Yeouido izakaya dinner with nabe: Nani Yeouido Branch

Is it good for both dinner and drinks?

While looking for somewhere in Yeouido to have dinner and naturally continue with a drink, I visited Nani Yeouido Branch. When a meal alone feels a little lacking but light bar snacks are not enough, it worked well for both dinner and drinks.

The two of us ordered chadol tantan nabe (spicy sesame hot pot with beef brisket) and yakisoba (Japanese-style fried noodles). Pairing a broth-based dish with fried noodles was filling, making it a good combination for dinner and drinks.

How do you get there from Yeouido Station?

Nani Yeouido Branch is on the third floor of the S-TRENUE building, about 79 m from Exit 3 of Yeouido Station. I took the escalator beside the building up to the third floor.

The hours listed in the original post are 5 PM to 2 AM the following day from Monday through Saturday, with last orders at 1 AM. It is regularly closed every Sunday, and parking is available.

What are the seating and lighting like?

Once I went inside past the entrance, it felt cozier than it had looked from outside. The subdued lighting and wood-toned interior created an evening-drinks atmosphere. A large cherry-blossom-like decoration with small lights in the middle stood out.

Some seats were separated by curtains and partitions. Because the seating was somewhat divided rather than completely open, it was comfortable to eat and talk.

It looked suitable for anything from drinks for two to a gathering with several people. Reservations are available, so checking on seating in advance would be convenient for a group.

What did the chadol tantan nabe taste like?

The chadol tantan nabe we had first came with plenty of bean sprouts over a red broth, along with ssukgat (crown daisy). It also contained beef brisket, so there was a fair amount to pick out and eat rather than it being a light soup with only broth.

I liked the combination of rich broth and the crisp texture of the bean sprouts. The occasional aroma of crown daisy kept the broth from feeling only heavy. I prefer a warm, broth-based dish to dry bar snacks, so I reached for this one often. It would also work well for sharing from the center of the table with a group.

Is yakisoba filling enough for a meal?

The yakisoba came on a large plate with noodles, bean sprouts, onions, and more stir-fried together, topped with katsuobushi (bonito flakes) and finely sliced scallions. Plenty of bean sprouts were mixed among the noodles, giving it a better texture than noodles alone.

When I served some onto a small plate, the noodles and bean sprouts came up together almost every time. There were also large pieces of onion, so it was enjoyable to eat the stir-fried vegetables with the noodles. Mixed with the bonito flakes, it had the familiar yakisoba flavor I expect at an izakaya, serving as both a meal and a snack with drinks.

Chadol tantan nabe alone felt closer to a broth-based snack, but adding yakisoba meant we did not need to eat dinner elsewhere first. Alternating between the two dishes was enough for the two of us to continue with both dinner and drinks.

What kind of dinner plans does it suit?

It was easy to meet up because it is close to Yeouido Station, and once inside, it felt a little removed from the surrounding business-district atmosphere. The curtained and partitioned seats would suit a time when you want to talk over drinks in a cozy space.

For me, it suited plans to meet straight after work and start with dinner. If I return, I would like to order the chadol tantan nabe again, especially for its rich broth and bean sprouts.