Yakitori date bar in Sasang, Busan: cheese tomato salad at Samajama

Samajama Sasang: hours, parking and essentials

Samajama Sasang is a yakitori izakaya at 17 Sasang-ro 202beon-gil, 1st floor, Sasang-gu, Busan, South Korea. It is open 17:00 to 02:00, with last order at 01:00. Paid parking, group reservations, paid corkage, takeout and delivery are all available. For parking, use the Sasang Station Plaza Public Parking Lot, though there is no parking support.

I heard there was a real yakitori gem among the bars in Sasang, so I went to Samajama Sasang. It's near Sasang Intercity Bus Terminal, so it's easy to stop by right before catching a bus or right after getting off one! There aren't many yakitori places with a good atmosphere in Sasang, and Samajama is the one with the reputation as the real Sasang favorite.

How long is the wait at Samajama Sasang?

On this day we got in after about a 30-minute wait. The street was pretty empty and even the grilled-meat restaurants weren't that busy, yet Samajama was the only place with a line...? A real Sasang favorite, so waiting is a must! Haha

Samajama's wood-toned interior and table ordering

The inside of Samajama Sasang is wood-toned and warm, and there's a bar counter too, so it totally had that izakaya (Japanese-style pub) feel haha. The place was packed with customers, so I couldn't take proper photos.

Ordering is easy with table order. Since it's known as a top izakaya near Sasang Station, the drink selection is huge, so you can pick whatever you like.

Free honey ice cream for a Naver receipt review

If you write a Naver receipt review, Samajama Sasang gives you honey ice cream for free?! You know how you keep craving something cold while drinking.. I'm definitely joining in next time haha

The basic side dishes were green peas and chewy pickled radish. Getting the izakaya staple of chewy pickled radish made me so happy haha

Sake was on display in one corner of the shop and it gave off such a Japanese vibe. It reminded me of a Japanese izakaya I visited a few months ago haha

The country-of-origin labels were also posted clearly next to the counter, which made me trust the place even more!

What's in Samajama's ₩26,000 half grill set?

The half platter grill set (반판구이 세트) at Samajama Sasang is ₩26,000 and comes with chicken skin, candied sweet potato, chicken heart, pork belly kimchi roll, cheese tomato salad and chicken karaage (Japanese fried chicken). Lots of people seemed to order the set, so we got the half platter too, and even with soju and drinks the bill came to under ₩40,000! Aren't the prices great?

When we ordered skewers, they brought sauce too haha

Where are the restrooms and smoking area at Samajama Sasang?

The restrooms and smoking area at Samajama Sasang are out in an outdoor space connected to the shop!

The smoking room is inside that outdoor space, so nobody smokes at the entrance, which I loved.

The restrooms were separated by gender haha You know how you end up not wanting to go when it's a shared one..

How does the yakitori at Samajama taste?

Half platter grill set, ₩26,000: chicken skin, candied sweet potato, chicken heart, pork belly kimchi roll, cheese tomato salad, chicken karaage.

Everyone, just look at this yakitori.. No lie, every single skewer was even tastier.. People say "Japan is different" but for me it's "Samajama is different"..

Why the cheese tomato salad is a must with the set

If you order the half platter set at Samajama, the cheese tomato salad is a must! When you're eating yakitori there's inevitably a greasy moment, and one fresh, tangy bite of the cheese tomato salad refreshes you. The candied sweet potato isn't coated in super sweet syrup, so it was easy to keep eating as a side dish haha

We had about 4 bottles in the first round, and the food was so good that we had 2 more in the second round.. These were snacks that lead to drinking too much. Sweet and salty, I totally get why it's famous as a Sasang yakitori favorite!

Tip for Samajama Sasang: arrive right at opening

Samajama Sasang is full even quite late, so I recommend going right at opening time (17:00). It was still packed when we were leaving, and unless you're there at opening, there seems to be a wait for sure ㅠ With its great atmosphere, Samajama in Sasang was perfect for a date, so if you're looking for a bar or a good restaurant in Sasang, I recommend it!