Yeongdeungpo bar for grilled skewers: Robadayakki Sodam

An after-work izakaya atmosphere in Yeouido

I visited Robadayakki Sodam Yeouido Branch (로바다야끼소담 여의도점) while looking for somewhere to have dinner in Yeouido 🖤 I’d heard it was pretty well known among Yeouido office workers, and even though I arrived around 6 PM on a weekday, the place was already more than half full. I was like, of course—the moment work ends, everyone rushes to the office-worker hot spots lol.

The vibe was perfect for getting off work and having a drink with tasty bar food, so I think it would be a great pick for anyone looking for a good restaurant-bar in Yeouido. Once inside, it really felt like a Japanese izakaya. The wood interior, plus the Japanese props and decorations, made for such a nice atmosphere.

Especially, you can see the staff preparing skewers and dishes in the open space at the center, so the dachi counter seats were popular! I was sad to hear that every counter seat was reserved, even on a weekday evening 🥲

There are also more private table areas, making it nice for drinks with friends, company dinners, or an evening get-together too.

This was my first time getting a fried egg as the complimentary starter, but it was almost more like a deep-fried egg 💛

The menu had so many options, from sashimi to grilled fish like mero and Spanish mackerel, plus seafood dishes—and there was a reason for that lol. The restaurant was full of fresh seafood 🖤

Ordering assorted skewers, yurin-gi, and charcoal-fired jjamppong

Everything on the menu looked delicious, so we debated for ages before finally ordering the assorted grilled skewers, yurin-gi, and charcoal-fired jjamppong! Every table seemed to have an assorted skewer platter, so there was no way we could skip it haha.

Assorted grilled skewers: 11 kinds, 13 pieces

First up was the assorted grilled skewer platter, which we ordered because it felt like Robadayakki Sodam’s signature! With 11 kinds and 13 pieces, it was great to try lots of different skewers at once. There were various chicken cuts as well as shrimp, bacon tomato, mushrooms, and more, so it was fun choosing one by one—and you can watch them being cooked in the open kitchen too.

They had a subtle smoky char, so they were delicious even on their own, and every skewer had a different texture and flavor that kept me reaching for more! Best of all, they came out grilled one at a time, so we could eat them right while they were warm. They would be perfect with beer or a highball! (Although I was the one having them with Coke lol.)

Tangy yurin-gi on the side

And then there was yurin-gi, that dish that never disappoints anywhere. The sauce wasn’t too heavy and had just the right tang, so it was the kind you can keep eating without getting tired of it! Anyone who likes fried food would love this haha. Somehow, yurin-gi feels healthy when you eat it with cabbage, you know? Hahaha.

Smoky, spicy charcoal-fired jjamppong

The charcoal-fired jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup)! I ordered this after reading through Naver reviews and seeing someone strongly recommend it, and I think it would be great for anyone craving soup. The noodles weren’t soggy at all—they were just right—and it was loaded with seafood, so it was practically a full meal! The spicy broth had that distinctive charcoal-fired smokiness, and taking a spoonful after the skewers and yurin-gi felt like it completely refreshed my palate. I was already quite full, but I just kept going back for the broth haha.

Robadayakki Sodam had such a wide variety of food overall, which made choosing from the menu fun! The sashimi and grilled fish looked especially good too, but I couldn’t try them this time, so next time I want to go for grilled mero or sashimi as well haha. It’s a great Japanese izakaya in Yeouido for when you want a drink somewhere with a nice atmosphere after work. Since it seems especially popular with office workers and seats fill up quickly in the evening, I recommend arriving a little early if you’re planning to visit :)