Popeye Snack

Tucked away in the labyrinthine underground arcade of Jangmi Sangga in Jamsil, Popeye Bunsik has been serving soul-warming Korean comfort food for four decades. This unassuming spot is helmed by a devoted crew of grandmothers who have been perfecting the same beloved recipes since the beginning, creating dishes that regulars describe as having “the taste of grandma’s hands.”

The star of the show is undoubtedly the Popeye Fried Rice—a deceptively simple-looking dish that reveals remarkable depth with every bite. The tteokbokki sauce lends a beautiful balance of sweet and spicy, while perilla seeds contribute an earthy nuttiness that ties everything together. Generous shavings of gim add that unmistakable umami punch, and when you fold in the egg yourself, it all comes together into something genuinely special. Don’t overlook the classic tteokbokki and kimbap either—these grandmas have had four decades to get them just right.

Walking into Popeye Bunsik feels like stepping back in time. The fluorescent lighting buzzes overhead as you grab your food on metal trays, experiencing Seoul the way it used to be before the city transformed into the sleek metropolis of today. It’s the kind of place where authenticity isn’t a marketing angle—it’s simply how things have always been done.

For anyone looking to escape the polished restaurant scene and taste something with genuine history, this underground gem delivers. Come for lunch when the arcade hums with life, or drop by for a casual dinner when you want good food without any fuss. Just follow the locals down into Jangmi Sangga and let the halmonis take care of you.