Busanjin izakaya set for two, ₩39,000 filling meal: 12.24 Seomyeon

I've got a review of an izakaya in Jeonpo that's great for solo drinking or for a group hangout. It's 12.24 Seomyeon Branch, and it's only a 4-minute walk from Jeonpo Station Exit 7, so the access is really good. Great location, great for groups — here's my review of 12.24, an izakaya in Jeonpo.

Where is 12.24 Seomyeon Branch located?

• Location: 1F, 225 Jeonpo-daero, Busanjin-gu, Busan, South Korea
• Subway: Line 2 Jeonpo Station Exit 7, 3-min walk (256m); Seomyeon Station Exit 6, 10-min walk (630m)
• Bus: Take bus 24, 133, or 138-1 and get off at Jeonpo-sageori stop
• Hours: Daily from 17:00 to 02:00 the next day
• Parking: Paid parking available in the same building (Gyeongmu Building), though public transit is more convenient

It's near Jeonpo Café Street, so it's a great spot to naturally transition from a daytime café tour into dinner.

The sign out front has the hours printed nice and big, so there's no confusion. If it's your first time, it's a good idea to check ahead so you don't wander around lost.

It's roughly halfway between Jeonpo Station and Seomyeon Station, so the walk wasn't a burden coming from either direction.

What's the vibe like?

The exterior is a bit dark and hip-looking, but once you're inside, the wood-toned interior makes it feel cozy. Since it was the Christmas season, there was a tree and little decorations scattered around, which was cute.

There were quite a few solo drinkers, and there are also standing tables, so it's a good space for a casual drink. The tables were spaced generously too, so I could chat comfortably without worrying about the next table over.

I heard the owner used to be a chef at a hotel in Osaka, Japan, and maybe that's why the plating felt so intentional. Seats fill up fast in the evening, so I'd recommend going a little early.

What's on the menu?

The menu was more varied than I expected, so it was fun deciding what to order.

• Sashimi & yukhoe (beef tartare): sashimi for two ₩35,000 · Korean beef tartare ₩21,000 · salmon sashimi + beef tartare set ₩39,000
• Soups: tomato motsunabe ₩25,000 · beef pork belly Nagasaki jjamppong ₩22,000 · blue crab odeng-tang (fish cake soup) ₩21,000
• Fried & kushikatsu (fried skewers): assorted kushikatsu (11 types) ₩19,000, individual items from around ₩3,000
• Sides: grilled pollock roe & moromi-miso cucumber ₩12,000 · dried persimmon cream cheese ₩9,000

The menu lists everything by number, which was really helpful when I was on the fence about what to order. With so many options, going with two or three people to order a variety and share seems ideal.

For complimentary side dishes, they brought out cabbage and sweet potato salad.

What did I actually order? Salmon and Korean beef tartare sashimi, draft beer

I started with the salmon sashimi and beef tartare set (₩39,000) and a draft beer. I could choose between Asahi and another type for the draft — it came out nice and cold, and paired really well with the food.

Even though it's a bar, the quality of the food was high enough that I came for a drink and left full.

The salmon was sliced thick, so the texture felt substantial, and the Korean beef tartare was so savory once I mixed in the egg yolk on top. They even set out wasabi and a dipping sauce, which showed real attention to detail.

Two of us went, ordered one ₩39,000 set and two draft beers, and the portion was generous enough that we left full. The price isn't exactly cheap, but given the quality of the ingredients and the plating, it felt justified.

Would I go back to 12.24 Seomyeon Branch?

The menu is varied and the sashimi and beef tartare were both great quality, so if a drinking plan comes up in Jeonpo again, I'd go back without a doubt. It's a place you can visit easily whether you're drinking solo or with a small group, so I'd recommend it to people around me too.

Next time I want to try the fried dishes and the soups too, to enjoy more of the variety. If you're trying to figure out where to drink in Jeonpo, give 12.24 Seomyeon Branch a try!