Pocha 1989

What is Pocha 1989? Anchoring Church Street just north of Wellesley, Pocha 1989 channels the kinetic spirit of Seoul late-night tent bars into a kitschy, neon-lit tavern. The dining room is strung with artificial vines heavy with thousands of twisted green soju caps, backed by a lively street-facing patio that packs out through the summer months. It is an unapologetically energetic haunt designed for communal after-hours drinking and hearty, sharing-friendly drinking food.

Pocha 1989 Menu & What to Order Carbs and crunch dominate the menu, headlined by the crowd-favourite Spicy Creamy Udon, which cushions punchy gochujang heat with rich, velvet-smooth cream. Fried chicken is non-negotiable—order the boneless bird slicked in garlic cream or sweet and spicy glaze—alongside bubbling cauldrons of Budae Jjigae (Army Base Stew) or odeng-tang fish cake soup to anchor the table. Cool the capsaicin sting with a frosty jug of blended strawberry or pineapple makgeolli smoothies, which drink dangerously like milkshakes.

Know Before You Go Pocha 1989 accepts reservations, and booking ahead is essential if you plan to arrive between 9:00 p.m. and midnight on weekends when the Church Street queue builds quickly. The doors stay open until 2:30 a.m. nightly, with bonus weekend lunch service breaking between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Skip the hunt for Church Street street parking and take the TTC to Wellesley Station, a five-minute stroll west.