Much like a Japanese izakaya, a Korean pocha is essentially a watering hole, but one where the drinks are basic (think draft beer and shots) and the food is the real draw — sharable, snarfable, and the cornerstone of lubricated fellowship. Co-owner James Shin has smartly translated “pocha” as “gastropub” and made this strip mall surprise into the metro area’s finest example. Go with a group of at least four (one of whom is willing to act as the designated driver) and gather around platters and hot pots with mugs of beer and shots of soju. You may not love sea snail salad with perilla leaves as much as I do, but you’ll surely delight in a chicken fried whole and ripped into pieces at the table. If you’ve ever been curious about army stew — a bubbling cauldron of instant ramen, kimchi, Spam, sausages, and American cheese — here’s your chance. This is fun food. Drunk food. So order up a cast-iron sizzle plate of corn cheese, a crisp seafood pancake, and another round. 

Price: $$
Address: 3566 Milwaukee Ave.
Website: newvillagepub.com