Yeongdeungpo wood-tone izakaya, cucumber muchim: Nani Byeolgwan

What kind of bar is Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch?

Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch is a dark wood-tone izakaya on Munnae-ro in Yeongdeungpo-gu. It has both bar seats and table seats, so it works for a casual drink, but it also looked good for a date or a small gathering.

There's always that struggle when you're making plans around Yeongdeungpo — there are plenty of restaurants, but finding a bar with a decent vibe and decent food is surprisingly hard. This time, though, Nani in Yeongdeungpo was way more my taste than expected, from the exterior to the interior. Drumroll.

This is what the exterior of Nani Byeolgwan looks like. From the first glance it had a bit of a hidden-bar feel. The sign isn't big or flashy — the wood-tone facade has soft lighting, and the mood was great. A place like this in Yeongdeungpo? My expectations went up before I even walked in.

Bar seats, the wood display cabinet and separated seats at the back

Walking into Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch, the bar seats catch your eye first. The whole space is dark wood-tone with warm lighting, so it felt more like a place to enjoy the atmosphere than just drink. If you're looking for somewhere calmer to talk instead of a loud, bright bar, you'd probably like this vibe.

On one wall there's a display cabinet like this, with books, bottles, and objects arranged under the lighting, which made the whole space feel quite pretty. The kind of spot that photographs well. I mean, with a space like this, how could I not take pictures haha.

Further inside there was seating with a separated feel like this. The lighting was soft and the tables were wide, which looked good for a group eating together.

If you're looking for a date bar or a quiet spot for a small gathering in Yeongdeungpo, you'd probably like seating like this.

What we ordered at Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch

On this visit, we ordered sinramyeon risotto, cucumber muchim, chicken skewers, and pork belly-scallion skewers at Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch.

• Sinramyeon risotto
• Cucumber muchim (seasoned cucumber salad)
• Chicken skewers
• Pork belly-scallion skewers

Just the menu names are kind of fun, especially the sinramyeon risotto. Wait, Sinramyeon (a spicy instant noodle brand) meeting risotto? I couldn't not order it out of curiosity.

Cucumber muchim: the palate cleanser between skewers

The cucumber muchim came out first. It's always a nice surprise when a bar has cucumber muchim. It's perfect for cleansing your palate between oily dishes. The cucumbers were cut in big chunks with a crisp texture that went well with the skewers. Salty and refreshing, it was a nice light way to start the drinking. Having one dish like this balances out the table — meat, then cucumber, then meat again. Infinite loop haha.

Chicken skewers served with mayo and seasoning powder

Next, the chicken skewers. They had a glossy sheen and a slight char aroma to look at. One bite in, the meat was tender and the sauce wasn't overly sweet or salty, so it wasn't heavy. There was mayonnaise and a shichimi-style spice powder on the plate, and adding those brought a nutty, spicy kick that suited it even better. Skewers seem like a basic bar dish, but when they're bad, it shows immediately. These were reliably good.

Up close they're this golden brown. Look at that shine. This is already saying it's going to be delicious.

Pork belly-scallion skewers with the scallion aroma coming through

And then the pork belly-scallion skewers. I personally love skewers like this. Meat alone can get a little greasy, but adding scallion really lifts the aroma. The savoriness of the pork belly paired with the fragrant scallion made for a slightly more layered flavor than the chicken skewers.

The outside was golden brown, and the scallion aroma came through from inside, so every bite had both savoriness and fragrance together. This was a snack that went really well with drinks.

Sinramyeon risotto served in the ramyeon cup itself

And now, today's curiosity item: the sinramyeon risotto. When it first arrived, there was literally a Sinramyeon cup sitting right on top, which stole the show visually. Wait, what is this haha. I thought only the name was fun, but the presentation is fun too.

Once you remove the cup, there's risotto underneath. It had that distinct spicy Sinramyeon aroma, but it wasn't just like ramyeon broth — mixed with a creamy sauce, it felt much smoother. Spicy but thick, familiar yet unfamiliar — that description fits perfectly. You could definitely taste the Sinramyeon flavor, but it was loosened out creamy like a risotto, so it worked surprisingly well as a drinking snack.

Up close you can really see the thick texture. If you go in expecting it to taste like ramyeon because it's made from it, it's different — and if you think of it as risotto, it has a spicy twist. Personally, the name alone made it memorable, and it was a good menu to share among several people. Especially good for everyone going 'wait, what is this?' and taking a spoonful each haha.

Who is Nani Byeolgwan in Yeongdeungpo right for?

Nani Byeolgwan in Yeongdeungpo felt less like a place you go for the food alone and more like a bar for enjoying the atmosphere and snacks together. With the dark wood-tone interior, warm lighting, and both bar seats and inner seating, it looked good for a date or a get-together with friends.

Of everything we ate that day, the sinramyeon risotto was the most memorable. The name alone is unique, and eating it, the familiar Sinramyeon flavor combined with a creamy risotto feel made it a fun, memorable dish. The skewers went well with drinks, and the cucumber muchim was great for cleansing the palate in between.

Here's who I'd recommend this to:

• Anyone looking for a good-vibe bar in Yeongdeungpo
• Anyone deciding on a date spot in Yeongdeungpo
• Anyone looking for a bar that's good for quiet conversation
• Anyone who likes skewer snacks
• Anyone who likes unusual menu items
• Anyone curious about sinramyeon risotto

Overall, this is the kind of place that suits wanting a drink somewhere with a bit of atmosphere, rather than just picking any random bar for the night. A wood-tone vibe like this in Yeongdeungpo — not bad. Actually, pretty great. Another good day collecting tasty snacks and a nice space. If you're looking for a bar in Yeongdeungpo, Nani Byeolgwan is worth a visit :)