Polkcha

Polkcha is such a gem! Came here on a Friday night with a friend who was having a rough day, and it was the perfect spot to unwind. The vibe is cozy and inviting, with a mix of seating options--bar stools, high tables in the back (fits about 4), and a spacious couch corner booth that can easily seat a larger group of 10 or more. Parking was a bit tricky, but we found a spot two blocks up the street around 8 PM.The service was quick, and the servers were incredibly friendly. We ordered the Hoi An (coffee-based, which I somehow decided to get late at night--oops!) and the Kuromon. The Hoi An was tasty with a subtle hint of alcohol, though I wished I'd gone for something from the "refreshing" category instead. The Kuromon, on the other hand, was absolutely perfect--light, refreshing, and just what I needed.The highlight of the night, though, was the Melona drink (the one that comes with the green Korean Melona ice cream bar). It was fun, unique, and delicious!Unfortunately, around 10 PM, the place started getting really loud and rowdy, so we decided to head to a local wine bar to continue our night. Despite that, I loved the vibes and drinks at Polkcha and would absolutely come back

I tried the GWANGJANG cocktail, and it was great! The mix of soju, Midori, St. Germain, Suze, lemon, yuzu lime soda, and a Melona bar created a delicious and surprisingly easy-to-drink cocktail.Our group went for trivia night, and it was a blast! The lively and fun atmosphere made it the perfect spot for after-work drinks and socializing with friends.

My wife and I stopped by Polkcha before our dinner reservation nearby and the bar was completely empty at 5:00 p.m. on a rainy Thursday evening. I ordered the "Back Bay" -- a spirit forward sesame-washed whiskey drink, while my wife ordered the "Divisoria" -- a sweet concoction of dark rum, banana, ube, coconut, and lime.We both thoroughly enjoyed the creativity, the presentation, and the Asian flavors infused in each of the cocktails. The cocktails are just as described on the menu, and no single element overwhelmed the others.In addition to the set drinks on the menu, you can also order the "Ajumma's Choice," where you work with the bartender to craft a custom cocktail. All you have to do is specify your preferred liquor and any flavors you're looking for in particular. Definitely a cool experience worth trying out if nothing strikes you on the main menu.If you find yourself on Polk street looking for a bar with great drinks, I would definitely recommend stopping by Polkcha.

Solid asian inspired bar on Polk (4.5 stars rounding up)! I'm a sucker for asian inspired cocktails so Polkcha easily got my attention. I've been here a few times and have tried several drinks and I liked all of them!Gwangjang is a fun drink because it comes with a melona bar. Divisoria is one of my favs because of the ube and the ube flavor comes through! Hoi An is a Vietnamese twist on an expresso martini - I like the salted creme on top. The interior decor is very cute as well. Prices are also reasonable for SF standards at $14-15 per drink. SF needs more of these spots!

Before eating dinner with my fiancé we decided to get some drinks. We found this place on Yelp & immediately saw the melona popsicle in a cocktail - SAY LESS. We walk in 730 pm on a Saturday and there was a small crowd with most seating near the back filled. The ambiance is trendy, bright and Asian-inspired decor. Loved seeing all the Asian snacks behind the bar. Service was super friendly and attentive, handing us a menu as we sat down at the bar. Now onto the drinks... Hua Hin - Subtle sweetness, with the tequila being the main flavor. Couldn't really identify the pandan, although was a refreshing sip. Divisoria - This one was my favorite. The sweet Ube and banana flavor came through, almost like a Ube juice. Super dangerous could've drank at least 3 - maybe next time lol. Gwangjang - Melona bar in the drink - enough said! Jokes aside, also a refreshing drink with some fizz from the yuzu lime soda. Appreciated the playfulness of this drink. We wanted to let the bar dissolve into the drink but our reservations were nearing so we chugged it and took the bar to-go. Will come again!

I enjoyed the atmosphere of the place with it being well decorated with lots of neon signs and wall art. Our bartender was friendly and listened to what we wanted out of our drinks. He gave helpful suggestions! The gwangjang is super yummy and light of a drink and it came with a melona ice cream bar. The combination was tasty!

Fun spot with good drinks! I stopped by on a Sunday night with a couple of friends. We all ordered Ajumma's Choice because we wanted our drinks to be a fun surprise. I told the bartender I liked sweet but refreshing drinks, and hr nailed it. My drink was smooth, well-balanced, and super easy to sip on without being too sugary. The vibe of the place is overall pretty chill on Sundays. It's a great spot for a more casual night out. I'll definitely be back to try more drinks.Also Tip! The korean hot dog spot next door is delicious and the bar lets you bring outside food :)

Fun cocktail bar on Polk! I'd recommend doing the option where the bartender creates a random drink for you, but the melon one is a solid go-to (comes with a full melona bar which is a crowd pleaser). Good for a date or a drink with some friends!

First time at this really cool Asian inspired bar. The drinks were really unique but on the sweeter side I guess that's the expectation. The drink I got was apparently the most popular which is something like melon and they even put a melon ice cream stick into my drink, which I didn't know you're supposed to leave to get more flavor, but I just ate it because it was really tasty!

===TL;DR=== - Gwangjang- Ajumma's choice - Hua hin - Divisoria ===TMI===Plot twist: previously Trade Routes but now Polkcha BUT same owner, just rebranded. How brilliant. Reminds me of vibrant Asian bars in Asia countries. Neon signs all the way down. Not an extensive menu but sometimes that's the best. They have a lot of fun and themed cocktails. My favorite is the gwangjang.. for the melona popsicle haha. Loved the ajumma's choice of you're indecisive - the bartender will craft you a drink of surprise. It's a good vibe in here, back space is great for bigger parties. Another great bar on Polk!