2nd-floor izakaya bar in Songni-dan-gil: draft beer, Motokurashi

I was looking for a good-vibe izakaya in Songni-dan-gil and ended up at Motokurashi. It's in an easy-to-find spot on the main street and close to Seokchon Lake too, so it's great to swing by before or after a meal. This time I tried the Motokuku Moriawase, abalone innard pasta, and a cold draft beer to keep it light 🍺

Where is Motokurashi? Finding the 2nd floor on Songni-dan-gil's main street

Motokurashi is in a spot that's easy to find right on the main street of Songni-dan-gil. It's also fairly close to Seokchon Lake.

A lot of good restaurants and bars in Songni-dan-gil are tucked away in side alleys, but Motokurashi is right there on the main street, so it wasn't hard to find at all.

If it's your first visit, you might be a little confused about which way to go once you're up the stairs — go right on the 2nd floor and that's Motokurashi.

Motokurashi's bar seats: the feel of a back-alley izakaya in Japan

From the entrance, Motokurashi already felt a bit different from a typical izakaya. It gave off the feeling of having stumbled onto a small izakaya tucked in a back alley while traveling in Japan.

The bar seats that caught my eye right when I walked in were really pretty. The lighting was soft and the overall mood was cozy — more suited to sitting quietly and chatting over a drink than a loud, rowdy bar.

Overall the interior felt cozy with a strong Japanese sensibility. Rather than being flashily decorated, the lighting and wood tones came together for a warm feel. It would suit anyone in Songni-dan-gil looking for an izakaya with good atmosphere — especially for a quiet date-night drink, or catching up with a friend you haven't seen in a while.

What we ordered at Motokurashi

First up, I ordered a draft beer. Of course you have to start with a cold draft when you walk into an izakaya 🍺 With the good atmosphere and a glass in hand, it really felt like the evening was properly kicking off. If you're after a place in Songni-dan-gil for a casual beer, this vibe is a solid pick.

🍣 Motoku Moriawase sashimi platter, 39,000 won

The first dish was the Motokuku Moriawase, priced at 39,000 won. It's one of Motokurashi's signature dishes, a platter that lets you enjoy several kinds of sashimi at once. If you're unsure what to order on a first visit, the moriawase — where you can taste a variety of things at once — really catches your eye.

Eating it with draft beer, the classic combo of a bite of sashimi and a sip of beer worked really well.

Being able to taste a variety of sashimi types is also a plus, making it a great dish to slowly work through as a drinking snack when visiting with two people.

🍝 Abalone innard pasta, 21,000 won

When I searched for Motokurashi, the abalone innard pasta kept coming up as a signature dish, so I was curious about it. The pasta had abalone in it, plus the rich flavor of abalone innards added in, giving it a taste that was clearly different from regular pasta.

Ordering a warm pasta dish alongside the sashimi made the whole spread feel much more filling. Especially after eating just sashimi as a drinking snack, switching to pasta partway through made for a great combination.

🍶 Final verdict on Motokurashi, an izakaya in Songni-dan-gil

Motokurashi is easy to get to from the main street of Songni-dan-gil and close to Seokchon Lake, making it a good location for setting up an evening drink in the area. It felt less like a place that's just for drinking and more like an izakaya where you enjoy the atmosphere along with your drinks.

This time I had draft beer along with the Motokuku Moriawase and abalone innard pasta, and ordering sashimi together with a warm pasta made for a good combination of a proper meal and a drinking session.