Izakaya near Yeosu City Hall packed by 6pm Friday: Tsukiya

I was looking for somewhere to eat dinner and have a drink in Hakdong, Yeosu, and ended up at Tsukiya.

We got there around 6pm on a Friday, and not long after we sat down the place was nearly full. A little while later, a waiting line started too.

If you're looking for an izakaya in Hakdong, Yeosu on a Friday or weekend evening, I'd say go a bit early or check ahead whether you can book.

Of everything we ate, the salmon and the nagasaki really stuck with me.

Where is Tsukiya, and where can you park?

Tsukiya's address is 13 Sicheongdong 3-gil, 1st floor, unit 2, Yeosu, South Korea. You can park at the nearby Hakdong Seonso Market public parking lot.

Hours currently show up a little differently across platforms, so I'd recommend checking the latest hours on a map before you go. Based on what I could find recently, it's listed as an izakaya open late into the night.

It's a good spot for a drink if you're around Yeosu City Hall or Hakdong.

How long is the wait at Tsukiya at 6pm on a Friday?

We arrived at 6pm on a Friday. There were seats open when we first walked in, but as we ate, more and more people kept coming in, and it filled up almost completely.

A bit later, people started waiting too. Honestly, I thought 6pm was still on the early side, but the place filled up faster than expected. If you're going during the dinner peak, it's worth expecting some kind of wait.

The complimentary starter at Tsukiya: fried potatoes

Once we sat down, Tsukiya brought out fried potatoes as the basic side dish.

It was exactly the kind of thing you want to pick at before the drinks arrive at an izakaya. Nothing fancy, just fried potatoes, but I kept reaching for them anyway.

Salmon sashimi the owner caught himself

Of everything we had that day, the salmon was personally my favorite.

I heard the owner catches the salmon himself, and having tried it, the texture wasn't mushy at all, which I liked. It had that soft, characteristic salmon texture without going too limp. It went really well as something to eat slowly with a drink, and if I go back, I'll definitely order the salmon again. If you're into sashimi and you're checking out izakayas in Hakdong, Yeosu, this one's worth trying.

Nagasaki: a spicier broth than expected

And the dish that surprised me the most that day, in a good way, was the nagasaki.

Usually when you think of nagasaki, you think of a mild, light broth, but here it was surprisingly spicy.

It was great alternating between the salmon and a sip of the hot, spicy broth, then back to the drink. Especially as a pairing with soju, I actually preferred this level of spice. I'd meant to just have a light drink, but between spoonfuls of broth, I ended up finishing two bottles of soju that night. If you like to drink, the nagasaki is worth ordering alongside.

Is Tsukiya in Hakdong worth a visit?

Tsukiya wasn't so much an izakaya you go to for the atmosphere as somewhere comfortable to eat and have a relaxed drink.

The salmon especially stuck with me, and pairing it with the spicy nagasaki made for a good combination. On the Friday we visited, seats filled up fast from 6pm and a wait started not long after. So if you're looking for a bar or izakaya in Hakdong, Yeosu on a Friday evening, I'd recommend going a bit earlier. Next time I go back, I think I'll order the salmon and nagasaki again.