Isu Station craft beer pub: 29-award porter & iron-tray set, Raymond

I visited Raymond Isu Branch, a craft beer, pizza and chicken pub near Isu Station. If you love pizza and beer or chicken and beer, pay attention: this place has premium craft beers with international award records, plus pizza-and-chicken sets that look delicious from the first glance.

Where is Raymond Isu Branch, and what about hours and parking?

Raymond Isu Branch is at 33 Dongjak-daero 23-gil, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on the first floor, a 5-minute walk from Exit 10 of Isu Station. It is open daily 11:30–23:00, with last order at 22:00.

If you come by car, there is no parking at the restaurant itself, so I'd suggest using a public car park nearby.

What is the atmosphere like?

The exterior is striking and hip, New York pub style, with red lighting and antique beige walls that caught my eye. Even before opening the door, it had the vibe of a proper draft beer place.

Inside it felt warm and tidy, with wood-toned tables and cozy lighting, a perfect mood for hanging out with friends or going on a date.

Every table has a tablet, so ordering was easy with menu photos and prices right there. There are also group tables, so it looks great for bigger parties too.

What did we order at Raymond Isu Branch?

I ordered two of Raymond's signatures.

• Raymond Set (signature, serves 2–4): ₩54,900
• Peanut Butter Porter Ale (craft draft beer): ₩7,500

The Raymond Set comes with fries, and if you don't like truffle, you can pick the no-truffle option.

How does the 29-award Peanut Butter Porter Ale taste?

The Peanut Butter Porter Ale is Raymond's craft draft beer that adds a nutty peanut butter flavor to the heaviness of a dark porter, at ₩7,500 a glass. Raymond has craft beers with impressive international awards, and I heard this one has won a whopping 29 international beer awards, so I ordered it without a second thought.

As soon as I lifted the glass, a sweet, nutty peanut butter aroma gently tickled my nose. The peanut butter blended wonderfully into the deep, heavy porter flavor, and it went down very smoothly. Even people who don't know much about beer could enjoy it without any love-it-or-hate-it divide. I could see why it won 29 awards.

What comes in the Raymond Set, and how big is it?

The Raymond Set is a set for 2 to 4 people that arrives on one giant iron tray: 4 kinds of pizza, boneless fried chicken, handmade sausage, truffle fries and sauces. It was piled so generously the table almost groaned, and the look alone was overwhelming! It's a big-portion set that's plenty for 2 to 4 people, and I really liked the lineup.

Pepperoni pizza

Golden, well-baked pepperoni was packed on tightly, so every bite gave a salty savoriness and a pleasant kick of spice. It was a textbook pepperoni pizza that begs for beer.

Cheese pizza

A classic cheese pizza true to the basics, with the rich, salty flavor of mozzarella blending cleanly with the fresh tang of tomato sauce.

Bacon Hawaiian pizza

The salty bacon with its faint smokiness and the sweet, tangy juice of pineapple came together as a perfect sweet-and-salty combo, an appetizing pizza that nobody would dislike.

Mac & cheese pizza

Thick, creamy mac and cheese and crispy bacon chips were heaped on top, so it was rich and nutty in every bite, with a true American feel.

The pizzas in the Raymond Set come in varied flavors, so there was no time to get tired of them. The dough was crispy yet chewy, and with cheese and toppings added generously, I really felt the charm of American-style deep pizza.

Boneless fried chicken & handmade sausage

The boneless chicken was crispy outside and juicy inside, and the big, golden sausage had a snappy bite. Perfect beer snacks.

Truffle fries

Thin, crispy fries with a subtle truffle aroma add a touch of luxury.

5 sauces

You get a whopping 5 sauces to pick from by taste, including ketchup, mustard, chili and garlic dip, so I never got bored right to the end.