Date-night izakaya in Songpa, Seoul: mentaiko pasta at Motokurashi

A quiet, atmospheric izakaya in Songni-dan-gil A blind-date course I want to keep to myself

It had been a while since we wanted to sit somewhere quiet and drink well, just the two of us. Not somewhere loud — somewhere we could actually talk while drinking. That's how I found Motokurashi, a hidden izakaya in Songni-dan-gil. Feeling a little nervous like it was a blind date, my husband and I held hands and went, let's go!

What kind of izakaya is Motokurashi? Location, hours and parking

Motokurashi is an izakaya on the 2nd floor of an alley in Songni-dan-gil (Songpa-dong), near Seokchon Station. The address is 27 Baekjegobun-ro 41-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, unit 202, wooden door. It's open Mon–Fri 17:30–24:00 and Sat–Sun 17:00–24:00, with last order at 23:00. No parking available.

• A hidden izakaya in Songni-dan-gil
• Calm, zen Japanese-style interior
• Specializes in fresh sashimi moriawase platters
• Pasta menu that pairs well with the sashimi
• Recommended as a date or blind-date course
• Also fits a wedding-invitation gathering vibe
• A place good for talking quietly
• Located on the 2nd floor

How to walk to Motokurashi from Seokchon Station, and the wooden-door entrance

Motokurashi sits in an alley off Songni-dan-gil, a short walk from exit 1 of Seokchon Station. It's tucked just off the main street, so the noise fades and a quiet alley atmosphere begins.

So woody and zen, so neat and tidy, haha. The building's exterior is so understated you'd barely guess it's an izakaya.

As soon as you go up to the 2nd floor, the wooden door on the right is the izakaya!

Inside Motokurashi: is it quiet enough for conversation?

The inside of Motokurashi is quiet, calm, and has that neat Japanese sensibility right away. The place isn't big, on the smaller side, but that actually made it feel cozy — I liked it.

Zen-toned lighting plus quiet background music adds up to a mood that's really good for talking. Not a loud bar — exactly the kind of place for a night you want to have a quiet conversation. The atmosphere was so good it felt like a blind date all over again ♥︎

The counter seats connected to the kitchen prep area — the daji seats — looked like they'd offer a different kind of mood too.

My husband loves that Gyeongseong-era (colonial-period Japan) izakaya feel, so he really loved the vibe.

Feels like a date would go well here, haha.

Motokurashi menu and prices

SASHIMI Motoku moriawase (sashimi platter) — ₩39,000 Salmon sashimi — ₩30,000 Beef tataki — ₩25,000 SIGNATURE Salmon jang — ₩32,000 White fish with mentaiko — ₩32,000 PASTA Mentaiko flying fish roe pasta — ₩18,500 Basil pesto vongole pasta — ₩18,500 Abalone innard pasta — ₩21,000 Truffle scallop pasta — ₩21,000

Of course, we started with a cold beer!

Motoku moriawase sashimi platter (39,000 won)

Motokurashi's sashimi platter, the motoku moriawase, is ₩39,000. The moment you pick up a piece, you feel a soft yet chewy texture hit your mouth right away.

The moment you pick up a piece, you feel a soft yet chewy texture hit your mouth right away.

The more you chew, the more it melts, so the chopsticks kept reaching back for more.

Getting to try a variety of fish on one plate meant we never got bored and enjoyed it all the way through.

If you want to enjoy several kinds of fresh sashimi at once, I'd strongly recommend starting with the moriawase. The kind of taste that makes you savor each piece.. 🖤

Mentaiko flying fish roe pasta (18,500 won)

Motokurashi's mentaiko flying fish roe pasta is ₩18,500, an oil-based dish topped with plump mentaiko (seasoned pollock roe). A savory aroma, and a look that's obviously delicious.

Lean in close and a subtle garlic-and-oil scent rises up, mixed with a savory hint of gim (dried seaweed).

The first bite is salty and savory — the umami unique to mentaiko spreads right away.

The noodles were cooked just right, with a springy chew, and the oil wasn't overdone, so it stayed light all the way to the last bite.

It paired seamlessly with the sashimi too, so it worked great both as a drinking snack and as a proper meal. 🫶 My husband said he didn't need to go to Japan anymore, haha. If you like mentaiko and oil-based pasta, this is completely your thing!!

Why Motokurashi suits a first date or date night in Songpa

On a night when you want to talk somewhere quiet and calm, Motokurashi is the place that comes to mind. It's not a noisy bar but a space full of zen Japanese sensibility, so it fits really well as a date or blind-date course. Enjoying fresh sashimi with the motoku moriawase, then finishing off filling with the mentaiko flying fish roe pasta — a night when both the drinks and the meal were perfect. If you're looking for an izakaya for a date or blind-date course around Seokchon Station in Songni-dan-gil, Jamsil, I'd recommend Motokurashi. ♥︎