Sadang Bar: Yeokjeon Halmeoni Beer – Seoul’s Ultimate Budget Beer Spot Near Sadang Station

Located steps from Sadang Station, Yeokjeon Halmeoni Beer Sadang is a no-frills Korean pub famous for its ultra-cheap ice-cold draft beer and comforting anju, making it a go-to stop for locals and travelers alike.

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A photo of a Korean woman in her 20s drinking soju with Clam Soup (Bajirak-tang) at Yeokjeon Halmeoni Beer, Sadang Branch

Yeokjeon Halmeoni Beer – Sadang Branch: Basic Information

A photo of the storefront of Yeokjeon Halmeoni Beer, Sadang Branch (Image source: Naver Map Street View)

Bar Name	역전할머니맥주 사당점 (Yeokjeon Halmeoni Beer – Sadang Branch)
Address	1F, 20 Seungbang 4-gil, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Business Hours	• Monday–Wednesday: 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM • Thursday–Friday: 5:00 PM – 3:00 AM • Saturday: 4:00 PM – 3:00 AM • Sunday: 4:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Parking	• No on-site parking / Nearby public parking recommended • Namhyeon-dong Small Park Public Parking: ₩4,800 per hour • Sadang Station Public Parking: ₩4,400 per hour
Seating Capacity	Indoor seating: 10+ tables
Amenities	• Free High-Speed 5G Wi-Fi • Restroom • Suitable for Groups of 4 or More • Complimentary Fresh Filtered Water

Founded in 2016, Yeokjeon F&C Co., Ltd. traces its roots back to “OB Beer Gang,” a bar that first opened near Iksan Station in 1982. By popularizing icy draft beer paired with affordable bar food, the brand rapidly gained nationwide recognition and has since grown into a large-scale pub franchise across Korea.

The Korean word “역전(驛前, Yeokjeon)” means “in front of a station” or “station-front,” while “할머니 (halmeoni)” means “grandma.”

Yeokjeon Grandma’s Beer – Sadang Branch is operated directly by Yeokjeon F&C Co., Ltd. as a corporate-owned store, not a franchise location.

There is no dedicated parking at the building where Yeokjeon Halmeoni Beer (Sadang Branch) is located. However, the surrounding alley is lined with motels, each with its own parking lot. As a result, many visitors park at nearby motels and walk to the bar.

