Gwangjin izakaya bar for aged sashimi and charcoal skewers: Huto

This time, my husband and I were staying overnight around Konkuk University and wondering what to have for dinner. It had been a while since I’d wanted to go to an izakaya, so I looked for one in the area and found Huto (후토), which lots of people visit for its popular charcoal skewers and sashimi. So off we went!

Huto near Konkuk University Station: location and hours

Address: 98 Dongil-ro 24-gil, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea, 2F (서울 광진구 동일로24길 98 2층) Hours: Mon–Fri 17:00–02:00 / Sat 16:00–02:00 / Sun 16:00–01:00

Huto was tucked into an alley not far from Konkuk University Station.

It’s on the second floor, and even the staircase up had such a lovely vibe.

When we went inside, it was already packed despite being a weekday, and the seats filled up quickly. They say it’s famous as a Konkuk University izakaya, and this really proved it, right?

I couldn’t photograph many seats because there were so many guests, but the cozy little space was memorable. There are bar seats too, so it would be great for drinking alone or coming as a pair. We sat farther inside, where lots of couples seemed to be seated. Totally doable for a Konkuk University date, right? Various bottles of sake were displayed along the wall too, which made for such a nice atmosphere.

Ordering Huto’s assorted sashimi and six-skewer set

Looking over the menu, I could see why Huto is such a popular Konkuk University izakaya. There was a wide variety of charcoal skewers, plus sashimi, cooked dishes, soups, and so many tempting choices. Since my husband and I were stopping by as our first round, we ordered Huto’s signature assorted sashimi and the assorted six-skewer set.

After you order, they bring the basic bar snacks and small plates ^^ And of course, we couldn’t leave out drinks. We ordered soju.

Handmade skewers grilled over charcoal

First up was the assorted skewer platter. Isn’t the presentation amazing? These weren’t factory-made skewers—they were handmade and grilled over charcoal right there—so even the look and aroma got our appetites going. The skewers we had that day were rice cake and pork belly, chicken thigh, quail egg and pork belly, chicken tail, shrimp and pork belly, and chicken breast cartilage.

The charcoal aroma and the sauce brushed on them made them even tastier.

And the real kick was dipping them in this mayonnaise, then eating them with the cabbage underneath—it went together so well ^^

Assorted aged sashimi served over ice

Then the assorted sashimi arrived. It’s Huto’s signature menu item. The fish is aged, and I heard they prepare eight to nine kinds of sashimi every day, so I was even more excited. The presentation was honestly heaven. You expect sashimi at an izakaya, of course, but it doesn’t often live up to expectations. This time, though, I was truly satisfied.

I loved the variety: tuna, sweet shrimp, herring, sake-steamed abalone, octopus, salmon, mullet, and sea bream. Because it was aged fish, the texture was so good. The slices weren’t thin either, so it was nice to get a proper mouthful. It was soft and savory with no fishiness, and the flavor was different from other places—so satisfying ^^ Served over ice, it stayed cool until the very last bite.

In the end, we really let loose, kept eating, and had drink after drink. My husband kept saying how delicious both the sashimi and skewers were—it had been a while since he’d enjoyed a meal like that. Even while we were eating, more and more guests kept coming in... And the staff were so kind that we happily wrapped up our drinks.

A satisfying izakaya for a Konkuk University date

Huto was the Konkuk University izakaya we visited while my husband and I were out on a date, and it was such a satisfying visit. There are lots of izakayas around, but I hadn’t found one I truly liked—Huto was the real deal. The handmade skewers were made in-house, and you can see them being grilled as soon as you enter, which made me trust the place even more ^^ Plus, there was that high-quality assorted sashimi! I couldn’t find a single fault. Next time, I want to work my way through the other menu items too. If you’re looking for a Konkuk University date spot or an izakaya in the area, I recommend Huto.