Yakitori bar in Yeonnam-dong, window seat, free corkage: Yakitori Uno

Today I went on a date to Yeonnam-dong with my husband. After wandering the pretty streets of Yeonnam-dong and Yeonhui-dong to our heart's content, we were craving good food and a beer, so I'm introducing the Yeonnam-dong izakaya (Japanese-style pub) we visited. It's run by owners who are serious about skewers, so you get skewers that really melt in your mouth: Yakitori Uno. Okay, let's start the honest review~

Where is Yakitori Uno in Yeonnam-dong, and what are the hours?

Yakitori Uno is at 256-3 Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, and is open Tuesday to Sunday, 17:00 to 01:00. It's closed on Mondays, and corkage is free.

• Address: 256-3 Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
• Hours: Tue–Sun 17:00–01:00
• Closed Mondays
• Free corkage

How to find Yakitori Uno: the yellow sign with two monkeys

Yakitori Uno is just a short way into the butcher-shop alley off the Forest Path, a spot famous among Yeonnam-dong eateries. It's a pretty place with an eye-catching yellow sign showing two monkeys, and that's today's restaurant, Yakitori Uno. The two monkeys are there because the owner couple were both born in the Year of the Monkey~ So cute, I almost cried ㅠㅠ

Is Yakitori Uno a good Yeonnam-dong date spot?

The inside of Yakitori Uno was full of Japanese-style decor and little props, and there were about 6 seats. The seats are spaced quite far apart, so the layout is great for chatting with your companion. Add the cozy atmosphere and it's perfect as a Yeonnam-dong date spot!!

Best seat at Yakitori Uno: the terrace-style window seat

We took the window seat at Yakitori Uno, which has a terrace feel~ It gives you an outdoor-market (yajang) vibe and you can catch a cool breeze, so the mood is wonderful and I recommend this seat.

Drinks at Yakitori Uno, and is corkage free?

The shelves at Yakitori Uno were stocked with a wide range of drinks, from Japanese whiskies like Hibiki and Yamazaki to all kinds of liquor and sake. Corkage is free too, so I think it'd be nice to bring a good bottle and pair it with the tasty grilled skewers~

Yakitori Uno menu and what we ordered

At Yakitori Uno you can order a 2–4 person yakitori course or à la carte items separately, and there are also dishes like pasta and nabe (hot pot), so everything from drinking snacks to a full meal is possible.

2-person yakitori course / 2 Sapporo draft beers

We ordered the 2-person course of heart, shoulder, skirt steak and king oyster mushroom, plus 2 draft beers~

The complimentary side was cabbage with the famous cabbage dressing, and mayonnaise came along for dipping the skewers~

Sapporo draft beer, saved for the end of the date

During today's Yeonnam-dong date I was so thirsty but didn't even drink water, and the reason was to enjoy this fizzy draft beer, where you can see the bubbles rising. One glass and the whole week's fatigue just vanished. It was so refreshing~

Cucumber with bonito flakes: a light side for drinks

The cucumber we ordered at Yakitori Uno came out quickly~ It's topped with katsuobushi (bonito flakes) and you dip it in the soy-sauce-based seasoning underneath. The bonito adds savory depth to the fresh cucumber, so it was great with beer! It's cheap too, and perfect as a snack when you're already full!

How was the 2-person yakitori course at Yakitori Uno?

Skewer 1, chicken heart: try the first bite without mayo

The first cut in the 2-person course, the heart skewer, came out. We've been to yakitori and skewer places a few times, but I think this is genuinely the first time I've had heart this tender and seasoned this perfectly. I recommend eating the first bite without mayonnaise~ The seasoning is spot on and the meaty aroma unique to heart is excellent!

Then if you dip it lightly in mayonnaise, the mayo's nutty richness covers everything, and that was delicious too~ haha Personally, though, I liked the heart better plain!

Skewer 2, chicken shoulder: the best bite of the night

The second cut, the shoulder, came out. Of all the yakitori I had at Yakitori Uno today, this shoulder was my favorite. Moderate seasoning plus a chewy meat texture made it the best bite of the day~ And personally I liked the shoulder better dipped lightly in mayonnaise!

Skewer 3, king oyster mushroom: a veggie break

The third skewer came as a breather: king oyster mushroom. They brushed a little seasoning on it and grilled it, and it was much better than the mushrooms you get at night markets abroad~ Juicy and well seasoned, so it wasn't added to the course for nothing..👍

Skewer 4, skirt steak: grilling skill you can taste

The last cut in the course was skirt steak. It's such a popular, tasty cut that it's simply delicious;; All four skewers were seasoned amazingly, and the grilling and smoky aroma were so good that I really felt the cook's grilling skill~

Is Yakitori Uno worth it for a Yeonnam-dong date?

If you come to Yeonnam-dong for tasty skewers and a drink, definitely stop by Yakitori Uno and try it~ I strongly recommend it as a Yeonnam-dong date course too.