Gangnam izakaya for aged sashimi and clam sake steam: Yoran

With the feel of a Japanese izakaya, private rooms, and spacious group tables, this is a great place to enjoy chewy aged sashimi and a spicy clam sake steam packed with plump clams alongside Kirin draft beer. It looked ideal for a company dinner, drinks, or a gathering.

It is at 49-11 Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, about a one-minute walk from Exit 1 of Samseong Jungang Station. It operates daily from 17:00 to 02:00 and is regularly closed every Sunday; parking is available behind the restaurant. Takeout and reservations are available, the restrooms are separate for men and women, and Wi-Fi is available too.

A late-night drinking spot near Samseong Jungang Station

Restaurant exterior

After the Seoul International Fireworks Festival on the weekend, we were looking for somewhere for an after-party and ended up at Yoran (요란), a popular spot near Samseong Jungang Station in Samseong-dong along Subway Line 9!

It was convenient to get to since it is near Samseong Jungang Station, and it seemed worth remembering when you are looking for somewhere to have a drink until late~ Once inside the building, the restaurant came into view, with a Japanese-izakaya kind of feel!

A calm space for conversation

Restaurant atmosphere

Rather than a loud bar for throwing back drinks, it had an atmosphere where you could eat and chat, and the tables were generously spaced.

There were lamps and even cherry-blossom décor that made it feel like a Japanese-style izakaya! The atmosphere was so nice.

There are private rooms, so it would be comfortable to use with your own party, as well as spacious group tables, making it seem like a solid choice for a company dinner in Samseong-dong. (Please ask separately about using a room!)

Watching the owner’s fire show while he cooked had me excited even before ordering 🔥

What we ordered, from sashimi to hot dishes

Menu

The menu had a wide variety of dishes that go well with drinks, from sashimi to grilled dishes, fried dishes, and soups! We felt like having raw fish that day, so this is what we ordered!

• Seasonal sashimi for 2 — ₩54,000
• Clam sake steam — ₩25,000
• Kirin draft beer, 2 glasses — ₩10,000 each
• Soju, 2 bottles — ₩7,000 each

We were too full to order the pasta, but I definitely want to try it next time!

Chewy seasonal sashimi and spicy clam sake steam

The complimentary snacks arrived neatly arranged: rakkyo (pickled shallots), danmuji (yellow pickled radish), edamame, and shrimp chips. They were great for picking at between drinks! Especially the edamame—my favorite bar snack.

Seasonal sashimi for 2

The first thing that caught my eye was the sheen on the fish. Several types of seasonal fish were plated neatly, and when I tried each piece, the pleasantly chewy texture from the aging came through more than with regular raw fish 😆

It felt like the aging had brought out more umami, so even with just a little wasabi, the flavor came through beautifully—and it naturally made me want soju❗ My companion, who loves sashimi, says you can tell a good restaurant by trying its salmon, and they said the sashimi here was good too haha 👍🏻

Clam sake steam

There were more plump clams than I expected, and the steam rising from the broth already carried a spicy aroma. The broth had a clean, briny flavor from the clams underneath, followed by a gentle kick that kept me spooning it up. It was a little salty, but bar food tastes best with some saltiness, right? ^_^

After eating sashimi, a spoonful of warm broth felt instantly soothing, so I was glad we had ordered it as drinking food! Looking at the menu, I saw that you can add pasta for ₩7,000, but we were fuller than expected that day and ultimately could not order it 😭

The Kirin draft beer had soft foam and went down easily, making it a nice way to start. A piece of sashimi followed by a sip of draft beer, and I naturally thought, this is a great start. It was the day of the Hanwha Seoul International Fireworks Festival, so the crowds had completely drained me 😅 After that, I switched to the essential sashimi pairing, soju, and with such tasty food supporting it, the drinks went down more easily than expected!

Final thoughts on Yoran

Yoran near Samseong Jungang Station seems like a great place to visit if you love aged sashimi and are looking for somewhere quiet to have a drink.

The sashimi’s well-aged, chewy texture stayed with me, while the clam sake steam paired nicely with drinks thanks to its plump clams and spicy broth.

With private rooms and spacious group seating, it looked useful for anything from a date for two to a Samseong-dong company dinner!

Would I return? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I do not really have any complaints, but I think it would be nice if they gave a little more beer foam!

A Samseong-dong izakaya that was perfect for drinks with chewy aged sashimi and spicy clam sake steam!

Recommended for

• Anyone looking for a bar near Samseong Jungang Station
• People who love aged sashimi
• Anyone who wants to drink while having a quiet conversation
• Anyone looking for a Samseong-dong izakaya with private rooms
• Anyone looking for a venue for a group gathering or company dinner in Samseong-dong