Changwon yakitori bar with charcoal-grilled pollock roe: Yakitori Gong

The smell of binchotan charcoal drifting through the air — an actual real-deal yakitori spot at Urban Bricks!

Cold beer plus yakitori skewers, a real go-to snack spot at Urban Bricks

Summer vacation is over and it's back-to-work season for office workers. Doesn't a cold beer at the end of the week sound perfect right about now?? I bet I'm not the only one who thinks about tasty skewers and a cold one after work or on a weekend evening 👀

I heard there was a proper yakitori specialty place at Urban Bricks in Changwon, so I went to check it out. Here's my write-up after enjoying cold beer and a whole spread of skewer snacks!

Where is Yakitori Gong at Urban Bricks in Changwon?

This time I visited a Changwon Urban Bricks spot called Yakitori Gong! It's right on the 3rd floor above the Starbucks in the building, and the store came into view as soon as I went up.

Yakitori Gong is known for chicken skewers grilled directly over binchotan charcoal. As soon as I stepped in, the nutty smoky smell of chicken skewers grilling over premium binchotan hit me, which only raised my expectations further. Here, the chef skewers each piece by hand and grills it with real care, so even before the food arrived I was already bursting with anticipation.

What else is on the menu at Yakitori Gong besides skewers?

Looking at the Yakitori Gong menu, there were all kinds of skewer dishes ready to go. We came for round two that day. There were also regular meal items like spaghetti and rice bowls, plus solid soup options like fish cake stew and chicken jeongol (hot pot), making it a Jung-dong spot that can satisfy all kinds of appetites.

We also happily worked through the basic side snacks of peanuts and cabbage. First thing, we ordered beer! Went with Terra bottled beer today.

There were so many distinctive items on the menu that I wanted to try them all. Since we were already there, we figured we'd eat well and ordered generously. Naturally, for a yakitori place, we ordered the must-have skewers — negima (leek and chicken skewer), sasami (chicken tenderloin), tebasaki (chicken wing), and hatsu (chicken heart) — and also got the charcoal-grilled mentaiko and grilled mackerel.

Once you order, they grill everything right over binchotan charcoal on the spot. If you get close, you can see the whole grilling process through the glass. Just watching it grill was mouthwatering enough to summon a beer. There's a whole lineup of tempting snacks here.

Charcoal-grilled mentaiko, ₩14,500

First up was the charcoal-grilled mentaiko (seasoned pollock roe). Priced at ₩14,500. Mentaiko is really good grilled, right?? At Yakitori Gong, the well-grilled roe paired with crisp cucumber, onion and mayo was genuinely delicious. The combination itself already wins. Grilled just right — nutty and not too salty — it was perfect for cleansing the palate between bites.

Negima (leek and chicken skewer), ₩4,100

The classic yakitori order has to be negima, right?? The sweet aroma of well-grilled leek combined with juicy chicken was flawless. Personally, this was the tastiest skewer of the night. Leek and chicken together never fail. Crispy outside, juicy inside — the first bite had me saying 'this is really good' out loud.

Sasami (chicken tenderloin), ₩3,500

The skewer on the far right white plate is sasami. Since it's chicken tenderloin, it's pure and light — I was a little worried it might be dry, but it turned out soft and nutty, and delicious. With a hint of smoky charcoal aroma and a touch of sharp wasabi on top, even the aftertaste was clean.

Hatsu (chicken heart), ₩3,500 · Tebasaki (chicken wing), ₩3,900

Anyone who loves grilled chicken heart?? This is on a whole different level of chewiness from the usual store-bought stuff! No gamey smell at all, and it picks up that distinct binchotan smoky aroma, getting nuttier the more you chew. An absolute top pick for a drinking snack.

The tebasaki had salty, crispy skin with glossy, juicy meat underneath — grilled chicken wings done right! There's also the fun of picking every bit of meat off the bone, and the flavor practically calls for beer.

Grilled mackerel, ₩10,000

If you're a fan of grilled fish, definitely try the mackerel too! Grilled over binchotan charcoal, the excess oil melted away and left only the nutty flavor behind. Crispy outside, tender inside — it paired wonderfully with draft beer. The nutty richness of the mackerel and the coolness of the beer went together so cleanly.

Is it good for a date or a group gathering too?

A perfect way to wrap up the weekend with a cold draft beer. Pairing tasty charcoal-grilled dishes with a glass of draft beer felt like it blew away all the stress that had built up. The vibe is cozy and pleasant too, so Yakitori Gong is a great fit for a Changwon date spot with friends or a partner. It's also a solid choice for casual get-togethers or work dinners — I could see myself coming back here with friends.

A recommended spot at Urban Bricks in Jung-dong, Changwon

Looking for good food in Jung-dong, Changwon, or around Changwon Unicity?? If you're after a solid Changwon bar at Urban Bricks with great snacks, I recommend stopping by Yakitori Gong in Changwon! On a hot summer day, treat yourself to some skewers and a drink at the end of the day for some low-key healing.