Jongno izakaya for skewers and basil pasta: Hanamato

I visited Hanamato Daehangno Hyehwa (하나마토 대학로혜화), an izakaya near Hyehwa Station, with my boyfriend. We had skewers and draft beer, and since we had not eaten dinner, we also ordered basil pasta. The outdoor tables caught my eye, and the indoor space was fairly spacious too.

What are the outdoor tables and atmosphere like?

The exterior had bright lighting and the feel of a Japanese izakaya. There were outdoor tables outside the restaurant as well. I thought it would be nice to enjoy skewers and draft beer there on an evening with a cool breeze.

There was a menu board in front of the restaurant, so it was easy to look over the menu before going in. Along with skewers, there was a wide range of dishes such as pasta and nabe (Japanese hot pot), so I felt it would work for a meal or for a second stop of the night.

Are the indoor seats suitable for drinking alone?

The first floor had both regular tables and counter seats called datchi. Some guests were drinking alone at the counter, so it did not feel awkward to drink by yourself.

The second floor felt pleasant because of its high ceiling, but it was crowded with guests. There were many university students, and some tables were occasionally noisy.

What dishes are available, and how do you order?

We ordered using the tablet at our table. Choices ranged from yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) to pasta, fried dishes, several kinds of nabe, and dried snacks.

Which skewers did we choose, and how did they taste?

I considered the assorted skewers, but chose chicken wing skewers and scallion chicken skewers individually. The assorted set was a little cheaper, but I wanted to order small amounts of the dishes I wanted and eat them hot.

For our first drinks, we chose draft beer and also ordered basil pasta. Tako wasabi (raw octopus with wasabi) was ₩9,000. The two types of skewers and the tako wasabi arrived first.

The Sapporo draft beer was cold and smooth, pairing well with the skewers. The chicken skewers and chicken wing skewers were crisp outside and moist inside. The scallions between the chicken pieces were pleasantly sweet, so I ordered another scallion chicken skewer.

How much was the basil pasta, and how did it taste?

The basil pasta was ₩13,000. I could taste the distinctive aroma of Parmesan cheese along with the basil. My boyfriend does not particularly like basil pasta, so I ate it all myself.

The sauce was thick and the seasoning was a little salty. I thought it was fine alongside beer, and the portion was generous, so I was satisfied with it for the price.

What were the extra cabbage and ginkgo skewers like?

A small amount of cabbage comes with the skewers, but we both like cabbage, so we ordered more separately. Extra cabbage was listed on the menu and cost ₩1,000.

We also ordered ginkgo nut skewers. The skins were still on them, and because I dislike their rough texture, I peeled them off bit by bit with a tissue before eating them.