Hong-eo Lovers Hong-tak Bucheon Branch
홍어를좋아하는사람들 홍탁 부천점
About
Cozy, nostalgic pub in Bucheon specializing in reasonably priced fermented skate (hongeo) samhap paired with deep, homemade aged kimchi and makgeolli.
Tucked along Samjak-ro in Bucheon’s Wonjong-dong neighborhood, Hongtak is a snug, retro tavern built for true devotees of fermented skate. Inside, just five tables sit beneath a quirky row of portraits depicting past Korean presidents, giving the space the unpretentious, lived-in feel of a classic neighborhood nopo. The main draw here is the hong-eo samhap, an uncompromising trio that balances pungency, richness, and acid. The skate is fermented to a confident medium-to-strong funk, delivering that signature nasal tingle without completely overwhelming the palate. It is served alongside tender, boiled pork belly (suyuk), fresh water parsley, garlic scapes, and a profoundly aged, house-made mugeonji (fermented kimchi) that anchors the entire dish. Diners who appreciate deep southwestern Jeolla flavors can request well-ripened gat-kimchi (mustard leaf kimchi) and savory galchi-sokjeot (fermented hairtail entrail sauce) to layer onto each bite. Before the skate arrives, the owner sends out a neat spread of quail eggs, crisp raw cucumbers, carrots, chili peppers, and warm bowls of seaweed soup. Red chili-pepper salt and mustard dipping sauces round out the condiments. Beyond the core samhap platter, the kitchen turns out an intensely pungent yet cleanly finished hong-eo ae-tang (skate liver stew), a steaming bowl that regulars consider the house’s secret weapon. If fortunate, patrons might even be treated to raw skate liver (ae), which melts immediately like sea butter on the tongue. Crisp, wide discs of kimchi-jeon (savory kimchi pancake) offer a comforting, carb-heavy reprieve for the table, while bottles of chilled Seoul makgeolli flow freely to wash down the ammonia bite. Hongtak keeps prices remarkably modest for domestic skate, making it a reliable sanctuary on rainy evenings when you want nothing more than bold fermentation, cold rice wine, and the warmth of a local tavern.
Menu
- Fermented Skate with Boiled Pork and Kimchi₩31,000
- Spicy Fermented Skate Liver Soup
- Skate Sashimi
- Seasoned Skate
- Steamed Skate
- 홍어탕
- Dubu Kimchi
Local tips
- With only about five tables, the intimate space can fill up quickly during peak hours.
- The skate is fermented to a moderate-to-strong level, ideal for seasoned hongeo lovers.
- Ask the owner for aged mustard leaf kimchi (gat-kimchi) or hairtail gut sauce if desired.
- Street or alley parking is required as there is no dedicated customer parking lot.
Details
- Wonjong Station
Opening hours
- Sunday
- —
- Monday
- 16:00–10:00
- Tuesday
- 16:00–10:00
- Wednesday
- 16:00–10:00
- Thursday
- 16:00–10:00
- Friday
- 16:00–10:00
- Saturday
- 16:00–10:00