Konkuk University sashimi bar set for three and jjamppong: Huto

Let me be honest up front. This isn't my first time at Huto in Konkuk. I've already been a few times paying with my own money, so I can write this review with a bit more confidence.

Finding a bar in Konkuk isn't hard, but finding a place where you can have "proper anju with a proper drink" is strangely rare. Huto is the place I found for that. It's now the first spot that comes to mind when I think Konkuk izakaya. I've already been here multiple times with my husband and with coworkers, so I was looking forward to this visit too!

Just from the Naver visitor reviews you can tell how much experience and skill this place has built up!

The country-of-origin labeling is also displayed clearly and prominently, which adds to the trust.

What three people ordered at Huto, and what it cost

We had the signature set (9-piece assorted sashimi + 6 skewers) for ₩49,500, added a ginkgo skewer, and had whole squid seafood jjamppong (includes fresh noodles) for ₩19,000.

The visuals were amazing~ and the jjamppong broth was insane, ugh.

The vibe at Huto: can a group of three talk freely?

Huto looks like an izakaya the moment you walk in. The lighting is just dim enough — not pitch black, not so bright it feels off. Wood-toned interior, a bit of ambient noise, it's the right temperature of space for drinking.

It's good for a quiet solo drink, but it's also set up so you don't feel self-conscious being loud with friends like we were. There were three of us this time and the seats were roomy enough to spread out a bunch of dishes.

Huto in Konkuk fills up as the evening goes on! The crowd skewed more mid-20s to 30s rather than early 20s — probably because of the higher-end sashimi and skewers.

The soft lighting and every poster on the wall give off such a Japanese vibe — it just puts you in a good mood, whether it's a date spot or an izakaya night!

Once the basic table setting is done, now you wait. Hurry up and come out..!!!!

Huto's 49,500 won signature set: one order covers the table

If you're torn on what to order at Huto, just get the signature set (₩49,500). It seems like plenty for two people. It comes with 9-piece assorted sashimi and 6 skewers together, and when it first landed, the table was completely full and all three of us went "oh."

The assorted sashimi lineup is: bluefin tuna belly, bluefin tuna, sweet shrimp, sake-steamed abalone, flounder, red seabream, salmon, mullet, common octopus. Every time I eat here I think "this place really knows how to age fish."

The sashimi was really tender. You usually lower your expectations for sashimi at an izakaya, but there was no need here. Each type had a different texture, and none of it was cut thin, so there was real bite to it.

With nine kinds, it's fun to try each one and go "what's this one?" If you like raw fish, this alone is worth the trip. If you're looking for a solid sashimi spot in Konkuk, definitely visit Huto.

Genuinely tender, fresh, melts in your mouth...

The wasabi, chojang (vinegared chili sauce), pickled radish and everything else that comes with it all pair so well, and Japanese-style aged sashimi has a totally different umami from Korean live-fish sashimi — it just makes you hungrier!!!!

The bluefin tuna and salmon were especially good that day for me. The sweet shrimp is always great, and even though I'm not great with the reddish fish, it was so tender it made me feel fancy for a second. Goes really well with soju, and my friends who came along were raving about it too... haha.

The octopus was also delicious, and aged flounder rather than live-fish flounder is on another level of tenderness. My husband is a sashimi fanatic, and it was so good that day that both of us definitely overdid the drinking... hehe!!

Charcoal skewers grilled by hand at Huto

And now the real pride of this place — the skewers. They're grilled over charcoal and served to you, and it's genuinely different. Slightly charred outside, moist inside. I understood why people talk about "charcoal aroma" being a real thing.

All six skewer types have such different personalities that there's no boring moment. I added a ginkgo skewer separately and this is my personal must-order!!! Chewy and nutty, insanely good with soju. If you're craving skewers in Konkuk, definitely add the ginkgo skewer.

The mayonnaise sauce that comes with it? Dip it in generously and your mouth just gets coated with rich, nutty oil... ugh, writing about it is making me hungry again haha.

You can tell just from the color how well they grill these!! (You really have to try the skewers here.)

They separate the skewers for you so it's easy to just pick pieces off with chopsticks!! The cabbage underneath is a nice touch too. It's crisp and refreshing, so it keeps you from getting sick of just eating skewers. Might be the owner's strategy to keep you ordering more...?

The extra ginkgo we ordered was insane too — lightly salted, grilled crisp on the outside, so good. I honestly wanted more but held back since too much ginkgo apparently causes constipation!

Next time I'm ordering way, way more!!!!

Whole squid seafood jjamppong, 19,000 won: how to finish the night

After drinking a bit, once we started craving soup, we ordered the whole squid seafood jjamppong (₩19,000). The staff recommended it as the best-selling menu — I knew the pasta was good from before too, but a friend wanted something soupy so we went with jjamppong! It comes with fresh noodles so the strands are chewy and alive. (Fair warning, there's a ton of fresh noodles.)

Honestly we ordered this as a side dish but it was main-course level. The broth is spicy but clean, not heavy, so it keeps going down. The whole squid in there looks great, and the seafood broth is richly extracted — perfect for settling your stomach after drinking. The three of us ate it slowly with soju and finished the broth completely by the end. And with all that seafood packed in, we cleaned out every last bit!

Huto near Konkuk University: is it worth it?

• Charcoal-grilled skewers → half the reason to come here
• 9-piece assorted sashimi, tender and generous — great value for the current cost of living
• Whole squid seafood jjamppong is a must as the closer!
• Going with two people? The signature set alone ends the menu decision!
• I've also been here on my own dime before, so I can recommend it that much more comfortably

If you're looking for a proper bar in Konkuk, or figuring out where to take a work dinner or friend meetup, give Huto a try. I'll be going back.