Seongsu izakaya for shrimp lemon mayo and soju by the glass: Jindoken

To make the most of the weekend, I went out with a friend for a Seongsu-dong trip after a while.

We had a great time wandering the streets, and by evening we wanted a clean, well-atmosphered spot for a drink, so we headed to Jindoken, an izakaya in Seongsu.

Inside Jindoken Seongsu Branch, up on the second floor

Jindoken Seongsu Branch is an izakaya on the 2nd floor of a building at 3 Wangsimni-ro 4ga-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul. Climbing up, you find what feels like a secret door — the moment you open it, a totally different izakaya atmosphere jumps out at you, giving the whole thing a mysterious feel.

Even from the entrance, the place gave off such a sleek, modern feel that our expectations were already high before we'd even gone in.

Once inside, the space was split into two zones, which made it feel even more comfortable and left a strong impression.

Single seats, counter seats and group seats at Jindoken

Jindoken Seongsu Branch has a nice range of seating: single seats for solo drinkers, atmospheric dachi-style counter (bar) seats, and group seats for parties.

At the counter seats we could see the staff prepping an assorted sashimi platter, and the fish looked really fresh~

Overall, warm-toned soft lighting flowed through the space and the tables had a comfortable amount of space between them, which made it really nice for chatting with a friend.

I could immediately understand why this place is loved equally for dates, solo drinking, and group gatherings.

What we ordered: cream jjamppong, shrimp lemon mayo, mochi ridofu and soju by the glass

Once we sat down, we ordered the place's popular cream jjamppong along with shrimp lemon mayo, mochi ridofu, and soju by the glass to round out the mood.

Watching the glass get poured to the brim right in front of us made me feel like I was visiting a Japanese izakaya.

Soon after, the neatly arranged side dishes arrived and the table filled up nicely. The cream jjamppong I'd been most curious about — the moment I took a spoonful of the broth, a deep, rich savory flavor spread through my mouth.

Is the cream jjamppong too rich?

Jindoken's cream jjamppong has a cream base that could easily be too rich, but the right amount of spicy chili oil mixed in cuts through the richness completely, leaving a spicy, deep broth flavor that really stood out on top.

Pairing the softly rounded soju with the spicy cream jjamppong broth was truly an excellent combination.

Pro tip: instead of dumping in all the noodles at once, adding them a little at a time made the dish taste even better.

How were the shrimp lemon mayo and mochi ridofu?

The shrimp lemon mayo we also ordered was a real treat — big, crisply fried shrimp coated in a tangy, sweet lemon mayo sauce. The savoriness of the fried batter combined with the freshness of the lemon, so we kept reaching for more without ever getting tired of it.

For a palate-cleansing dessert at the end, we tried the mochi ridofu, whose chewy yet soft texture was perfectly on point — ideal for wrapping things up cleanly.

Under the soft lighting, tipping back soju alongside delicious food, I felt all the weekend fatigue melt away.

Is Jindoken worth it as a Seongsu bar in Seoul?

Being able to enjoy high-quality Japanese food and a drink in such an atmospheric setting made for a thoroughly satisfying day for both my friend and me.

If you're looking for a Seongsu-dong bar that has both well-made side dishes and a comfortable sense of space, I'd definitely recommend giving Jindoken a visit. Thanks to the warmth this lovely space gives off, I think I'll end up back here again soon. ✨