Yongsan terrace robata bar: octopus and Hanwoo at OSA Hannam

There are so many lovely places in Hannam-dong where you can enjoy a meal and drinks together these days, right? The place I visited this time was OSA Hannam, which felt a little more upscale and special among them.

With a “dining in a garden” concept, OSA serves everything from rustic grilled dishes based on traditional robatayaki (Japanese charcoal-grill cooking) to seasonal sashimi, sushi, and a variety of Korean-Western fusion dishes. Its menu and price range are definitely above those of an ordinary bar, so it looked like a great place for a date or anniversary when you want to make an occasion of it.

OSA Hannam’s terrace is even prettier at night

As you walk through the alleys of Hannam-dong, the brightly lit OSA Hannam sign and terrace are the first things to catch your eye. Personally, this outdoor terrace was the most appealing part. Plants are dotted around the open terrace and the lighting makes it especially gorgeous at night.

In crisp autumn weather, it would be so nice to sit outside and enjoy a meal with drinks. It was a space that really captured Hannam-dong’s relaxed, polished atmosphere.

Calm, private indoor seating

We sat indoors that day. Unlike the exterior, the interior was decorated in calm, darker tones, with soft lighting at every table for an even more private feel.

The window-side area is open, so it did not feel stuffy at all, and there is also a six-person group table further inside!

There are separate rooms upstairs too, so it looked suitable not only for dates but also for gatherings and business meals.

OSA Hannam has such a wide-ranging menu. From sashimi and sushi to steak, pasta, robatayaki, and nabe, there were so many choices that I honestly agonized over what to order haha.

• Spicy minari fish cake nabe — ₩34,000
• Yeosu octopus yawarakani — ₩36,000
• 1++ Hanwoo striploin steak — ₩58,000

After much deliberation, these were our three picks haha 😂 Since it was a weekday evening, we skipped the drinks :)

Spicy minari fish cake nabe

The first dish was the spicy minari fish cake nabe, made by simmering Japanese oden (fish cakes) with seasonal vegetables and minari (water celery) in a spicy broth.

It was packed with generous chunks of fish cake, konjac, mushrooms, and vegetables, so it looked very substantial too. It suddenly turned chilly that evening, and I was so glad we ordered a hot broth haha.

There was a heap of minari on top, adding its distinctive fragrant note, and as it simmered, the ingredients seemed to deepen the broth even more.

The fried tofu pouch had glass noodles inside haha. There were plenty of fish cakes too, making this nabe fun to pick through and eat.

The unusual texture of octopus yawarakani

For our second dish, we ordered the Yeosu octopus yawarakani.

This Japanese-style braised octopus dish pairs tender soy-braised octopus with mashed potato and truffle oil, and it looked quite impressive from the start. The large slices of rock octopus were the star: springy but not tough, with a lovely soft texture. The mashed potato underneath mellowed the octopus’s savory seasoning, and they worked so well together.

The subtle aroma of truffle oil made it feel a step more refined than an ordinary octopus dish. I usually have pulpo when I think of octopus dishes, but this had such a different texture and flavor that it was unique—and honestly so delicious that I savored every bite haha 🤤

It is not a light price point, but considering the ingredients, plating, and overall atmosphere, it suited the restaurant’s concept well. It would also be nice to slowly enjoy with wine or a highball, and seems like a good order for a date.

1++ Hanwoo striploin steak

The dish I was most looking forward to was, of course, the 1++ Hanwoo striploin steak. It is charcoal-grilled and rested to preserve Hanwoo’s distinctive juices and texture, and the rosy, moist cross-section showed the doneness was spot on.

It was not as thick as a typical steak, but it had great beefy flavor, was tender while still having a pleasant bite, and the grilled vegetables served alongside made it easy to eat without becoming rich.

With its higher price, this was definitely the most luxurious-feeling dish we ordered that day.

For an atmospheric drink in Hannam-dong

OSA Hannam felt closer to premium robata dining than a typical izakaya. The prices are a little high, but both the space and food really set the mood, and especially in a season like this when evenings turn crisp, I recommend it as a Hannam-dong bar for drinks on the terrace.

• An atmospheric outdoor terrace with lighting and plants
• A varied menu, from nabe and octopus to Hanwoo steak
• A space suited to dates, anniversaries, and a stylish night of drinks