Yeongdeungpo izakaya private room and ramyeon risotto: Nani Byeolgwan

Yesterday I met up with two old coworkers in Yeongdeungpo for the first time in a while. We used to see each other's faces every single day at work, but now that we're all living separate lives, having to actually plan a meetup makes the time feel even more special. This time we headed to Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch, an izakaya in Yeongdeungpo.

Where is Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch? Across from Times Square

Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch sits right on the main road across from Times Square, so it's pretty easy to find even on your first visit. The storefront is visible straight from the big road, so I didn't have to wander around alleys looking for it.

📍 183 Munnae-ro, 1st floor, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

The location seems convenient too if you're setting up a meetup near Yeongdeungpo Station or Times Square.

I walked over from the Mullae Sangsang Factory area, near where my old company used to be, and it was closer than I expected. Passing by my old commute route brought back some memories — I got a little nostalgic haha. 😊 Easy to find since it's right across from Times Square

The exterior had a unique vibe. The wooden door and tiled-roof decoration combined with the old building feel made it seem like I'd stumbled into a small izakaya down some alley in Japan.

6pm reservation, entered right at opening!!

"Yeongdeungpo yakitori" — there's a bar right as you walk in.

"Yeongdeungpo Station izakaya" — an atmospheric bar with vintage wallpaper and mirrors.

Past the bar and further inside, there's an inner room with great atmosphere.

Room seating on both floors at Nani Byeolgwan

Up the stairs next to the 1st-floor inner room, the vibe on the 2nd floor changes completely.

The 2nd-floor inner room looks great. Soft lighting, wood-tone interior, and photos and decor hanging everywhere all made for a really nice atmosphere.

Unlike the brightly lit bars you see everywhere these days, it's a bit dim and cozy — perfect for chatting over a drink.

There are private rooms further inside the 2nd floor. Nani Byeolgwan has spaces on both the 1st and 2nd floors, plus rooms. Since we hadn't seen each other in a while and wanted to talk comfortably, we booked early for 6pm and ate in a room.

Ordering at the table

First dish: Shin Ramyun risotto

We were hungry, so we started with the ramyeon risotto (ramyeon-flavored rice risotto). When I first saw it on the menu I thought, "How does ramyeon go together with risotto?" but after trying it, it worked better than I expected.

Second dish: butter garlic king prawns

Next we ordered the butter garlic king prawns, which caught my eye first. The big prawns were loaded with butter and garlic sauce, and the savory smell alone was great. The meat was plump and the sauce blended in so well I kept reaching for more. My friends took one bite and immediately said, "This is good!" and we all cleaned it up.

Third dish: pork belly scallion skewers

The savory pork belly and the scallion aroma worked really well together, making a perfect drinking snack. Meat alone can get a little greasy, but the scallions kept it much cleaner.

For drinks, we had Chamisul soju and Asahi draft beer. 🍺 And the cider came free with a service coupon from booking on Naver!! hahaha

Quiet at 6pm, packed with company dinners 30 minutes later

At first it was pretty quiet, which was great for the three of us to talk. But about 30 minutes in, groups of coworkers on office dinners started coming in one after another. Before long the place was filled with chatter and laughter.

Rather than somewhere too quiet, having that lively after-work energy actually made it more fun. 😄 It seems like a solid choice for anyone in Yeongdeungpo looking for a spot for a company dinner, friend meetup, or small gathering.

What's on the Nani Byeolgwan menu?

There's quite a wide range of menu items.

• Chicken skewers
• Pork belly scallion skewers
• Butter garlic king prawns
• Clam soju stew
• Grilled salted pollack roe
• Salmon sashimi
• Nagasaki seafood nabe

Lots of good options for drinking snacks.

Menu and prices may vary depending on when you visit, so keep that in mind. 😊

Two hours of catching up with old coworkers

The three of us stayed together for about two hours that day. We naturally started with stories from our old company — who was like what back then, funny things that happened at work... and it flowed into how our current jobs are going and what kind of work we might want to do going forward.

Even though time has passed and we're all in different places now, it was really nice how comfortably we could pick right back up whenever we meet. The food was great, but honestly what stuck with me most that day was the time spent with good people.

Before we knew it, the place around us had filled up with office dinner groups, laughter echoing from every direction. Between our own talking and laughing, two hours flew by in no time. And in the end, we cleared every last plate before leaving in a great mood. 😆

Is Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch worth it? Final verdict

Being right across from Times Square makes it easy to find, and with a nicely designed interior and rooms available, it's a great spot for gatherings.

Above all, everything we ordered — the butter garlic king prawns, pork belly scallion skewers, and ramyeon risotto — was delicious, which made for a satisfying meal.

If you're in the mood for drinks with friends, want to catch up comfortably with old coworkers, or are looking for a company dinner spot, it's worth a visit.

Next time I'd like to try the Nagasaki seafood nabe or salmon sashimi that we didn't get to this round. 😊

Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch is right on the main road across from Times Square, so it's fairly easy to find even for first-time visitors.

One-line review | An izakaya in Yeongdeungpo with a great atmosphere, where old coworkers swapped memories and cleaned every plate — Nani Byeolgwan 💕

📍 183 Munnae-ro, 1st floor, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea