Hong-eo wa Takju
홍어와탁주
About
Cozy, pojangmacha-style basement spot in Gwacheon Tower serving fermented skate samhap and makgeolli.
Tucked into the basement of Gwacheon Tower, Hongeo wa Takju carries the unvarnished atmosphere of a long-standing pojangmacha. It is an intimate, no-frills hideaway with just three to four low floor-seating tables, where close quarters amplify the boisterous clinking of glasses. The tight space is rarely meant for sprawling, lingering dinner parties; instead, regulars descend the stairs for a purposeful round of pungent delicacies paired with cold bowls of makgeolli. The undisputed centerpiece is the hongeo samhap. The kitchen plates tender, expertly boiled pork suyuk alongside deeply matured mugeonji and fermented skate. Hongeo wa Takju ferments its skate with a gentle hand, teasing out a savory umami rather than an overwhelmingly sharp ammonia bite, making it notably approachable even for novices tackling the fish for the first time. Raw cucumber batons, raw onions, and garlic scapes arrive as crunchy palate cleansers alongside sauces of salted shrimp, sesame oil with salt, and tangy chojang. The routine here is practiced: swipe the skate through sauce, dab the pork in salted shrimp, layer them across a ribbon of sour, aged kimchi, and let the textures collide before washing it down with fermented rice wine. To round out the session, diners turn to the hongeo ramyeon. Simmered with fermented skate and served scalding hot in classic yellow nickel-silver pots, the noodles arrive in a broth with an intensely crisp, throat-clearing depth. The owner often splits orders between individual pots for pairs of diners, offering a thoughtful touch to a notoriously pungent meal. Hongeo wa Takju operates purely on the strength of this unapologetic culinary pairing: deeply fermented flavors, potent broth, and traditional Korean spirits served in a nostalgic subterranean nook.
Menu
- Fermented Skate and Boiled Pork Samhap₩69,000
- Skate Ramyeon₩15,000
Local tips
- Seating is floor-style (tatami/floor seating) and the small space has only 3 to 4 tables.
- The fermented skate is mildly aged, making it approachable even for beginners.
- Order the skate ramyeon to finish your meal with a deep, refreshing broth.
Details
Opening hours
- Sunday
- 11:00–21:00
- Monday
- 10:00–21:00
- Tuesday
- 10:00–21:00
- Wednesday
- 10:00–21:00
- Thursday
- 10:00–21:00
- Friday
- 10:00–21:00
- Saturday
- 11:00–21:00