Yeongdeungpo izakaya salmon sashimi and fried oysters: Nani Byeolgwan

Some days you're just not in the mood for a loud, crowded bar — you want dim lighting and good food to focus on instead! Near Yeongdeungpo Times Square, I found a hidden gem with exactly that vibe, great for dates or gatherings, with food that's amazing bite after bite. I booked a reservation and rushed over!😘

What Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch looks like from outside

Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch is an izakaya on the 1st floor of 183 Munnae-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, and its warm wood-toned exterior catches the eye from a distance. It has a slight traditional Japanese house feel, and with the wooden sign and door, it radiates a cozy, warm energy even before you step inside!!

How to get there from Times Square, and where to park

Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch is located just in front of Yeongdeungpo Times Square (2-minute walk)! Such a convenient spot for public transit.

• 10-minute walk from Yeongdeungpo Station (Line 1) Exit 6
• 11-minute walk from Yeongdeungpo Market Station (Line 5) Exit 4
• 12-minute walk from Munnae Station (Line 2) Exit 4

There's no dedicated store parking lot, but Yeongdeungpo-dong Public Parking Lot No. 3 (paid) is a 4-minute walk away!

Yeongdeungpo-dong Public Parking Lot No. 3 (paid)

Inside Nani Byeolgwan: atmosphere and seating types

Walking through the door, I was surprised the vibe inside was even better than it looked from outside! The overall dark, soft lighting created a calm mood where you can really focus on each other.

Bar counter seats

The bar counter seats, where you can watch the cooking up close, are perfect for solo drinking!! Sitting side by side chatting away also looked great for a date!!

Table seats

Further inside there's a space with high tables and high chairs! With big bookshelves lining the walls and soft indirect lighting, the mood gets even more upscale and romantic! Great for a date with your partner, and also great for sitting comfortably chatting with friends!

This is where I sat, and it was lovely for a cozy, intimate chat for two!💕

There's also a basket under each chair, so great for storing your belongings! (Such a thoughtful touch from the owner...👍🏻)

2nd-floor room and group seating

There's seating upstairs too, and the 2nd floor seemed perfect for friends or a small gathering to enjoy a drink together!

Table setting and the complimentary cabbage salad

Each table comes neatly set with cold water, napkins, utensils, a small plate, and a paper cup!

The complimentary starter is a cabbage salad drizzled with shiodare sauce!

At Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch, a chef with 15 years of experience personally prepares every dish!

There's a wide variety of drinks too!

How were the salmon sashimi and fried oysters?

Thick-cut salmon sashimi

Finally, the main dish I'd been waiting for — salmon sashimi!! It looked glossy and super fresh at a glance, and the slices were cut nice and thick, so the plump, bouncy texture filled my mouth like art! Plus, the thoughtful touch of giving each person their own soy sauce dish made it hygienic and easy to eat — I really loved that!

Fried oysters

Next up was the oyster fritters! Crispy on the outside, but packed with plump oyster inside — the texture was no joke! They were so hefty and plump that eating one whole piece filled my mouth completely haha. A bite of plump oyster fritter with a somaek (soju-beer mix) was the perfect pair!!

Restrooms, call bells and other conveniences

Shared restrooms always feel a bit unpleasant to use, but here the men's and women's restrooms are separate, which I liked!

There's also a Wi-Fi QR code near the table, and a call bell at every table, which was convenient! (You know how annoying it is when a table doesn't have a bell.. ㅠ)

Is Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch worth a visit?

If you're looking for an izakaya near Yeongdeungpo Times Square that nails both atmosphere and food quality, I recommend Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch! With several different seating styles, it seemed great for solo drinking, an intimate date with your partner, or catching up with friends! The food was as good as the atmosphere, and from the individual soy sauce dishes on, you could really feel the owner's thoughtfulness! I got swept up in the mood and won over by the food — this was a truly satisfying visit, and I think I'll be back soon!