Uirak Hongdae Branch

About

A popular indoor pub in Hongdae known for massive, crispy stuffed chili peppers and diverse Korean traditional alcohols.

Positioned along Jandari-ro between Hongik University and Hapjeong stations, Uirak brings the fried-snack prowess of Mangwon Market into a lively Hongdae pocha setting. A friendly frog mascot and a display of traditional liquor bottles greet late-night revellers outside, while the interior stretches deep into the building, balancing outdoor terrace seating with roomy communal tables and tucked-away alcoves. Tablet screens at each seat handle orders, making it effortless to organize a round of drinks and snacks into the early morning hours. The centerpiece here is the outsized gochu twigim—giant non-spicy chili peppers packed tight with seasoned minced pork and fried into a shattering, golden crust. The original version arrives sliced hot alongside dipping sauces: a creamy garlic sauce and a fiery, mayo-based drizzle designed to slice straight through the batter's rich oils. Variations expand on the core idea, spanning corn soup powder and limited-quantity whole-mozzarella stuffings that pull into long cheese strands. Groups often order the combination sets to cover all late-night drinking essentials. The C Set partners the fried chilis with yuksaejeon—a platter split between thin, battered sheets of beef jeon and plump, whole shrimp fritters. These come accompanied by sharp pickled onions and dressed scallions to cut the pan-fried heft. To round out the table, order the bibim guksu, a cold noodle bowl tossed in a spicy-sweet red sauce; upgrading from thin somyeon to chewy Chinese-style noodles transforms the dish with a firmer, springier bite. Catering to after-hours crowds until 2:00 or 3:00 AM, the kitchen complements its fried fare with cold draft beers and house-specialty makgeolli bottles. Between the fast pacing, the high-energy floor, and sweet closures like roast soybean flour (konggomul) ice cream, Uirak serves as an easy, reliable anchor for a second-round nightcap in Mapo.