Guro bar for sashimi and oden hot pot: Robatayaki Sodam

An izakaya near Guro Digital Complex Station

I visited the Gudi bar and izakaya Robatayaki Sodam! Even on a weekday evening, it was packed with customers... seriously such a popular spot. It is on Kkalkkal Street, just a three-minute walk from Guro Digital Complex Station, so it looked ideal for office workers to stop by for a quick drink after work 👍

Inside, the wood tones and soft orange lighting really create that Japanese izakaya feeling. Robatayaki Sodam has bar tables and private rooms, so it seemed perfect not only for dates but also for all kinds of gatherings and work dinners!

Can you watch the grilling from the counter?

Robatayaki Sodam, this Gudi bar and izakaya, uses the Japanese robatayaki style, grilling fish and skewers fresh right in front of customers for a wonderfully unfamiliar atmosphere. If you want to watch the grilling up close, I recommend sitting at the datchi counter seats! Such a unique vibe 🔥

When we got the menu, there were so many choices—grilled fish, sashimi, butter-grilled abalone, butter-grilled scallops, grilled mero, assorted skewers, yuringi, oden nabe (Japanese fish-cake hot pot), Nagasaki-style noodle soup, and all kinds of drinks—that I got completely indecisive... After much deliberation, we ordered the small sashimi + assorted skewer + oden nabe set, plus hangover ramen as a side,,

• Small sashimi + assorted skewers + oden nabe set: ₩67,000
• Hangover ramen: ₩9,000
• Ilpum Jinro Oak 25: ₩20,000

When we ordered Ilpum Jinro, they brought ice, tonic water, and lemon. I am pregnant, so I could not drink, but my husband absolutely loved it,, 🥃 I ordered cider for myself, added ice and lemon, and just enjoyed the mood. They also gave us a fried egg as the basic snack, and it was simple and tasty!

Small sashimi set and the texture of aged raw fish

First up was the small sashimi order. I did not expect much because it was the small size, but it had a surprisingly generous selection and portion—way beyond expectations..! It included flounder, salmon, sea bass, mullet, mackerel, yellowtail, and octopus. It was sooo good with pickled scallions, wasabi, and radish sprouts. Maybe because it was aged sashimi, there was not even a hint of fishiness, and the chewy texture was truly outstanding~! 💞

Oden hot pot and assorted skewers served one by one

Next came the oden nabe..! The dishes did not all arrive at once; they came slowly, one after another, so it felt a little like a course meal and was great for enjoying a long, cozy conversation with my husband. The oden nabe had a generous amount of various fish cakes, plus cabbage, crown daisy, onion, and other vegetables. The broth was clear and not overly salty—really delicious. With the flavor drawn from the fish cakes too, it was the kind of broth I kept ladling up! There were so many types of fish cake that it was fun choosing them one by one.

The skewers here are insane.. The assorted skewers arrived straight off the grill, steaming away and looking sooo delicious.. There were chicken hearts, shrimp, chicken, mushrooms, garlic, gingko nuts, bacon-wrapped tomatoes, and more—such a solid selection. Best of all, they were nicely savory and seriously tasty. The portion was more than excellent too!

Refreshing hangover ramen and ice cream

We wanted a little more, so we ordered hangover ramen as a palate cleanser,, It had bean sprouts, webfoot octopus, shrimp, and mussels, and the mildly seasoned broth felt so refreshing in the stomach.. Once you try it, you immediately understand why it is called hangover ramen!

Lastly, we got vanilla cheese ice cream for leaving a receipt review..! As I have gestational diabetes, I only tasted a bite or two, but the combination of the cheese's saltiness and vanilla ice cream was just insane. It tasted luxurious too—after drinking, writing a receipt review and finishing with this cool, sweet dessert seems absolutely perfect.

Robatayaki Sodam Guro Digital Complex Branch is a great spot for Gudi office workers' work dinners and dates. Watching fish and skewers grill right in front of us was unique, and the atmosphere was cozy yet comfortable, making it lovely for a long stay. I recommend Robatayaki Sodam to anyone looking for a Gudi bar or Gudi date spot~ 💗