Date bar in Suyu, Seoul: crab innard oil pasta and aged sashimi, Bunko

If you're looking for a bar with great atmosphere around Suyu Station, Bunko Suyu is worth a visit. It has photogenic, moody interiors, a wide menu, and a good-value omakase-style set, which makes it a popular date spot. It fills up fast on weekend evenings, so I'd book ahead.

What did we order at Bunko Suyu?

We ordered the set for two (₩64,000): sashimi, menchi-katsu (breaded minced-meat cutlet), crab innard pasta, sushi and jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup). It felt almost like an omakase course, and the value was really good.

Bunko Suyu hours, location and how to book

Bunko Suyu is open from 18:00 to 02:00 the next day, with last order at 01:00, and closed every Monday. It's at 2F, 34-4 Dobong-ro 87-gil, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, an easy walk from Exit 7 of Suyu Station.

• Hours: 18:00 to 02:00 the next day (last order 01:00)
• Closed: every Monday
• Location: 2F, 34-4 Dobong-ro 87-gil, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul
• Delivery, takeout and reservations available
• Book via Naver or Catchtable

Bunko Suyu exterior and interior

Bunko Suyu is an easy walk from Suyu Station, and its soft lighting and Japanese-style facade made it stand out from far away. The entrance alone had a great mood, so my date-night expectations shot up!

Inside, cozy lighting and wood-toned interiors work nicely together. There are dachi seats (counter seats) in front of the open kitchen plus relaxed tables, so it looked good for solo drinks, dates, friends and even group gatherings. Photos come out beautifully, so I'd recommend it as a date course!

Bunko Suyu menu

Bunko Suyu is an izakaya built around aged sashimi, with sushi, maki and pasta too. The good-value sets and unusual seafood dishes are especially popular.

• Set for two (₩64,000): an omakase-style set of sashimi, menchi-katsu, crab innard pasta, sushi and jjamppong
• Assorted sashimi: seasonal fish, aged and served by cut; the signature dish
• Kobore sushi: sushi piled generously with seasonal fish
• Assorted sushi: 6 pieces made with the day's fresh ingredients
• Goma kanpachi: amberjack tossed in a sesame soy sauce for a nutty flavor
• Herring isobemaki: a light maki rolled with burdock, scallion and herring
• Begi toro maki: a hearty maki of fatty tuna belly, scallion, fried tofu and pickled radish
• Sashimi shuto-ae: sashimi with salted tuna innards and cream cheese for deep savoriness
• Cream cheese shuto and dried persimmon roll: a sweet-and-salty snack of cream cheese, dried persimmon and salted tuna innards
• Abalone innard pasta and crab innard oil pasta: Bunko's signature pastas with rich innard flavor

Welcome sake before 7 p.m. and the Bunko highball

Right after we ordered, a Korean melon salad came out first, and its sweet, fresh taste really woke up my appetite.

Another tip: if you arrive before 7 p.m., Bunko Suyu gives you 2 glasses of welcome sake. I didn't expect much from a freebie, but the sake was cleaner and smoother than I thought, so I was happy with it.

Then we ordered the refreshing Bunko highball too, and it went well with the food.

First dish of the set for two: menchi-katsu

Next came the menchi-katsu, fried to order, crispy outside and moist inside. One bite and you could feel the juices, and eaten hot, it couldn't be anything but good.

What does Bunko's signature crab innard oil pasta taste like?

The crab innard oil pasta was personally one of the most memorable dishes at Bunko Suyu. The rich flavor of crab innards soaked deep into the pasta, nutty and full of savory depth. Bunko's signature pastas are said to be the abalone innard pasta and this crab innard oil pasta, and I immediately understood why they're popular.

9–10 kinds of aged sashimi

Then the aged sashimi arrived. Bunko Suyu reportedly serves 9–10 kinds of aged sashimi, which is rare in Suyu. Good ingredients and the omakase-like feel of eating them one at a time made it even more satisfying.

With so many kinds of aged sashimi, it was fun comparing the texture and taste of each fish. The portion wasn't overwhelming either, so it was nice to enjoy slowly with drinks.

6 pieces of sushi and jjamppong to finish

After we finished the sashimi, a whole 6 pieces of sushi came out. We'd already eaten so much, and still the sushi arrived, so the set for two was truly great value.

The jjamppong at the end had a spicy, refreshing broth that was excellent. It's great with drinks and satisfying as a closing meal too.

Bunko Suyu visiting tips

• 2 welcome sake free if you arrive before 7 p.m.
• Reservations via Naver Reservation or Catchtable
• Both dachi counter seats and tables available
• Weekend evenings fill up fast, so book ahead
• The good-value omakase-style set for two is recommended

Bunko Suyu is a place I'd confidently recommend to anyone looking for an izakaya with great atmosphere. The moody setting, the variety of aged sashimi, the special innard pasta and the generous portions were all satisfying. The biggest plus was getting so many dishes, omakase-style, for ₩64,000 for two. If you want a long, atmospheric date around Suyu Station, Bunko Suyu is a date-night spot and bar I'd happily revisit.