Yetnal Gamjajeon
옛날감자전
About
Crisp-edged potato pancakes from a hot iron griddle, with cheesy pancakes and spicy hand-torn sujebi in an old-school drinking house.
The 감자전 (gamjajeon) arrives on a hot iron griddle, where its crisp edges keep crackling while the middle stays chewy. That griddle is the point: the plain potato pancake holds its texture to the last bite, and the cheese version adds a rich, salty layer that works especially well with makgeolli. It can feel oily and heavy as it cools, so eat it while it is hot rather than saving half for later. Add 얼큰수제비 (eolkeun sujebi), hand-torn pieces of dough in a spicy, clean anchovy broth. It is noodle-free, salty enough to go with a drink, and a good counter to the cheesy pancake; some diners find it plain beside the stronger potato dish. The menu also includes seafood scallion pancake and tofu with kimchi. The room has the worn-in feel of an old Korean drinking house, with the heat of the griddle and a lively mix of friends, families and after-work groups. This is an evening stop, open Monday through Saturday from 4:30 p.m. until 1 a.m., and closed Sunday. Weekend and dinner waits can stretch from half an hour to two hours. The reported queue system uses a slip with your phone number and party size, but visitors note that instructions can be unclear if you do not read Korean. Go early on a weekday or after 10 p.m. to improve your odds. Expect to order at least two items on the first order; a time limit of about two and a half hours is also reported. Water is self-serve, and there is no parking. Come for a hot pancake and drinks with a group, not for a quick, tightly scheduled meal. The queue can be frustrating, and the restroom has drawn complaints; the sujebi is also less consistent in appeal than the pancake. Still, if you arrive hungry and eat the pancake straight from the griddle, the wait makes more sense.
Menu
- 얼큰수제비₩18,000
- 치즈감자전₩18,000
- 감자전₩16,000
- 해물파전₩19,000
- 도토리묵김치볶음₩18,000
- 참치김치찌개₩19,000
- 도보리묵김치볶음₩18,000
- 매콤소세지이채볶음₩19,000
- 황도₩17,000
- 쥐포₩17,000
- 오징어김치전₩16,000
- 두부김치₩18,000
- 스팸철판구이₩19,000
- 도토리묵무침₩18,000
- 얼큰오뎅탕₩18,000
- 뚝배기번데기₩17,000
Local tips
- Visit early on a weekday or after 10 p.m. to avoid the longest waits.
- Write your phone number and party size on the queue slip.
- Order at least two items on your first order.
- Eat the potato pancake while it is hot; the cheese can feel heavy as it cools.
- Bring no car; there is no parking.
Details
- 숙대입구역
Opening hours
- Sunday
- Closed
- Monday
- 16:30–01:00
- Tuesday
- 16:30–01:00
- Wednesday
- 16:30–01:00
- Thursday
- 16:30–01:00
- Friday
- 16:30–01:00
- Saturday
- 16:30–01:00