food. So the salmon didn’t especially wow me either.
This Jeokseon-dong bar is a local spot for the neighbourhood regulars, good for people who live around here to drop in casually. I don’t think it’s worth a special trip from far away, but if you’re in the area and having a drink with a friend, I’d recommend giving it a try.