Yakitori izakaya in Pohang's Yanghak-dong with window seats: Yomo

Strolling leisurely along Pohang's Cheolgilsup railway park trail, I found myself drawn by the warm orange lighting spilling out from an alley entrance — a handmade yakitori place I'd had my eye on. From the cozy space that felt like a teleport to some quiet late-night eatery down a Japanese back alley, to the charcoal-scented skewers and the standout cod roe dish, I kept marveling my way through a genuinely delightful evening. Let me show you the charm of this proper foodie escape tucked right in the middle of the city.

Where is Yomo? Hours and parking in Yanghak-dong, Pohang

Sitting right on the border between Pohang's Yanghak-dong and Jukdo-dong on Yanghakcheon-ro, the Pohang branch of Yomo touches directly onto Cheolgilsup, a beloved local walking trail — making it a great stop before or after a stroll. Tucked slightly away from the noisy, crowded entertainment district, it enjoys a location where you can fully soak in a calm, atmospheric nighttime mood.

• Address: 154 Yanghakcheon-ro, Buk-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
• Hours: Daily 17:00–01:00 (extended to 02:00 on Fridays and Saturdays)
• Last order: 1 hour before close (24:00)
• Parking: No dedicated lot for the store, but free parking is easy to find on the public street line right in front on Yanghakcheon-ro, or along nearby alley shoulders.

Approaching the storefront, the teal awning with the bold Chinese characters '四方 (sabang / Yomo)' — paired with red brick and warm wood siding — grabs your attention instantly.

Beside the entrance stands a signboard reading 'やきとり よも - 日本固有の味 (a taste native to Japan)' along with actual draft beer kegs on display, giving off the exotic thrill of arriving at some old back-alley institution in Fukuoka.

Inside Yomo: dachi counter, horigotatsu room and window seats

Pushing open the wooden hinged door, I was greeted by colorful stained-glass lighting casting a glow over the deep wood-toned bar counter. Running through the center of the space is a long open-kitchen dachi (bar counter) where you can watch the skewers being grilled — and catch a glimpse of the chef's careful craftsmanship.

Further inside, a Japanese-style horigotatsu room — where you slip off your shoes and rest your feet comfortably in a sunken floor space — is neatly separated from the spacious table seating.

Classic coat hooks are thoughtfully installed all over the walls for guests' convenience, which was great for hanging up thick coats or bags and eating comfortably.

We took a window seat with a picture-perfect view of a ginkgo tree and the street outside. The wood-grained table was neatly set with small plates and chopsticks, and there were individual coat hooks along the window wall too, which made the space really convenient to use.

Yomo's menu and the handwritten clipboard order sheet

I took my time looking over the laminated menu at the table. It covers everything from single yakitori skewers (tsukune, chicken thigh-and-scallion, pork neck, skin, heart, and more) to soupy dishes like the Kansai-style oden nabe and beef-and-pork hot pot, plus hearty meal options like ragom soba and chicken nanban.

The drink lineup is just as broad, led by Asahi Super Dry draft beer, alongside Suntory and Jim Beam highballs, sake by the glass, and non-alcoholic options to suit any taste.

What stood out most was the analog system: an order sheet clipped to a clipboard, where you check off your chosen dishes by hand with a pencil. Putting our heads together with my wife to decide which skewers to get, and writing the order down together, became a fun little date activity in itself.

The house side dish and Asahi draft beer

After placing our order and waiting a bit, a chilled stainless insulated water bottle arrived along with thinly shredded cabbage salad as the complimentary side dish.

While the crisp cabbage with its savory sesame sauce got our appetites going, an Asahi draft beer cold enough to form a thin frost on the glass arrived, along with pear juice for the companion who doesn't drink much.

Taking a sip of that creamy-headed beer felt like the day's fatigue was being washed away all at once.

Chicken thigh-and-scallion yakitori and cheese tsukune with a 3-minute hourglass

Finally, the signature skewer arrived — chicken thigh-and-scallion yakitori. Seared crisp on the outside over binchotan charcoal while staying juicy and tender inside.

The harmony of the sweetly grilled scallion and the springy chicken thigh meat was fantastic, and dipping it in fresh wasabi on the cute rabbit-shaped side plate gave it a really clean finish.

Next came the cheese tsukune, which comes with a cute 3-minute hourglass on the table so you can let the residual heat melt the mozzarella cheese while you wait — a fun little ritual. Three minutes later, we dipped the perfectly melted cheese and the thick meatball generously into the special tare sauce topped with a fresh egg yolk.

The bouncy crunch of the cartilage combined with the savory cheese and salty sauce had me marveling with every bite.

Last dish of the night: grilled cod roe with cucumber

The dish that closed out the night was grilled cod roe with cucumber. Two chunks of low-sodium cod roe grilled golden over charcoal came generously plated with thinly sliced cucumber and savory mayonnaise dusted lightly with shichimi pepper.

Popping the salty, bursting cod roe and a touch of mayonnaise on top of the crisp, cool cucumber and eating it in one bite delivered such a refreshing, upscale flavor that I couldn't put my chopsticks down even though I was already full.

Who is Yomo best for — dates, solo drinks or groups?

Located by the Cheolgilsup railway park in Pohang's Yanghak-dong, Yomo (四方) was an excellent izakaya that satisfies all the senses — from the warm Japanese-style interior visible at every glance, to the skillfully grilled, top-notch handmade yakitori, to the small charming touches like the handwritten order sheet and the hourglass.

I'd recommend it for couples who want a date spot to gaze out the window and chat quietly rather than sit through a loud drinking session, for solo drinkers looking to unwind after work, and for anyone hunting for great food to go with their drinks!