Yeokjeon Halmeoni Beer – Sadang Branch: Menu & Prices

Menu	Prices include tax and service charge (KRW)
Soups & Stews	• Fish Cake Soup 9,000 KRW • Grandma’s Hangover Soup 10,000 KRW • Grandma’s Clam Soup 9,000 KRW • Spicy Jjamppong-Style Soup 11,000 KRW • Whole Pork Cutlet Kimchi Udon 12,000 KRW • Spicy Handmade Sujebi Soup 12,000 KRW
Customizable Topping Options	Customizable Topping Dishes • Cheese Rabokki — 9,000 KRW • Jjapaguri — 9,000 KRW • Cheese Rabokki Combo Set — 14,900 KRW • Jjapaguri Combo Set — 14,900 KRW • Spicy Jjolji Mala Soup — 12,000 KRW Topping Add-Ons (Extra) • Beef Belly (100g) — 4,000 KRW • Mozzarella Cheese (100g) — 2,000 KRW • Sliced Cheese (1 slice) — 500 KRW • Quail Eggs (5 pcs) — 1,000 KRW • Ramen Noodles (Half Portion) — 500 KRW
Fried Dishes	· Shrimp Fish Cake Crunch — 6,000 KRW · Seasoned French Fries — 7,000 KRW · Crispy Shrimp Fritters — 7,000 KRW · Garlic Butter Potatoes — 8,000 KRW · Sweet Potato Fries — 8,000 KRW · Boneless Fried Chicken — 10,000 KRW · Seasoned Boneless Fried Chicken — 11,000 KRW · Soy Garlic Boneless Fried Chicken — 11,000 KRW · Grandma’s Shrimp Toast (Halmen Bosha) — 11,000 KRW · 30 cm Long Cheese Pork Cutlet — 11,000 KRW · 30 cm Long Kimchi Cheese Pork Cutlet — 11,000 KRW · Old-Style Whole Fried Chicken — 15,000 KRW
Specialties	· House-Made Sausage 6,000 KRW · Iced Pineapple 7,000 KRW · Assorted Iced Fruit Skewers 7,000 KRW · Rolled Chicken Skin Skewers 8,000 KRW · Grilled Chicken Gizzard Skewers 8,000 KRW · Sweet Potato Sticks 8,000 KRW · Charcoal-Grilled Chicken Skewers 10,000 KRW · Cajun Chicken Salad 10,000 KRW · Basil Cream Pasta 10,000 KRW · Gorgonzola Pizza 11,000 KRW · Char-Grilled Spicy Pork Cartilage with Tuna Rice Balls 13,000 KRW
Dried Snacks (Anju)	• Fried Filefish Jerky — 4,000 KRW • Grilled Filefish Jerky — 7,000 KRW • Monkfish Jerky — 8,000 KRW • Squid Mouth — 8,000 KRW • Baby Dried Pollock — 8,000 KRW • Butter-Grilled Squid Mouth — 9,000 KRW • Grilled Dried Pollock — 9,000 KRW • Semi-Dried Squid — 10,000 KRW • Butter-Grilled Squid — 11,000 KRW • Dried Pollock — 14,000 KRW
Alcoholic Beverages	· Icy Draft Beer 300 ml – ₩3,500 · Icy Draft Beer 500 ml – ₩4,700 · Icy Draft Beer 1,000 ml – ₩8,900 · Yeokjeon Signature Highball – ₩4,500 · Peach Original Highball – ₩5,500 · Orange Grapefruit Highball – ₩6,900 · Pink Lemon Highball – ₩6,900 · Yuzu Classic Highball – ₩6,900 · Soju – ₩5,000 · Bottled Beer – ₩5,000 · Lemon Soju – ₩6,500 · Soft Drinks (Coke / Sprite) – ₩2,000

Yeokjeon Grandma Beer stands out for its especially affordable ice-cold draft beer and budget-friendly dried snacks. With its concept centered on gan-sul (light drinking) and gan-maek (a quick, casual beer), the brand has resonated strongly with budget-conscious Gen Z drinkers as well as retirees living on pensions.

In Korea, gatherings typically start with dinner and then move on to a second round at a pub. However, menu items like Grandma’s Hangover Soup, Spicy Jjamppong Soup, Spicy Sujebi, Cheese Rabokki Combo, Mala Noodles, and chicken dishes are hearty enough to double as a full meal. This makes Yeokjeon Grandma Beer a practical choice for saving time while comfortably filling up with satisfying bar food.

Yeokjeon Halmeoni Beer – Sadang Branch: Real Customer Reviews

Sadang Station is one of the largest transportation hubs in Seoul’s southern Gangnam area, served by Subway Lines 2 and 4 and a dense network of express buses connecting cities across Gyeonggi Province. Many commuters from western and southern Gyeonggi take direct express buses to Sadang Station, then transfer to the subway for a more efficient daily commute.

For the same reason, Sadang Station is also a popular meetup point. When residents of Gyeonggi Province plan to meet friends who live in Seoul—or when people from southern and northern Gyeonggi look for a convenient midpoint—Sadang Station is often the default choice due to its excellent accessibility.

The commercial area around Sadang Station can be clearly divided into three zones, with Sadang Station Intersection as the reference point. The southeast side, near Exits 1 to 3, has little commercial presence and can largely be excluded.

The area around Exits 7 to 10 caters primarily to local residents, as it borders dense residential neighborhoods in Sadang-dong. Daily foot traffic here is largely made up of people who actually live nearby.

Exits 11 to 14 lead toward the Bangbae Covered Road area, where Pastel City is located. This zone is known for convenient parking, slightly higher price points, and cleaner, more polished restaurants—making it a popular choice for organized dinners and company gatherings.

