Yeonnam-dong izakaya in Seoul for round two: Yakitori Uno

It was on the way home from work yesterday, with an unusually cool and pleasant breeze blowing.

Going straight home felt like a waste, so a friend and I looked for somewhere in Yeonnam-dong to have a light second round. That's how we ended up at a place called Yakitori Uno.

We'd already eaten a solid first round, so we wanted somewhere with atmosphere that wasn't too heavy — and it turned out to be a great choice. 🌙

Inside Yakitori Uno: roomy tables for a Yeonnam-dong bar

Yakitori Uno is an izakaya on the first floor, set back in an alley off Donggyo-ro in Yeonnam-dong. Walking in, we were greeted by cozy, comfortable lighting.

Most Yeonnam-dong bars tend to be so cramped that you can hear the table next to you, but here the tables had a decent amount of space between them, which made it perfect for chatting quietly with a friend.

The interior had a hint of Japan to it while still feeling clean and tidy. You can also watch the chef grilling skewers by hand, which makes it a treat for the eyes as well as the mouth. ✨

What comes in the 4-skewer yakitori course for two?

We tried Yakitori Uno's well-rounded yakitori set for two with 4 skewers. Since this was our second-round stop, there were plenty of options that paired well with another round of drinks!

It started with a salty bacon-wrapped quail egg, followed by chicken heart with an amazing chewy texture, chicken wings that were the definition of crispy-outside-juicy-inside, and finally chicken breast with a clean, light flavor.

My favorite — the chicken heart skewer ❤️🧡 It's hard to find these days since not many places serve it.

The skewers carried a faint charcoal aroma, and the first bite burst with juices — I couldn't help but sigh with satisfaction. Every ingredient was seasoned just right, so the drinks went down smoothly.

The chicken wings in particular were fun to pick clean off the bone — hard to beat as a second-round snack. 🍢

You could really tell the ingredients here were fresher than at other Yeonnam-dong izakayas. The care put into grilling each skewer individually clearly came through in the taste. Paired with a cold beer, the day's tiredness just melted away.

Looking for a Yeonnam-dong izakaya for round two?

We only made it to Yakitori Uno for round two, but the food was good enough that next time I'd like to start there from round one and work through more of the menu. 🍻

If you're after a comfortable spot for deep conversation with good food, this place is hard to beat. Tucked away in an alley off the Yeonnam-dong bar street, it even has that hideaway feel — like only insiders know about it.

I'm planning to visit again soon, before the weather gets much colder, to soak in the atmosphere one more time. If you're looking for a place near Yeonnam-dong with both great value and great vibes, this one's worth a stop. 🎈