Sangsu Station bar for negima and pineapple bacon: Soottori Hongdae

Soottori Hongdae Hapjeong: a second stop 10 minutes from Sangsu Station

After dinner somewhere between Hongdae and Hapjeong, I was trying to figure out where to go for round two and ended up at Soottori Hongdae Hapjeong. Less than a 10-minute walk from Sangsu Station, so it was easy to get to, and there were more seats than I expected, which made it look like a good spot for a group too.

What the Soottori dining room and seating are like

Walking in, I got that distinct Japanese izakaya vibe right away. The overall layout felt less like a typical restaurant and more like a converted garage in some ways, and the spot where we sat felt like a little separate room off to the side of the main space.

Kiosk ordering and the photo review freebie

There was a kiosk at every table, so ordering was easy. We'd already had round one, so we kept it simple — negima, bonjiri, pineapple bacon, and draft beer.

The kiosk's hamster character was SO cute lol… is that where 'Soottori' comes from? There's also apparently a soot-makase, an omakase-style course. Also, if you write a photo review you get a free fruit highball or spicy chicken rump skewer — worth doing haha.

The staff brought a blanket to the table

One thing I personally loved — I was a bit cold, and a staff member noticed, asked if I was cold, and brought me a blanket right away. It's a small thing, but this kind of thoughtful service makes you feel unreasonably good. Staff were friendly all around.

Free cabbage salad starter, and tea instead of water

After ordering, they brought out water and the basic side first. The cabbage salad you often see at izakayas came as a default side, and it was better than expected — I kept crunching on it lol. I also liked that the water wasn't plain water but tea. I'm sensitive to that particular musty taste some tap water has, so tea like this is a relief lol. It went well with the food too.

After a short wait, the draft beer came out first. Sipping on a cold one while waiting for the skewers, I felt like the vibe of the place matched the beer so well that night — glad we came here for round two.

How the pineapple bacon, bonjiri and negima tasted

The skewers we ordered started coming out one by one! First up: pineapple bacon and bonjiri.

I personally love the fatty richness and crunchy texture of bonjiri (chicken tail), so I ate it happily. My friend, on the other hand, was trying it for the first time and said it was a bit greasy lol. This one just doesn't get it… lol. The pineapple bacon had that combo of salty bacon and sweet grilled pineapple. I'm generally a fan of grilled fruit, so I liked having a menu item like this.

The negima came out next, chicken and scallion grilled together — a familiar combo that was reliably good. Since it was round two, it was nice to be able to pick a few skewers without it feeling too heavy. The restroom was indoors too, which was convenient, and it's separated by gender haha.

The seats facing the projector screen

Where we sat, there was footage playing on a projector screen. It really brought out that distinct izakaya vibe even more. Between the lighting, the interior, and everything else, just sitting there eating skewers and drinking a beer felt a little bit like being on a trip to Japan lol.

The place itself had more seats than expected, so it seemed like a good spot for a quiet drink for two, or for a group eating together. Especially if you're looking for somewhere to drink late around Sangsu Station, the location is decent.

Since this was round two, we didn't order a huge amount, but it was actually just right for pairing a few light skewers with draft beer. There was fun in picking between a polarizing menu item like bonjiri, a familiar one like negima, and something different like pineapple bacon.

Personally, the pineapple bacon was better than I expected, and bonjiri was as good as always since it's a favorite of mine already. More than anything, the staff noticing I was cold and bringing a blanket, plus their friendly service overall, made it a comfortable place to hang out.

Is Soottori Hongdae Hapjeong worth a second stop?

There are plenty of bars around Sangsu Station, but if you want to enjoy skewers and drinks in a Japanese izakaya atmosphere rather than somewhere too loud and rowdy, this is a good pick. Especially nice for a low-pressure round two after a full dinner. That night, we enjoyed each dish one by one and wrapped things up nicely with the draft beer!

It's easy to get to from Sangsu Station and the interior has a distinct vibe, so I think I'll think of it again next time drinks come up around Hongdae or Hapjeong. If you're looking for a bar near Sangsu Station and want something with a Japanese izakaya feel instead of the usual meat restaurant or pocha, Soottori Hongdae Hapjeong is worth considering!