Finally, the area around Exits 4 to 6 is the heart of Sadang’s nightlife: the Namhyeon Artists’ Village alleyway district. This is Sadang’s main food and drinking strip, packed with casual bars and eateries, and especially popular with younger crowds. Yeokjeon Grandma Beer Sadang Branch, the focus of this review, is located right in this vibrant core area.

A photo explaining the shortcut route to Yeokjeon Halmeoni Beer, Sadang Branch (Image source: Naver Map)

When you arrive at Sadang Station by subway, most people exit through Exit 5. If you come by express bus, you usually get off at the bus stop in front of Exit 4. From there, people tend to linger around the entrance to the Namhyeon Artists’ Village alleyway, walk around for a bit debating where and what to eat, feel oddly undecided—and in the end, default to Yeokjeon Grandma Beer Sadang Branch for its value-for-money appeal.

That said, the alleyway where Yeokjeon Grandma Beer Sadang Branch is located—Seungbang 2-gil—is uphill and lined with motels, which can feel a bit awkward at first. Regulars, however, take a shortcut: they enter the alley next to the CU convenience store building near Exit 4, climb the stairs, and head straight to the bar. The only downside is that this shortcut is frequently used by smokers, so you’ll need to tolerate a bit of cigarette smoke.

Interestingly, Yeokjeon Grandma Beer Sadang Branch sits directly above an underground-level “Insaeng Beer” bar. You enter by going up a flight of stairs. On weekdays, office workers tend to gather after work, and by around 7:00 p.m. the place is often already full, sometimes requiring a wait. Timing and reading the room matter here. Once inside, if you see an empty seat, you should take it immediately. The tables are set at bar-chair height, and orders are placed via small tablet-style kiosks installed at each table. Payment is made all at once at the counter near the entrance when you leave.

A photo of the interior of Yeokjeon Halmeoni Beer, Sadang Branch (Image source: Naver Map)

I’ve visited Yeokjeon Grandma Beer Sadang Branch countless times—well over 30 visits in just the past two years alone. I’ve also been to many other Yeokjeon Grandma Beer locations in different areas. Simply put, it’s inexpensive and low-pressure, making it an easy choice for grabbing a quick beer with others. Especially in summer, being able to enjoy ice-cold draft beer at such a low price is hard to beat in Seoul.

You really see all kinds of people here. On weekdays, it’s mostly office workers and college students. On weekends, hikers often stop by after finishing a hike at Gwanaksan before heading home. On days with baseball games or concerts, fans gather in small groups. In the summer, it’s also a common final stop for people returning to Gyeonggi Province after attending the Waterbomb festival in Seoul.

Because the tables are tightly packed and the bar is loud, everyone ends up raising their voices, which means you overhear conversations whether you want to or not. Local Sadang-dong residents complaining about housing prices, college students worrying about their future careers, Everland employees who met at work and started dating, office managers badmouthing lawyers, sales-driven tax accountants, freshly dating couples—you name it.

The most common sight, though, is pairs of men and women who look like they’re in the “something more than friends” stage. Whether they met through a blind date or a dating app is unclear, but young mixed-gender pairs are everywhere. And to reiterate, this bar sits in a motel-dense alley. It’s a convenient place to break the ice, ease the awkwardness, and set the mood before heading somewhere else.

A photo of a Korean woman in her 20s waiting for the ordered dishes at Yeokjeon Halmeoni Beer, Sadang Branch

Once you’re seated and place your order, the staff automatically brings out spoons and small plates based on the number of guests. They also serve a complimentary basic snack: a plate of puffed macaroni crackers. Surprisingly addictive, it’s the kind of snack you keep reaching for, so while waiting for the ordered dishes to arrive, it’s common to enjoy your drinks with this and ask for one refill.

