Eulji Dabang

Eulji Dabang is a real dabang, the kind of Korean tea room that served printers and tool merchants long before Euljiro became Hipjiro. It opened in 1985 above the Euljimyeonok noodle house; when the Sewoon redevelopment demolished that building in 2022, it closed for about two months and reopened across the road, carrying its orange vinyl sofas, wobbly tables and tear-off daily calendar with it. Look for the pink sign a few steps from Exit 10. The house drink is ssanghwa-cha, a dark, sweet herbal tea served with a raw egg yolk floating on top and a heap of pine nuts and jujube; you scoop the yolk first, then sip the tea. Ginseng, jujube and ginger teas, iced coffee and fresh juices round out the board, and early birds can order a bowl of instant ramyeon before 11:00, a habit kept from feeding workers who skipped breakfast. BTS photos cover part of the wall, Seoul lists it as a long-running heritage shop, and the owner is happy to explain how to drink each tea.