Gangnam izakaya open during Chuseok, ₩200,000 for three: Goko

I was looking for a spot near Gangnam Station to enjoy good bar food with a highball, and ended up at Izakaya Goko. I went with my older sister and brother, and between the three of us we ordered a bit of everything — ended up spending about ₩200,000 haha.

It's not exactly cheap, but every single dish was delicious, and the highball was great too, so I left satisfied. The place was packed — not just groups of friends, but plenty of people who looked like they were on dates or blind dates. Since Izakaya Goko is staying open this Chuseok too (Sep 24–26), let me introduce it!

Where is Izakaya Goko, and what are its hours?

• Hours: Weekdays 17:00–02:00 / Weekends 16:30–02:00
• No parking available

Izakaya Goko sits between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station, especially close to Exit 6 of Sinnonhyeon Station, so it was easy to reach by public transit. It's on the second floor, and one whole window wall can be opened up, which looks like it'd be even nicer to visit on a nice-weather day.

What Izakaya Goko feels like inside

There were already quite a few people inside when we arrived, and more kept coming in as time went on. Some were friends out for a drink, others looked like couples or people on blind dates, so overall it had a young, lively energy. It seemed like a lot of people come here specifically looking for a Gangnam Station date or blind-date spot.

The menu that added up to 200,000 won for three

I ended up ordering quite a lot this time — there were just too many things that looked good, I couldn't help it..! What I had was the seared mackerel platter, futomaki (thick sushi roll), spicy seafood nabe (hot pot), 7-piece yakitori, and a highball on top of it all.

Aburi seared mackerel platter (aburi samchi hanpan)

One of the dishes I enjoyed most was the seared mackerel platter. It's raw seasonal mackerel with the surface lightly torched aburi-style — the outside has a faint smoky char while the inside stays clean and tender, and it was honestly better than I expected.

Above all, the mackerel slices came out thick and generous, so each bite had really good texture.

The combination of aged kimchi + mackerel + ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste) worked really well together. The tangy kick of the aged kimchi paired nicely with the clean mackerel flavor, and adding a touch of ssamjang made it even better.

Futomaki (thick sushi roll) with seafood

We also ordered futomaki. The size caught my eye first — thick and generously packed with fillings, so even one piece was pretty filling.

Eating it together with the crispy tempura bits and mayo on top added a nice crunch. Alternating between the clean flavor of the mackerel platter and the futomaki was great since the textures were so different.

Spicy seafood nabe, the best match for drinks

We also ordered the spicy seafood nabe. Instead of just eating clean dishes like sashimi and futomaki the whole time, having a spicy broth in the mix made the whole combination so much better.

The seafood-based broth had that refreshing quality along with a spicy kick, and it paired really well as a drinking snack. It was especially good to order when you're sipping a highball or other drinks and craving something warm. If a group of you are out looking for a Gangnam Station bar, I'd recommend adding a soup dish like this to the order.

Seven kinds of yakitori (grilled skewers)

And you can't come to an izakaya without ordering yakitori (grilled skewers), right?! Here's the 7-piece yakitori I'd been looking forward to!

Being able to try several different cuts at once made it fun to go through them one by one. What I really appreciated was that the staff didn't just set the plate down — they explained which cut each skewer was and what order to eat them in.

They even told us to eat the cuts that get chewy or dry when they cool down first. Thanks to that, instead of just eating in random order, I got to compare the texture and flavor of each skewer, which made it much more fun. If you're a yakitori fan, this kind of setup is worth keeping in mind when you're looking for a Gangnam Station yakitori spot.

Is 200,000 won for three worth it at Izakaya Goko?

Izakaya Goko isn't the cheapest izakaya near Gangnam. With three of us ordering multiple dishes plus drinks, the total came to about ₩200,000.

Still, tasting it all firsthand, everything from the seared mackerel platter to the futomaki, spicy seafood nabe and 7-piece yakitori was delicious — and the yakitori especially, since they explained the cuts and eating order, made it far more enjoyable than just eating without thinking. The highball was great too, and I think it's a solid place to visit on a day you want to properly enjoy drinks and good food.

They're staying open without a break through this year's Chuseok holiday, Sep 24–26, 2026, so if you're looking for a Gangnam Station izakaya to visit over the holiday, it's worth a stop! If you're hunting for a Gangnam Station izakaya, a Gangnam Station bar, or a Gangnam Station date spot, put Izakaya Goko on your list haha~

Who Izakaya Goko is right for

• 📍 Location tip: 2-minute walk from Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 6
• Anyone looking for an izakaya near Gangnam Station
• Anyone looking for a Gangnam-area izakaya open during Chuseok
• Anyone looking for a Gangnam Station date or blind-date spot
• Anyone who loves yakitori and highballs
• Anyone wanting a variety of bar food — sashimi, futomaki, nabe and more