Itaewon Pub welcomes customers underneath Sam Ryan's in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 7. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
You gotta hand it to restaurateur Simon Walsh for giving his latest endeavor such an unashamedly bold name. Opened earlier this year, the name Itaewon Pub still conjures up some pretty unsettling memories associated with the neighborhood. Giving it that name, just 60 meters from the top of the October 29 Memorial Alley, sends a strong message: It's time to get this neighborhood back on track. Also, how did no one ever take that name before?
Itaewon Pub opens out onto the street, welcoming people into its colorful interior. Near the entrance are pool tables, and around the corner by the back, you can find gigantic arcade games.
It's cozy, but it can get a little loud when it's full. The crowd it gets has a mainly tourist vibe, with a lot of temporary visitors you're not likely to see coming back. But the word is out there, and they keep returning in steady numbers. It's a different vibe from its predecessors, which were more typical expat bars. Before this, the space was Fat Albert's, and predating that was 3 Alley Pub, which had been opened by Gunther, the German owner of the notorious Seoul Pub. Itaewon Pub has yet to match its predecessors in terms of being a "wretched hive of scum and villainy," if that's what you're looking for.
A sign at Itaewon Pub introduces the history of the space, Oct. 7. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
The most important thing to know about Itaewon Pub is its happy hour special. Every weekday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and on weekends from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., all beers, some cocktails and also shots of Jameson are on sale for two for the price of one. The bar advertises "2 for 1," which is their version of the more commonly used Korean term, "1+1." So if you and three friends order four beers, they're likely to serve you eight. It's a good idea to communicate carefully with staff during this time, or you'll be drowning in affordably priced drinks.
A bacon cheese burger and two Gorilla India pale ales at Itaewon Pub, Oct. 7 / Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
The food is also pretty decent. You can get a slice of pepperoni or cheese pizza for 4,000 won, or the whole pie for 30,000 won, though I'm told it's quite large.
The burgers are priced at 13,000 won. I tried the bacon cheese burger, which was on a pretty regular bun and included sliced cheese — a little cheap-looking at first, but the meat was excellent, smoky like it was cooked on a barbecue in someone's backyard.
There are several other offerings on the menu, including wings, lamb steak, BBQ ribs and fish and chips.
Itaewon Pub is open every day of the week. It opens at 5 p.m. on weekdays, and 2 p.m. on weekends. It closes at 3 a.m. Sunday to Thursday, and stays open until 5 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Visit @itaewon_pub on Instagram for more information.