Yeonnam-dong izakaya with matcha beer and a 2-person set: Gusa Yeonnam

Today I went to Gusa Yeonnam! I'd been craving a cold beer and some good teppan cooking in the lovely atmosphere of Yeonnam-dong, so I finally checked out this Hongdae Japanese restaurant I'd only heard about through word of mouth.

Inside Gusa Yeonnam: basement level of Yeontral Tower in Yeonnam-dong

Gusa Yeonnam is a teppan izakaya in Yeonnam-dong, located in the basement of Yeontral Tower. Head downstairs and you're greeted by a sleek, moody space — dark-toned walls paired with warm wood tables made for a really nice atmosphere.

The calm, polished feel starts right from the entrance, making it a solid pick for a Yeonnam-dong date or even a blind date spot. Even though it's underground, there's no cramped feeling at all — windows let in views of the outside, giving the whole space a bright, open feel.

Inside, there are bar seats where you can watch the cooking happen right in front of you, plus roomy table seating — perfect for a Hongdae izakaya group hangout.

Ordering is done easily via a QR code attached to the table, so you don't even need to flag down staff — really convenient.

What comes in the 36,000-won Daily 2-Person Set?

Gusa Yeonnam's Daily 2-Person Set costs ₩36,000 and comes packed with three main dishes: tomato okonomiyaki (savory pancake), mentaiko cheese tamagoyaki (rolled egg with pollock roe), and mentaiko cream udon. Opening the menu reveals authentic teppan dishes cooked right in front of you along with a variety of Japanese-style dishes — genuinely fun to choose from.

We didn't overthink it and went straight for the Daily 2-Person Set, since it offered great composition and value. Gusa Yeonnam (satisfaction/would-return: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

To go with the food, we also ordered Kirin draft beer and the drink we'd been curious about — the signature matcha beer. As a starter, they served a crisp, refreshing cabbage salad with a savory dressing that got our appetite going, and we ended up finishing it off before the food even arrived.

How the mentaiko cheese tamagoyaki, tomato okonomiyaki and mentaiko cream udon taste

The first dish to arrive from the Daily Set was the mentaiko cheese tamagoyaki. The thick, neatly rolled presentation grabbed my attention right away, drizzled generously with a sweet-savory sauce.

One bite in, the soft, fluffy egg melded beautifully with the rich melted cheese and the salty pop of mentaiko (seasoned pollock roe).

Next up was the tomato okonomiyaki, served on a hot cast-iron plate so it stayed warm and crispy right to the last bite. The outside was crunchy while the inside was generously packed with cabbage and squid — great texture, and the pairing with the special tomato sauce exceeded expectations.

The rich, creamy mentaiko cream udon had that bursting mentaiko umami cutting through the heaviness of the cream sauce, and the sauce clung perfectly to the noodles — the flavor just exploded, TT TT TT TT.

What is Gusa Yeonnam's signature matcha beer like?

What impressed me most beyond expectations was the matcha beer, which I was trying for the first time — the bitter yet nutty matcha aroma paired charmingly with the cold beer's fizz. This matcha beer combo cut through the saltiness of the teppan dishes so cleanly that I was gasping with delight throughout the meal.

Between the three hearty dishes and the pairing of Kirin draft beer with matcha beer, this stood out as one of the best value-for-money spots among Hongdae restaurant-bars.

One downside: waiting at Gusa Yeonnam during the evening peak

The only small letdown was that, since this Yeonnam-dong Japanese restaurant is quite well-known, you might run into a wait during the evening peak hours — so reserving ahead is probably a good idea, haha. Next time, I want to try their signature Yeonnam-dong yakisoba or the spicy karai yaki-udon, so I'm already thinking about heading back soon for another Yeonnam-dong get-together.

Who should book a table at Gusa Yeonnam

Gusa Yeonnam is a teppan izakaya crafted with a stylish eye by its owner, born in '94, offering a special space to enjoy carefully made dishes and a variety of drinks in comfort.

• A Yeonnam-dong date after a leisurely walk through Yeontral Park
• A stylish Hongdae izakaya for a cold drink after work
• Two people who want to sample several dishes affordably with a set menu
• Anyone curious about unusual drinks like matcha beer

If you're looking for a Hongdae restaurant-bar that nails the taste, the stylish atmosphere, and the value all at once, I'd definitely recommend trying the generous set menu along with the unique matcha beer (´▽`ʃ❤ƪ) That's my honest review of Gusa Yeonnam!