5pm opening run for sushi platter at OSA Hannam, Yongsan izakaya

This time I visited OSA Hannam, an izakaya in Hannam-dong that actually serves proper meals. The vibe is so upscale and polished that it'd be perfect for booking a room on a special occasion, and the outdoor terrace feels almost like abroad — great for casually hanging out with good food.

OSA Hannam location, parking, hours

• Location: 61-1 Hannamdaero20-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Parking: Valet available / ₩5,000 for the first 2 hours
• Hours: Daily 17:00 – 1:30 (last order 00:30)

A white standalone building, one step away from Itaewon

OSA Hannam sits in an alley a bit removed from the chaos of Itaewon. Since it's a standalone building, the white exterior is easy to spot.

Like walking into a private home, a path leads past a white fence toward the entrance. The whole white-house feel is a little exotic and gets me weirdly excited.

The outdoor terrace works regardless of weather

There's an outdoor terrace right along the entry path. It was warmer that day so it was fully open, but when it's too hot or cold, they cover it with plastic sheeting so you can still sit comfortably no matter the weather.

Book ahead for weekends or important occasions

We did the 5pm opening run, and by a bit past 6pm both the terrace and the indoor seats were completely full — so if you're coming on a weekend or for something important, I'd definitely recommend reserving!

Along the way there's also an outdoor group room, and coat racks are set up too — you can feel the attention to detail in every corner.

Black-toned interior, private rooms, and floral accents

This is the counter inside the building. In contrast to the white outdoor terrace, the interior stands out with minimal, black-toned decor with an East Asian feel.

I snuck a photo of the group room since no one was in it. The floral arrangements inside are elegant too, making it feel great for hosting guests.

These floral accents show up throughout, adding an even more formal, upscale feel.

There's even mouthwash in the restroom — you can really tell this place was put together with care.

The menu — an izakaya that also does full meals

Even though it's an izakaya, they sell quite a few dishes substantial enough to be a proper meal. We ordered the ✔️OSA sushi platter for two along with a ✔️tomato highball and an Earl Grey highball.

Sushi, futomaki (thick sushi rolls), grilled golden threadfin, sashimi, pasta, steak, and even hot pot rice — every single item looked delicious, so picking was seriously hard!

Drinks and highballs

As you'd expect from an izakaya, they carry a wide range of alcohol, so anyone serious about drinking would love it here.

I'm not much of a drinker so I wanted something simple, and luckily there was a highball menu I could pick from.

The basic setup and sweet potato chips

Here's the initial table setting. Everything — the small plates, water, chopstick rests, and chopsticks — was arranged so neatly, and they bring out sweet potato chips as a complimentary snack.

The OSA sushi platter — how was it composed?

And here's the OSA sushi platter that arrived. It looks beautiful and is made up entirely of prime cuts.

Starting from the top left: uni (sea urchin), sweet shrimp, flounder fin, flounder belly, tuna belly, sea bass belly, tuna(?), (?), squid(?). I can't remember the middle two pieces 🥲

Even though it's an izakaya, the quality was on par with a dedicated sushi restaurant. The rice-to-fish ratio was just right.

The freshness of the raw fish was beyond question, and since every piece was a premium cut, it had this rich, savory depth.

What impressed me most was that the rice was already seasoned enough that you didn't even need to dip it in soy sauce.

The white-fleshed fish like flounder and sea bream must have come from larger fish, because they were genuinely chewy and firm — really delicious.

The sweet shrimp was what I was most looking forward to, and it lived up to expectations — shockingly rich and sweet. The uni was also full of ocean flavor and creamy, on par with any dedicated sushi restaurant.

Wrap-up — more than just a good-looking place

I thought this would just be a place with great vibes, but the food quality was satisfying too. The OSA sushi platter especially stuck with me — fresh and delicious enough to rival a dedicated sushi restaurant. With everything from an upscale private room to a casual outdoor terrace, the space is versatile too, so I'd recommend it for a date, a special occasion, or a gathering.