Quiet Jamsil izakaya bar with a no-kids 2nd floor: Motokurashi

Hi everyone! It's Hyeon!

Long time no see, everyone 🙌🏻 Can't believe I went 2 days without posting... I was knocked out by festivals and everything and just woke up..! I think I'll be taking weekends off the blog from now on!

I'll eat good food and rest well on weekends, then get back to posting hard on weekdays ♥ I recently went to a hidden izakaya bar in Jamsil full of Japanese vibes! I found it while looking for somewhere quiet to have a drink on Songri-dan-gil!

Today's spot is 🍶 Motokurashi!

Where is Motokurashi? Second floor on Songridan-gil, shop on the right

Motokurashi is located on the 2nd floor of a building on Songri-dan-gil! When you go up to the 2nd floor, it's the shop on the right! It can be a bit confusing on your first visit, so just head to the right on the 2nd floor!!

Something about the entrance felt like tracking down a hidden local izakaya in Japan...! If you want a calmer vibe than the bustling bars on the main street of Songri-dan-gil, this could be a good izakaya bar in Jamsil for you!

Motokurashi hours, parking and reservations

• Mon–Fri 17:30 - 24:00
• Sat, Sun 17:00 - 24:00
• Last order 23:00
• ❌ No parking
• 📶 Wi-Fi available
• 📅 Reservations available
• 🔞 No-kids zone

Since reservations are possible, if you're planning to visit on a weekend or during busy hours, it might be a good idea to book ahead!

Motokurashi was also running a Naver review event! If you're visiting, don't just walk past — check out the review event details and make sure to grab your macaron too! ✨

Inside Motokurashi: small room, generous space between tables

The interior is cozy overall, but the tables are spaced out generously so once we sat down it wasn't uncomfortable at all. In fact, having some distance between tables gave it a private feeling!

And what I loved was the quiet atmosphere!! Rather than feeling like a noisy bar, it's a place good for chatting calmly over drinks — I felt like I was at a slightly upscale bar, haha.

Overall it has a Japanese feel and a soft, calm mood, so I think it'd work well as a date spot too! If you're looking for a quiet, good-vibe izakaya bar in Jamsil on Songri-dan-gil, I think you'll like this kind of atmosphere 🍶

How ordering works at Motokurashi: table order

Motokurashi uses a table order system!

We browsed through the menu on the table order and ended up ordering two things: ✔️ motoku moriawase and ✔️ abalone innards pasta!

🐟 Motoku moriawase: the assorted sashimi platter

First up, the motoku moriawase! We got to try several types of sashimi together, and the portion was just right for two. And the aging on the sashimi here was seriously spot on! Not too soft, but not chewy in a bad way either.

It had a nutty, satisfyingly chewy texture. A bite of sashimi with a sip of drink — that's what a weekend is for~ The atmosphere was quiet too, so there was no rushed feeling; we could take our time chatting and enjoying the sashimi!

If you love sashimi, this could be a good spot to check out next time you're looking for an izakaya bar in Jamsil!

🍝 Abalone innards pasta: served in under 10 minutes

And now, the moment we've all been waiting for — the abalone innards pasta!! You all know I'm basically a doctor of abalone innards pasta by now, right? I try it wherever I see it, and this place, let me tell you, is good. Delicious!!

And I was genuinely surprised — it came out in under 10 minutes after we ordered! It came out so fast I was like, huh, already?! But the taste held up too, which made it even more satisfying. The distinct nutty, rich flavor of abalone innards was properly soaked into the pasta, and the abalone pieces were big! Best of all, the abalone was so chewy 🫶🏻 Great size, great texture — satisfying the whole way through.

The innards sauce wasn't overly fishy or heavy either, just nutty in a way that kept me reaching for more! Personally, the sashimi was great, but the abalone innards pasta is what really stuck with me. I think I'll be back just for this!!

Is Motokurashi a good quiet date izakaya in Jamsil?

Motokurashi, an izakaya bar in Jamsil that's great to visit when you want a quiet drink in a hidden spot full of Japanese vibes! The interior isn't huge, but the generous table spacing made it feel private and comfortable instead, and since it's not noisy, it had a great mood for a date or for two people chatting quietly over drinks.

Being able to order comfortably from the table via table order was great too! And above all, the food!! From the perfectly aged, chewy, nutty motoku moriawase to the abalone innards pasta that even I, a self-proclaimed abalone innards pasta doctor, approve of!

This isn't just a place with good vibes — the food was great too, which made it that much more satisfying ✨ If you're looking for a Jamsil izakaya bar on Songri-dan-gil with a Japanese feel, a quiet and private mood, and delicious sashimi and abalone innards pasta, I recommend Motokurashi!!