Hapjeong izakaya group dinner for 6: hot soup omakase set, Soottori

Soottori Hongdae Hapjeong: a return visit with six coworkers

After work on a weekday, my coworkers and I wanted good yakitori and hot soup with a drink, so we went back to Soottori Hongdae Hapjeong, well known as a Hapjeong bar and izakaya.

We wanted to shake off the week's fatigue and get some of that warm izakaya vibe, and since everyone said they were craving charcoal-grilled skewers, the six of us headed over without a reservation to this spot in the Sangsu Station bar alley.

Turning down the alley, the yellow awning and the Japanese-lettered sign outside caught our eye right away.

The exterior alone had a strong local izakaya feel, so even on a first visit we found it without getting lost, and even before going in there was that lively hotspot energy.

Every seat full at 9pm on a weekday: inside Soottori

Stepping inside, the interior felt really cozy and warm.

Dark wood bar tables and booth seats blended stylishly with soft orange ambient lighting, creating the perfect mood for easygoing conversation.

By the time we arrived around 9pm on a weekday, the place was already so full it was hard to find an empty seat.

You could really feel why it's so popular both as a Hongdae date-night izakaya for couples having a cozy drink and as a spot for small group gatherings or work dinners.

What six people ordered: the charcoal omakase hot soup set

Sitting down and browsing the tablet menu, the great-value set combos caught our eye.

Since there were six of us, we ordered the signature charcoal omakase hot soup set to try a wide variety of dishes.

For drinks, everyone ordered to their own taste — cold draft beer in cute dedicated glasses, matcha beer, soju, and cheongha — and got the drinking session going.

Cute character coasters and charming little dishware filled in even the small details with personality.

Cracker salad and the mixed kushikatsu (fried skewers)

First up as an appetizer was a plate of cracker salad.

It came with cherry tomatoes in a sweet-salty balsamic sauce, soft crab-and-potato salad, and crispy crackers.

Piling the creamy salad onto the crunchy crackers made for a light, snappy bite that was a great way to open up the appetite.

Next came a freshly-fried assortment of kushikatsu.

Lotus root, rice cake, and hot dog skewers all had a thin, crispy coating, and dipping them in the special soy sauce alongside the cabbage salad filled the mouth with savory flavor.

Beef hot pot simmering on the tabletop burner

Next, one of today's mains — a steaming hot pot — was set up on a portable burner.

Fresh beef, tofu, shiitake, enoki, oyster mushrooms, crown daisy greens, and spicy peppers were piled generously into the pot, making for an impressively full-looking dish.

Taking a spoonful of the clear, deep broth as it bubbled away, the vegetable stock and meat juices had steeped in so deeply that it was clean, light, and instantly soothing.

Fishing out the tender meat and mushrooms while sipping soju and cheongha made for a perfect drinking snack — the soju just kept going down easy.

Charcoal-grilled yakitori skewers at Soottori

Next, yakitori skewers full of charcoal aroma filled the table one after another.

Tomato bacon rolls, grilled shishito peppers, chewy chicken heart, and grilled chicken specialty cuts all came out golden on the outside with the juices still intact inside.

Taking a bite of a skewer with that gentle charcoal aroma, there wasn't a trace of gaminess, just chewy goodness, and my coworkers all kept letting out sounds of approval.

Is the set worth it for a group of six?

Thanks to the variety of snacks and hot soup dishes, all six of us left the drinking session full and satisfied.

The cozy, atmospheric interior, the excellent quality of the carefully made yakitori and hot nabe set, and the friendly staff — everything about the evening was on point.

If you're looking for reliable food and a comfortable atmosphere near Sangsu Station and Hapjeong, I'd strongly recommend Soottori Hongdae Hapjeong, a standout Hapjeong bar and Sangsu Station izakaya.