A photo of the clam soup (Bajirak-tang) served at Yeokjeon Halmeoni Beer, Sadang Branch

I’ve tried most of the menu items here, but our go-to favorites are the boneless fried chicken and the clam soup. The clam soup, in particular, is the group’s top pick and something we order without fail on every visit. At Yeokjeon Halmeoni Beer – Sadang Branch, the clam soup stands out for its clean, refreshing broth, infused with the naturally briny, well-purged flavor of fresh clams. Subtle notes of garlic and chili add depth without overpowering the soup, keeping it light, mild, and easy to drink—perfect as a hangover-friendly bar dish. They also serve chojang (sweet-spicy vinegar sauce) and soy sauce on the side for dipping the clam meat.

A photo of the boneless fried chicken at Yeokjeon Halmeoni Beer, Sadang Branch

The boneless fried chicken is often ordered as a practical choice when you’re craving chimaek but end up drinking at Halmae Beer for the value. Surprisingly, it’s genuinely good. At the Sadang branch, the boneless chicken comes with a crisp, light batter that gives way to juicy, tender meat inside, making it satisfying without feeling greasy. Even without heavy seasoning, the chicken’s natural savory flavor comes through clearly, pairing well with beer. It’s not overly bold or spicy, which makes it easy to keep reaching for without feeling overwhelmed.

A photo of the grilled chicken skewer menu at Yeokjeon Halmeoni Beer, Sadang Branch

On days when you start drinking on an empty stomach, it’s also a good option to pair soju with hearty dishes like sulguk or handmade sujebi. Other times, it works just as well to order skewers, fried items, or dried snacks and stick with beer.

What I order almost every time is the ice-cold draft beer with slushy ice and a highball. When I want to get tipsy quickly, I sometimes order a bottle of soju and mix it with the frozen draft beer to make somaek. In terms of pure value, the 1,000 cc draft beer is the cheapest option, but realistically, not many people can chug that much beer like a Viking. If you sip it slowly, it warms up quickly and you lose the crisp character of the beer. That’s why I usually go with 300 cc, or 500 cc on days when I’m especially thirsty.

The smoking area is located outside—go down the stairs to the first floor and you’ll find it in front of the Insaeng Maekju window. Since it’s under an awning, you can avoid the rain on wet days. Insaeng Maekju is already a semi-basement space, and having the smoking area right by the window may or may not enhance the vibe for their customers, but for visitors to Yeokjeon Halmeoni Beer Sadang, the close proximity is definitely convenient.

The place itself is small, with tables packed closely together, but that tight layout is part of its charm. There’s also a restroom inside the store, which is a plus. Drinking water is self-serve at the counter near the entrance, where a water purifier and ice machine are available, so you can refill anytime you want.

There’s just one thing to keep in mind when visiting Yeokjeon Halmeoni Beer Sadang. Because everything is affordable, tastes good when you’re hungry, feels great once you’re a bit tipsy, and the atmosphere is so relaxed, it’s very easy to keep ordering more. Before you know it, the bill can quickly climb to 50,000–70,000 KRW. It’s best to set a clear budget in advance and stick to it.

Recommended Menu Picks

For first-time visitors, these menu items are highly recommended:

1. Frozen Draft Beer (300–500cc) – Signature slushy beer that defines the brand; crisp, refreshing, and unbeatable value.

2. Clam Soup (Bajirak Tang) – Clean, briny broth with garlic and chili notes; perfect with beer or soju.

3. Boneless Fried Chicken – Light, crispy batter with juicy chicken; simple and highly drinkable.

Final Verdict

Yeokjeon Halmeoni Beer Sadang isn’t about atmosphere or aesthetics—it’s about value, speed, and authenticity. For foreign travelers looking to experience how locals really drink after work in Seoul, this place delivers a genuine slice of everyday Korean nightlife. Affordable prices, fast service, and a lively crowd make it an excellent first or last stop of the night, especially if you’re staying near Gangnam or transferring through Sadang Station.

💡 Pro Tip: Go early on weekdays or before 7:00 PM to avoid waiting. Order smaller draft sizes (300–500cc) to keep your beer icy until the last sip, and set a budget in advance—low prices make it dangerously easy to over-order.

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