Guro izakaya hangover ramyeon and mixed skewer set: Robatayaki Sodam

What kind of izakaya is Robatayaki Sodam in the Guro food alley?

The Guro izakaya 'Robatayaki Sodam' is located on the 2nd floor of the Guro food alley. I'd seen it pop up on Instagram reels a lot and wanted to go, so when this chance came up I finally made it happen. The reviews were good so I went in with high expectations.

The strong Japanese vibe gave it a really nice izakaya atmosphere, so my first impression was great haha. Inside there are a few 4-person tables, bar counter seats, and a private room, so it's perfect for a date! Reservations are possible too, so if you want to eat privately in a room, book ahead!

What are the bar counter seats at Robatayaki Sodam like?

We had reserved a table but arrived a bit early so ended up at the bar counter,, actually that turned out great.

Having the fish staring at me was a little unsettling,,^^,, but there was no fishy smell so it was fine sitting at the bar counter.

What we ordered at Robatayaki Sodam and what it cost

• Mixed skewer + mixed fried food set ₩44,000
• Hangover ramyeon ₩9,000
• Kirin Ichiban draft beer, 2 glasses ₩14,000
• Soju, 2 bottles ₩11,000

They also sell Ilpum 25 and Oak 25-degree soju at cheap prices, which was tempting, but my boyfriend and I both had plans the next day so we decided to keep it light tonight.

The fried egg that came as a basic side dish! Robatayaki Sodam is a Japanese-style restaurant with locations not just in Guro but also in Yeouido. Since they grill the fish and skewers right in front of you, you can enjoy them fresh and delicious.

Kirin Ichiban draft beer: 2 glasses for 14,000 won

We started with draft beer~ I was so thirsty when I ordered it, and the first sip was refreshingly cold and great. It wasn't a smooth-going-down kind of taste — the carbonation was strong and it went down the throat with a sharp, biting feel. Recommended for those who like strongly carbonated draft beer!

Once you order, they grill it right in front of you like this. Sitting at the bar counter, there's the fun of watching it being grilled too, so that's a plus. The staff were kind, and watching the grilled fish come out, you could tell it was grilled with care and in generous portions — next time I definitely want to try the grilled fish. Even sitting at the bar counter, there wasn't a hint of fishy smell, which makes me guess the freshness is high and the prep is done very well.

Hangover ramyeon, 9,000 won: does it work as a drinking snack?

The hangover ramyeon (해장라면) I tried as a hangover cure the day before! Normally you'd order it toward the end of a meal, but this day I went specifically for a meal so I ordered it right from the start. At ₩9,000 it comes in a stone pot packed with seafood, including 2 shrimp, so you don't even need to order a separate soup — it's great as a drinking snack too and I thought it was great value ><

Inside the 44,000 won mixed skewer and fried food set

The skewer + fried food set that was such great value!

The mixed fried food comes with a mix of fried oysters, karaage, croquettes, and more. The portion was bigger than expected,, my friend and I both can't eat oysters, though, and there were 4 fried oysters in there, which was a bit of a letdown. I bit into a fried oyster without knowing what it was and nearly died from the fishy taste, but if you like oysters you'd probably enjoy it. Freshly fried and hot, it's so good as a beer snack.

The skewers also came as a mixed platter, and the portion was generous! One disappointing thing was that they were all coated in sauce, so you couldn't taste the skewers' original flavor, which was a bit of a letdown and got a little repetitive,, felt like the meat could've had more juiciness too. But for this price, as a set for drinking snacks, it's satisfying enough to eat!

Reservations and events at Robatayaki Sodam

Phew,, a bar I'd recommend for anyone looking for a Guro izakaya with a good atmosphere and good value. If you check Naver, they're running various events — like a free skewer with a review after using a Place coupon, a 10% discount on sake, and more. They take reservations by seat type — room, window-side, regular table — so if you're the planning type, you'll leave satisfied.