Seafood izakaya in Sadang, Seoul for dinner with parents: Cheonjan

On the day I planned a drink with my mom and dad in the Sadang-dong food alley, I went hunting for a bar with a good vibe. My parents love seafood, so I searched for izakayas (Japanese-style pubs) and found this place! Cheonjan, near Exit 10 of Sadang Station, has become a Sadang hot spot with its signature Cheonjan Hansang series that captures the taste of the sea. Here's my honest review of the Hansang A set and drinks with my parents~

Cheonjan near Sadang Station: hours and practical info

Cheonjan is open daily from 17:00 to 02:00, and reservations are possible. There's no parking, it's a no-kids zone, and group seating is for 5 to 7 people.

• Hours: daily 17:00–02:00
• Wi-Fi available
• Reservations accepted
• No kids zone
• No parking
• Group seating (5 to 7 people)
• Zero Pay accepted

What is Cheonjan, the izakaya in Sadang-dong's food alley, like inside?

Cheonjan clearly stands out in the Sadang-dong food alley with its moody izakaya look. The distinctive name and soft lighting give it a cozy yet stylish bar feel, so even with my parents it made a great first impression.

There's a mood lamp reading "Even when the drinks are good, the conversation tastes better," plus a standing sign showing appetizing photos of signature dishes like the 1++ hanwoo yukhoe, yurinchi and brisket mala hot pot, so my expectations went up~ As a popular date-course spot in Sadang, it has a waiting list. I went on a holiday weekend and luckily got in right away with no wait.

Cheonjan seating: private sofa booths with partitions

Inside, it's a cozy, quiet place for conversation. Most tables are private sofa seats with partitions, so you can relax without worrying about people around you. A hip neon sign showing Cheonjan's identity glows on one wall, and hanging scrolls with sentimental phrases add charm.

Sake bottles of all kinds are lined up neatly on the wall shelves, and there's even Shin-chan, my favorite~ It's fun to look around at all the little details. With such an intimate mood, it's perfect for a date, family gathering, friends' get-together, wedding invitation meetup, or a second round after a company dinner.

Cheonjan time limit: 2 hours 30 minutes on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays

At Cheonjan in Sadang, the time limit is 2 hours 30 minutes on Fridays, Saturdays and public holidays. Besides good food, they provide careful usage notes and a guide to tasty combinations. Since it's such a popular spot with lots of people waiting, I heard the limit is there so everyone can enjoy their time comfortably.

Cheonjan Hansang sets A, B and C: what's the difference?

Set A centers on 1++ grade 9 hanwoo (Korean beef) yukhoe, salmon flown in from Norway, and sweet shrimp. Set B adds Hanoi hot pot to that, and Set C adds yurinchi and potato salad to Set B. The menu is full, from the signature Hansang sets to hearty main dishes and a wide range of drinks, and this is an easy way to compare the sets.

• Set A: 1++ grade 9 hanwoo yukhoe, Norwegian raw salmon, sweet shrimp, rice, seaweed, 33cm buckwheat pancake, geotjeori (fresh kimchi), 5 special sauces
• Set B: Set A + Hanoi hot pot
• Set C: Set B + yurinchi + potato salad

Cheonjan menu: small plates, hot pots, sides and drinks

• Dishes: mini raw salmon sashimi, raw salmon sashimi, 1++ hanwoo yukhoe, 1++ hanwoo mala yukhoe, yurinchi, french fries, brisket stir-fried udon, sweet shrimp
• Hot pots: brisket Hanoi hot pot, fish cake stew, Nagasaki champon hot pot, brisket mala hot pot
• Sides: potato salad, tako wasabi, 33cm buckwheat pancake, grilled cod roe, agedashi tofu salad, corn pancake, fried chicken, steamed rice
• Drinks: distilled spirits such as Hwayo and Seoul-ui Bam, Kirin draft beer, berry, Cheonjan and Jim Beam highballs, and a sake list with sweetness and body noted

The drinks you can't skip at an izakaya range from distilled spirits to draft beer, highballs, and a sake list with sweetness and body described in detail! A whole lineup of drinks made to pair perfectly with seafood..!

Cheonjan's complimentary snack and our order

Cheonjan's basic appetizer is nutty, crunchy macaroni snacks. The appetizer and drinks are set out before the main dishes arrive, and the snacks are perfect for nibbling when your mouth is bored, so they went well with beer while waiting. The tiny carrot-shaped bottle opener is cute too, and it built up my excitement for the dishes to come.

For reference, here's what I ordered.

• Cheonjan Hansang A ₩52,900
• Cass beer ₩5,000
• Total ₩57,900

Cheonjan Hansang A set: what came out and how did it taste?

The Hansang A set came packed onto a big basket plate. At last, today's main event: a showy presentation and such a generous spread that the table legs seemed ready to break. It made me exclaim out loud..

Grade 1++ (9th-grade marbling) hanwoo yukhoe

The top-grade 1++ grade 9 hanwoo yukhoe showed its marbling and freshness at a glance. It was nutty and melted softly in my mouth, an amazing texture.

Norwegian raw salmon and sweet shrimp

The Norwegian salmon came sliced thick, with that chewy, sweet flavor that makes your mouth water. The sweet shrimp on top hits the spot for seafood fans and needs no explanation..!

33cm buckwheat pancake and steamed red scallops

The hugely sized 33cm buckwheat pancake combines crunchy toppings with the nutty flavor of buckwheat, and I just kept inhaling it.

On top of that, from chewy steamed red scallops to rice, seaweed and white kimchi, my chopsticks just wouldn't stop going everywhere...

How to eat Cheonjan Hansang: trying the sauce pairing guide

Cheonjan provides a Hansang guide with main ingredients and special sauce combinations. I followed the suggested ways to eat, and it's so much fun mixing ingredients and sauces to make your own perfect "glass"~

First drink: egg soy sauce, sweet shrimp, red scallop, wasabi and seaweed

Put chewy, sweet shrimp on seaweed with the nutty egg soy sauce, add a dab of wasabi, and the flavor of the sea fills your whole mouth~

Second drink: sesame sauce with hanwoo yukhoe

The sesame sauce combo maximizes the natural nuttiness and savoriness of the 1++ grade 9 hanwoo yukhoe, and it melts softly in your mouth. Maybe because I love meat, the yukhoe was the best ever.

Third drink: tartar sauce, onion, raw salmon and wasabi

Tender Norwegian salmon with crunchy onion and the special tartar sauce, plus wasabi, makes a foolproof, fantastic salmon combo!

Fourth drink: rice, napa cabbage geotjeori and seasoned seaweed (my own combo)

This one's actually my own recipe, not in the guide. In a way it's a very plain combination, but it's so delicious..

Who is Cheonjan near Sadang Station good for?

Cheonjan, a cooking pub in Sadang-dong, was enjoyable the whole time thanks to the fresh Hansang spread and the beer pairing. The atmosphere is quiet and tidy and the staff are kind, so I'd recommend it for wedding invitation meetups, family dinners, friends' gatherings, blind dates, date nights, and second rounds after a company dinner. I want to come back next time with my close unnie (older female friend)! If you're looking for a bar with great snacks in Sadang or Isu, give Cheonjan a visit.