Unicity izakaya in Changwon with chilled whelk mul-hoe: Yakitori Gong

Today I'm introducing a place I really liked while hunting for good izakayas at Urban Bricks in Jung-dong Unicity, Changwon. It seems like a lot of good restaurants, cafés, and even aesthetic clinics have been popping up around Unicity lately. Honestly kind of jealous of people who live nearby... haha

This time I visited Yakitori Gong. It's a Japanese-style izakaya on the 3rd floor of Urban Bricks, and the charcoal-grilled yakitori in particular was really good.

Where is Yakitori Gong, and what are its hours and parking?

Yakitori Gong is located at 3rd floor, Unit 3044, Urban Bricks, 47 Jung-dong-jungang-ro, Uichang-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do. It's on the 3rd floor of Urban Bricks, so it can be a little confusing the first time. Take the escalator to the 3rd floor, then go around to the back and turn left, and you'll find it.

Business hours are daily 18:00–24:00. It's open year-round with no holidays, which I liked. It also seems like a good spot for evening gatherings or a second-round hangout!!

For parking, you can use the Urban Bricks underground parking lot! You get 3 hours free parking with store use, so it's convenient to visit by car.

Restrooms at Urban Bricks

There's a restroom right to the right of the store, which was convenient.

What Yakitori Gong looks like inside and out

The exterior is black with lighting, so the name Yakitori Gong catches your eye even from a distance.

The inside turned out to be bigger than I expected?? The lighting and interior overall give off a Japanese izakaya vibe, making it a good atmosphere for having a drink in the evening. It'd work well for a blind date or a date spot too, and the owner said group bookings are welcome haha.

Personally I prefer this kind of vibe over izakayas that are too dark and cramped. It's a good place to visit with friends, and also a fine atmosphere for a drink on a date (￣▽￣)b

Yakitori Gong menu and starter sides

It's less a place that only serves skewers and more an izakaya where you pick and choose a bit of everything.

The complimentary side dishes

Cabbage salad topped with shio kombu, plus charcoal-scented peanuts!!! With banchan like this, a bottle of soju or beer disappears in no time~~

Yakitori trio + chilled whelk mul-hoe, 33,000 won

Maybe because we visited in summer, but that day I was really craving something cold haha. So we ordered the 'yakitori trio + cold whelk mul-hoe (naengolbaengimulhoe) set.' The yakitori came out as ✔ green onion chicken thigh ✔ chicken skin ✔ chicken heart. (I'll explain the yakitori later!!)

The cold whelk mul-hoe was genuinely unusual. When it first arrived, it looked almost like shaved ice haha. It was packed with ice, so it stayed cold the whole time I ate, and inside were chewy noodles and whelk (golbaengi). There was way more whelk than I expected, so I could eat it with the noodles all the way to the end. If you visit in summer, I'd recommend ordering a cool dish like this too ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و

What makes binchotan charcoal yakitori different?

And I really felt this place is a genuine charcoal-skewer spot. What we ate was nankotsu (chicken cartilage), tsukune (chicken meatballs), plus the yakitori trio (green onion chicken thigh, chicken skin, chicken heart).

Maybe because they're grilled over charcoal, the outside was slightly crisp while the inside stayed moist and tender. There was almost none of that gamey chicken smell, and they were so savory I kept reaching for more. If you come to Yakitori Gong, you have to order the yakitori. It's honestly one of my top recommendations here.

🔥 What is binchotan? The menu description emphasizes skewers grilled over top-grade binchotan. Binchotan (備長炭) is a traditional Japanese white charcoal that's hard and dense, which means it holds high heat for a long time. Maybe that's why the yakitori here definitely had a subtle, lingering charcoal aroma.

Mentaiko scallop cream pasta, 19,000 won

And this one... please order it. The noodles aren't the usual round pasta noodle but a flat noodle, so the sauce clings properly, and the sauce itself has a thick yet smooth texture, making it easy to slurp up.

The scallops on top weren't just boiled or pan-fried either — they were grilled over charcoal too. (Chewy + tender + salty + charcoal aroma!!!!) The umami from the mentaiko meant that even with a cream sauce, it wasn't overly rich, and the seasoning overall wasn't too heavy, so I kept eating it~~

Kirin draft beer, 9,000 won

And Kirin draft beer... can't resist. The price is a bit steep, but it's ice-cold from the first sip, with smooth, clean foam that went really well with the charcoal-grilled skewers. Especially taking a bite of salty yakitori and then a sip of cold draft beer... that's exactly why you come to an izakaya 🍺

Is Yakitori Gong worth a visit?

This visit to Yakitori Gong, an izakaya in Jung-dong Unicity, Changwon, was solid overall in both food and atmosphere. I personally liked the yakitori and the mentaiko scallop cream pasta the most.

In summer, I'd order the cold whelk mul-hoe alongside everything else, and on slightly cooler days, yakitori plus a hot soup combo would be great too. Also, since you get 3 hours free parking with the Urban Bricks underground lot, feel free to visit comfortably!!

If you're looking for an izakaya with good vibes in Jung-dong, Changwon, or a place to grab a drink in Unicity, I recommend Yakitori Gong. Especially if you love charcoal-grilled skewers, you have to try the yakitori!!