Bangi-dong izakaya for private hire: open windows, draft beer, Sangkai

A big Bangi-dong izakaya at Sangkai, open-air vibes and flounder sushi with aged kimchi.

Looking for a Bangi-dong bar with lots of room for a group, or an izakaya in the area? I recommend Sangkai Izakaya Bangi Branch! Here's my honest review of a spacious, open-air-feeling place with flounder and aged kimchi, spicy yurinji and draft beer. Let's go~

Sangkai Bangi Branch: a Bangi-dong izakaya with an open-air feel?

Sangkai Izakaya Bangi Branch is a Bangi-dong izakaya on the 2nd and 3rd floors, and with the windows wide open it feels like an outdoor drinking spot even though you're inside. I went while looking for a good place for a drink in Bangi-dong 🍺

The weather's been lovely lately and I wanted somewhere with an open-air feel. Since this place is on the 2nd and 3rd floors, they leave the windows wide open and the breeze just drifts through ~ open-air vibes all the way! Even though it's indoors it never feels stuffy, and the atmosphere was really nice for drinking.

Where is Sangkai Bangi Branch and how to get there

📍 Sangkai Izakaya Bangi Branch is at 30 Ollimpik-ro 32-gil, 2nd and 3rd floors, Songpa-gu, Seoul. It's close to Jamsil Station and the Bangi food alley, so it's easy to get to whether it's your first round or second.

Two floors at Sangkai Bangi Branch: good for group gatherings and private hire?

Sangkai Bangi Branch uses both the 2nd and 3rd floors, so it's much bigger than you'd expect. Sit by the window and you can see the view outside, which is quite nice, and with the windows wide open you really do get a bit of that open-air feel. 🌿 Even in summer it doesn't feel stuffy, and the cool breeze makes it perfect for beer.

The tables are spaced fairly far apart, so it was lively without being uncomfortable, and with such a varied menu it looks good for company dinners and group get-togethers too. Check the video for the Sangkai menu!

What we ordered at Sangkai Bangi Branch

Here's what we started with. 🍺

• Flounder and aged kimchi platter (gwangeo mugeunji hanpan)
• Spicy yurinji (fried chicken with a tangy sauce)
• Draft beer

First out were the Sangkai side dishes: chewy small octopus, pickled radish and cucumber. Tangy and chewy, they really get your appetite going! In an open-air-feeling Bangi-dong izakaya with a breeze coming in, the cold draft beer just kept going down!

Sangkai's flounder and aged kimchi platter: how it's served and how to eat it

Sangkai's flounder and aged kimchi platter comes with thin, wide slices of flounder plus beef short plate, washed aged kimchi and anko (monkfish liver). This was the dish I was most excited for, because I'd wanted to try the flounder and aged kimchi sushi ever since I saw it in a video. And sure enough, a sure win.. it passed on looks alone!

The flounder is sliced super thin and wide and arranged beautifully across the whole plate, and with the beef short plate, washed aged kimchi and rich anko added, it's a combo that can't miss! The kimchi comes washed, so it isn't too sour and has a deep savory flavor that goes really well with the flounder.

And then there's the anko, which is a treat in itself. I usually like anko, and this one was nutty and soft with no fishy taste, and eaten with the flounder the flavor really came alive.

Put a piece of aged kimchi down, add a slice of flounder, then a little anko on top, and the combination is honestly crazy 🤍 The peanut sauce that comes with it is a kick too!

Sangkai's spicy yurinji: a good snack with draft beer?

The spicy yurinji at Sangkai Bangi Branch is fried chicken that's super crispy outside and juicy inside, with a really great texture. The batter isn't too thick so it wasn't greasy, and the special sauce is tangy and spicy, so I kept reaching for more!

It's only mildly spicy, so it's easy to eat, and as for the combo with draft beer, need I say more haha 🍻

Enjoy the flounder light and clean, then finish with a bit of heat from the yurinji, and the balance felt just right. We only ordered two dishes, but I was quite satisfied!

Why Sangkai Bangi Branch is one of the best bars in Bangi-dong

What I liked most about Sangkai Bangi Branch was the atmosphere. Lots of Bangi-dong bars are packed and crowded, but this one is spacious so it never felt stuffy, and thanks to the open windows the open-air vibe was the real thing! On a day with a nice evening breeze like lately, the mood is great.

It's good for a casual drink with a friend, and I thought it would work for a date too. If you're looking for a Bangi-dong bar with good atmosphere or a Bangi-dong izakaya, I recommend Sangkai Bangi Branch!

The signature flounder and aged kimchi platter combined fresh flounder, aged kimchi and nutty anko really well, and the spicy yurinji was a perfect match for beer thanks to its crispy texture and special sauce 🤍 Add the open-window, open-air feel of the big space and the mood was great too. Sangkai Izakaya Bangi Branch is a perfect place to linger over a drink. Next time I'll try the other sashimi dishes and the skewers!