Guro izakaya for after-work grilled fish: Robatayaki Sodam

Robatayaki Sodam Guro Digital Complex Branch (로바다야끼소담 구로디지털단지점), on the second floor at 97-3 Digital-ro 32-gil, Guro-gu, Seoul, is open ყოველდღે from 17:00 to 01:30 with no break time. Paid parking costs ₩3,000 per hour.

A robatayaki atmosphere in Guro

It had been a while since I’d enjoyed a robatayaki atmosphere, so I visited Robatayaki Sodam Guro Digital Complex Branch.

The moment I stepped inside, it felt distinctly like a Japanese izakaya. The red lanterns and wooden interior made it a lovely place for a drink.

At the bar, fish and skewer ingredients were displayed right in front of you, which was fun to look at too.

They were running an event as well. If you stop the timer at 3.33 seconds, you get ₩33,300 off.

They also sell aged sashimi, so fish was hanging in this aging refrigerator. On the way to the restroom, I followed the side hallway and found there were lots of private rooms too.

Assorted skewers and whole grilled fish

A fried egg came out as the complimentary starter. It arrived cooked on an iron plate, so it was nice to have one before the drinks came out. It’s a simple starter, but I think fried-egg fans would be quietly happy about it. The assorted skewers we ordered first had a great variety, from meat to bacon-wrapped tomatoes, ginkgo nuts, and mushrooms.

Since I could try a little of several things, ordering the assorted set seemed like a good idea for a first visit. The subtle smoky char especially paired well with drinks.

Already drunk on the atmosphere haha

We ordered grilled fish too. True to the robatayaki atmosphere, it came grilled whole, crisp on the outside and moist inside.

It came with lemon and wasabi, and having them with it here and there kept everything clean and not rich. Fish for grilling was displayed right at the front of the restaurant, so it was fun to see what might come out.

The fish flesh was so thick, and it was absolutely delicious eaten with the skin.

A drink-friendly combination with yuringi and chicken skewers

The yuringi was crispy fried chicken served over lettuce, topped with Cheongyang chili peppers and sauce.

After continuing with skewers and grilled fish, the tangy flavor came in and the combination worked really well. The crisp texture had soaked up the sauce nicely, and personally I found it very satisfying as a drinking snack.

The chicken skewers in the assorted set had been tasty, so we ordered chicken skewers separately too. They were nicely browned outside and moist inside.

They weren’t overly seasoned, so they were easy to eat, and very tender.

Overall, there were lots of dishes that went well with drinks, including skewers, grilled fish, and yuringi, and I loved the restaurant’s Japanese local-izakaya feel. If you’re looking for an after-work drink in Guro or an izakaya near Guro Digital Complex Station, Robatayaki Sodam Guro Digital Complex Branch would be worth a visit. On the taxi ride home, I watched the Yeouido Fireworks Festival, and when I got home, fireworks were still going off beyond my balcony window haha. It was such a nice day, ending on a happy note at home after a delicious visit to Robatayaki Sodam.