Yeonnam-dong izakaya with strawberry highballs: Kushino Kitchen

Where Kushino Kitchen is and its opening hours

Kushino Kitchen is an izakaya at 218 Donggyo-ro, B1, Mapo-gu, Seoul, near Exit 3 of Hongik University Station. It's open daily from 16:00 to 01:00, with last order at 00:00.

Lately I've been wanting a proper Japanese-local vibe to enjoy good side dishes with a drink, so I checked out Kushino Kitchen, one of Hongdae's go-to izakaya hotspots.

This place is already famous around Hongdae for its handmade Japanese yakitori (grilled skewers) and signature nabe (hot pot) dishes. The atmosphere, the visuals, and the taste of the food were all on point, so I really want to recommend it to anyone looking for a Hongdae date course.

A basement entrance that feels like a Tokyo back alley

You can feel the Japanese mood the moment you walk in... Going down the stairs, there are vivid red lanterns and retro posters full of Japanese flavor lining the walk, and it genuinely felt like heading into a hidden izakaya alley in Tokyo. I think photos at the entrance would come out really pretty.

Step inside and a cozy, warm wood interior welcomes you. Every table has a tablet installed, so you can order comfortably while browsing menu photos — I really liked that. The lighting is dim and moody too, making this one of the Hongdae bars that's ideal for a date or a quiet conversation.

Handmade yakitori skewers grilled at the open kitchen

Since 'kushi' means skewer in Japanese, Kushino Kitchen is known for doing proper yakitori right! Past the open kitchen, you can watch the chefs carefully grilling skewers over charcoal and with a torch — a treat for both eyes and ears.

What stood out especially was that all the staff wore full gear — hats, masks, gloves — even in the hot kitchen! You could tell right away how clean everything was, and I really appreciated that.

Once seated, a basic side dish of crispy, savory potato chips arrives. Kind of like those green-bag baby potato chips, if you know that junky snack taste? A perfect basic bite to start off with a cold drink.

Strawberry highball, orange highball and Suntory premium draft

Finally, our drinks arrived! The moment I saw them, I let out a 'wow' without even meaning to.

The strawberry highball, loaded generously with fresh strawberries, was fresh and sweet — a great pick even for people who are sensitive to the smell of alcohol. The orange highball, topped with a big tower of sliced orange, was also a hit with my friend who doesn't drink much. And honestly, doesn't this orange highball look like a total Instagram MZ shot? 😚😚

Ah, and Japanese beer really is delicious. The foam on top is genuinely creamy against your lips... that's the Suntory premium draft beer. The kind of taste that could get you hooked on another level.

What does the lemon cream karaage taste like?

The lemon cream karaage we ordered as a side showed up right after. The fried chicken was crispy outside and juicy inside, generously topped with a tangy yet savory lemon cream sauce — the flavor was fantastic. Paired with the crunchy salad and tomatoes on the side, there was zero greasy heaviness.

One thing to note: the batter is thin and has more of an old-school gangjeong (sweet crispy coating) feel than a super crunchy one, so keep that in mind.

Signature kushino nabe (hot pot) with pasta noodles added

Here's the signature menu item, kushino nabe. The spicy-sweet tomato-based broth is packed with mussels and pasta noodles, and piled high on top with sausage, rice cakes, cherry tomatoes, beef heart, and chicken skewers — so much fun picking through it all.

It was so good I added extra pasta noodles... and they were kind enough to add more sauce and broth too, which I appreciated.

Restrooms and the verdict on Kushino Kitchen

The restroom inside the venue is kept clean and well-maintained, so it's comfortable for women too. I've been burned so many times by restrooms at izakaya like this that I nearly teared up the moment I saw this one.

Kushino Kitchen serves delicious handmade side dishes, Instagram-worthy signature highballs, and lets you soak in a genuine Japanese-local atmosphere all at once! If you're planning a Hongdae date course for a special occasion, or looking for a Hongdae restaurant and bar where you can enjoy tasty food with a good drink, this is a must-visit!