We had a group get-together in Gangnam, so we visited 456 Pocha, a bar near Gangnam Station!! As you can tell from the sign, it is also known as Squid Game Pocha. There were six to eight of us, and finding seats for a group that size without a reservation on a Friday evening is no easy task..
Knowing there was a big bar near Gangnam Station with an indoor street-bar vibe, we headed straight to 456 Pocha (Squid Game Pocha) for drinks after dinner!
456 Pocha in Gangnam: Plenty of Space for Group Dinners
456 Pocha is huge. I even wondered whether it might be the biggest bar around Gangnam Station.. The layout consists of the main indoor area + an indoor street-bar-style section + a separate annex. That day, we sat at a six-person table in a semi-private room inside the building, with a curtain across the entrance.
Main Indoor Seating Area
Here is what the main indoor area looks like. There seemed to be a work dinner with about 20–30 people that day, too. The place was buzzing with conversation. Haha.
With this much room, it makes sense that so many work dinners and group gatherings take place here!
Indoor Room Seating
There are three curtained rooms in total, plus one slightly separated room beside the restrooms, as you can see in the photo above. Each seats around six people!
Rather than completely private rooms, they felt like slightly cozier corners, perhaps? This is what the entrance to a curtained room looks like.
Oddly enough, drawing that little curtain makes it feel as though some of the surrounding noise is blocked out. Haha. It probably does absolutely nothing, though..
Indoor Seating with an Outdoor Street-Bar Feel
There are also indoor sections with the atmosphere of an outdoor pocha, or Korean street bar. They sit on either side of the main entrance, and each looked big enough to accommodate roughly 30–40 people.
In weather like this, sitting in a space like that feels cool and pleasant. We saw quite a few groups having work dinners in this area as well.
Separate Annex
There is also a separate building that serves as an annex. Judging just by the number of tables, it looked like about 20 people could fit in there, too.
What We Ordered | Mussel Soup and Sea-Snail Salad with Thin Noodles
That day, we ordered mussel soup and spicy sea-snail salad with thin noodles. Both were delicious and convenient to share with a group. I took the mussel soup photo after we had already helped ourselves a few times. Haha.
The signature dish that caught my eye was the rotisserie chicken. At the far end of the bar, you could actually watch whole chickens turning inside the roasting machine.
Every time I come here, I promise myself I will try the chicken.. But we usually come as a second stop after dinner, so I am already full and still have not tried it.. It really did look tempting, though.
Alongside soups and stir-fried dishes, the menu had grilled fish, Korean savory pancakes, fried dishes, pizzas, dried snacks to enjoy with drinks, egg dishes, fruit, and sides such as sorbet. Having so many food options works well for a group get-together.
Main Menu Selection
Below are some of the menu items listed for the bar. Prices may change, so please use them as a guide!
Menu Item | Listed Price |
|---|---|
Rotisserie chicken | 18,000 KRW |
Squid and kimchi pancake | 17,000 KRW |
Spicy sea-snail salad with thin noodles | 28,000 KRW |
Jjamppong-style spicy seafood soup | 24,000 KRW |
Fish cake soup with stuffed tofu pouches | 24,000 KRW |
Seafood soup with crispy rice | 24,000 KRW |
Spicy braised chicken | 35,000 KRW |
Shredded potato pancake | 18,000 KRW |
Assorted fried bites | 28,000 KRW |
Fried shrimp / fried squid | 23,000 KRW |
French fries | 17,000 KRW |
Gorgonzola pizza / bulgogi pizza (Korean marinated beef) | 23,000 KRW |
Spicy pork stir-fry / stir-fried squid with thin noodles | 25,000 KRW |
Tofu with stir-fried kimchi | 25,000 KRW |
Rolled omelet with cheese / rolled omelet with vegetables | 20,000 KRW |
Spam and fried eggs | 17,000 KRW |
Dried pollock | 20,000 KRW |
Dried filefish jerky | 18,000 KRW |
Assorted fruit | 28,000 KRW |
Ice cream topped with fruit | 22,000 KRW |
Korean instant noodles / Chapagetti black bean noodles | 6,000 KRW |
Rice balls | 5,000 KRW |
Pineapple sorbet | 9,000 KRW |
Perhaps because the place caters to work gatherings, I loved how much variety there was in the food!
Opening Hours, Reservations, Waiting, and Amenities
The opening hours are listed below! Operating details may change, so treat them as a reference.
Item | Details |
|---|---|
Address | 1F, 37 Teheran-ro 6-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea |
Monday–Friday | 4:00 PM–2:30 AM the following day |
Saturday | 4:00 PM–2:00 AM the following day |
Sunday | Listed as closed |
Contact | 0507-1496-1818 |
Reservations | Reservations are listed as available. Ask about conditions for group seating, semi-private rooms, and the annex. |
Reservations and Waiting
I did not see a Naver booking option, but I think reservations were available on other platforms. Since they do accept bookings, I imagine you can reserve by phone as well.
We have often come here around 8:00 PM as a second stop with roughly six people, and I do not recall ever having to wait. Of course, getting a preferred table may require a reservation or a bit of waiting.
On the Friday I visited, once the workday ended, the place gradually filled up after 6:00 PM. By around 8:00 PM, even this enormous bar felt almost full. If there are eight or more of you, it would be a good idea to call before visiting and check whether they can accommodate your group!
Restrooms and Smoking Area
The restrooms were indoors, with separate facilities for men and women. Looking again, it seems you can borrow blankets, too!
The smoking area was outside on the left when facing the bar, in front of the annex. It looked fairly roomy to me.
Parking Area
There was a parking area right in front of the bar. At a glance, it looked large enough for about 15–20 cars. There were plenty of cars that day. Still, it did not seem to be used exclusively by 456 Pocha.
456 Pocha was a place I would recommend if you are looking for a bar for a group near Gangnam Station. I liked the different seating arrangements in the sizable venue, along with the broad food selection.
Seats seemed to fill up quickly on Fridays, so I recommend checking availability ahead of a work gathering or a second stop after dinner. Keep it in mind when you want to enjoy drinks with a group in Gangnam in a casual Korean pocha setting!
