Naseong-dong bar in Sejong, house sake and seafood: Yaki Naseong

My daughter suddenly wanted raw fish, so we went to 'Yaki,' an izakaya in Naseong-dong. Being able to book same-day on Naver Reservations helped, but the real deciding factor was the assorted seafood set — one that let us taste everything at once. Tuna, uni, sweet shrimp, ankimo, and salmon roe all in one set? I booked without hesitation.

Where is Yaki Naseong Branch, and its hours and parking

• Address: 133-15 Naseong-ro, Dong 1, 2nd Floor, Unit 203, Sejong, South Korea
• Hours: 17:00–01:00 / last order 00:00
• Parking: Apple Tower underground lot, Naseong-dong public parking lot
• Visit tips: Corkage available (paid), good for groups, reservations possible.

Private curtained seats on the second floor

Among the bars in Naseong-dong, Sejong, Yaki holds a slightly special spot. Maybe because it aims to be a 'place only I want to know about' rather than seeking exposure, it sits on the 2nd floor with each table closed off by curtains — a private structure that made for good quiet conversation over food.

House sake at Yaki Naseong: warmed first, then poured over ice

We ordered the premium seafood platter with unlimited gamtae set, added sushi rice, and paired it with 180ml of house sake. The sake arrived in a tokkuri painted with a maneki-neko (beckoning cat), wrapped at the neck with white cloth — like a carefully wrapped gift. A detail that lifted the mood before we'd even poured a drop.

At first we asked for it warm and drank it warm — cozy and comforting. Then halfway through we added ice, and it became a completely different drink. Where warm sake was mellow and grounding, the iced version brought out the junmai's gentle sweetness and clean finish, which paired much better with the seafood. One bottle, two experiences — I'd genuinely recommend this method. The cup was pretty too, painted with cherry blossom branches, a joy to look at the whole time.

What comes on the premium seafood platter: tuna belly, uni, sweet shrimp

The main dish, the premium seafood platter, had tuna belly and sweet shrimp ringed around the edge, with salmon roe and uni piled generously on top — the sincerity showed in the visual alone. On one side, ankimo (monkfish liver) filled a bowl, with lemon and wasabi set up beside it, plus a generous side of pickled cabbage, dried radish, and cabbage.

Tuna first. The belly cut still had visible marbling, and dipped lightly in soy sauce it melted in my mouth. The sweet shrimp came whole, head and all — plump yet chewy, with a strong natural sweetness, and dipping it in yuzu sauce added a brightness that kept my hand reaching back. The salmon roe popped with savory flavor, and the uni melted creamily with no fishy edge — really good condition. The ankimo had a rich flavor that explained why it's called the 'foie gras of the sea,' the best sake pairing of the night.

Gamtae wraps, the best way to eat this seafood set

The real answer to this set was the gamtae (dried seaweed) wrap. Spread a sheet of gamtae in your palm, layer on shrimp, salmon roe, uni, and tuna, and eat it in one bite — crisp fragrance, nuttiness, popping texture, and creaminess all hit at once. It's fun mixing combinations to find your own favorite, and since the gamtae is unlimited refill, we could enjoy it freely. I also found a hidden gem combo: ankimo on a cracker, like a canapé, doubles the nuttiness. Do try it.

My daughter was happy since all her favorite ingredients were there, and I got to enjoy a glass of sake along with the atmosphere. If you want a night out with some ambience in Naseong-dong, or you're looking for real seafood among Naseong-dong, Sejong restaurants, I'd recommend 'Yaki.' The premium seafood platter set alone made for a highly satisfying meal — I'd go back 100%.