Whole grilled mackerel after work at Saetgang bar: Robadayakki Sodam

I wanted good Japanese-style cooking with a drink after work, so off I went to Robadayakki Sodam in Yeouido!

Finding it from Saetgang Station and first impressions

I'd heard there was a genuinely great-vibe izakaya near Saetgang Station, so my friend and I rushed over the moment we clocked out (•͈ᴗ•͈)ෆ

It's already a well-known bar among Yeouido office workers, so I walked over full of expectations!

Coming out of Saetgang Station Exit 2, it's just a short walk — finding it was no trouble at all, the accessibility is really something ٩(ºั︶ºั )

Walking into the shopping building, a cozy yet upscale Japanese-style wooden facade greets you. The moment I stepped in, the soft lighting made everything feel warm and my mood instantly lifted!

The fun of watching the grill from the counter seats

The interior is full of atmosphere with long counter seats spread out. The gaps between seats were pretty generous too, perfect for chatting!

Best of all, you get a full view of the chef grilling ingredients right in front of you at the fire pit — a feast for the eyes too (´._.`) It's more than fitting for a date, and it's the perfect low-key spot for an after-work gathering!

Whole grilled mackerel

As soon as we sat down, I ordered the whole grilled mackerel I'd been most curious about!

This place is genuinely amazing — mackerel usually comes cut into pieces, but here it comes out whole, and the sheer visual presence was overwhelming ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و

Sitting at the bar table, you can watch the whole thing turn golden-brown over the fire, so waiting was never boring — watching it was genuinely fun!

The basic side dish is a fried egg! Eating it with the draft beer that arrived first (which was genuinely delicious) was pure bliss.

The grilled mackerel that finally arrived was seriously huge in person! Crispy on the outside and cooked moist and tender inside — the moment I put my chopsticks in, soft flesh came pouring out.

Clean yet rich, savory oiliness spread all through my mouth — the perfect drinking snack (๑•̀ – •́)و It was also really easy to pick the bones out, so I kept reaching for more!

Spicy fish roe stew loaded with roe and milt

It felt incomplete without a soup dish, so we also ordered the spicy roe stew!

It's loaded with roe and milt, and unusually it also had fish flesh in it, so the broth was really deep and rich ( ‘́⌣’̀ ) It bubbled away, and one spoonful of that spicy heat cleared my head instantly — it made me want soju or a highball right away.

Genuinely the best soup-based drinking snack!

Chicken skewers and chicken skin skewers

Next came the chicken skewers and chicken skin skewers! Fresh off the grill, still steaming hot — you have to blow on them before eating, which is part of the fun (ू˃o˂ू) The chicken skin skewers, grilled crispy,

had a savory flavor that threw a party in my mouth — completely satisfying.

The chicken skewer meat was really thick too, and the chewy texture was excellent!

Finishing with vanilla cheese ice cream

I heard you absolutely have to try the vanilla cheese ice cream for dessert, so I ordered it as if hypnotized!

The sweet vanilla scent blended smoothly with a salty, savory cheese flavor — the perfect palate cleanser (๑˙ꄃ˙๑)♡⃛

Finishing off warm dishes with something cool made it feel especially clean, and even sweetened my mood!

Every dish was made with real care and the atmosphere was perfect too — I think I'll be coming back often. If you want a special evening with delicious Japanese-style food and great atmosphere, I really recommend stopping by here (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