Sadang bar for solo drinks and yukhoe: Susan Sadang Main Branch

Yukhoe and raw shrimp maki for a solo night near Sadang Station

Sometimes, you just want a delicious bar snack and a drink by yourself, with no plans involved, right? That day, I was looking for somewhere to drink solo in Sadang and visited Susan Sadang Main Branch (수산 사당본점). I was craving both seafood and yukhoe, so I ordered raw shrimp maki, yukhoe, and a bottle of Saero. Being alone made it even more relaxing to enjoy this Sadang izakaya at my own pace.

• 17 Nambusunhwan-ro 271ga-gil, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• About a 5-minute walk from Sadang Station
• No dedicated parking
• If driving, the nearby Sadang No. 2 Public Parking Lot is recommended
• Ground-floor and basement seating available

Susan Sadang Main Branch exterior and atmosphere

Following the alley, I spotted the large sign reading “水山 Susan Odeng,” so it was easy enough to find. The glass-fronted exterior gives you a little peek inside, and photos of signature dishes stand by the entrance, making it easy to see what they serve at a glance. I came for a solo drink that day, but its convenient location near Sadang Station also seemed great for stopping in for a casual drink after work.

It was already buzzing with guests inside. The dark overall palette and warm lighting created a classic izakaya mood. Each table had a small brazier ready, and it did not feel awkward at all to come alone, so I settled in comfortably. Once I was seated, they first brought out a small aperitif. It was a nice, light way to wake up my appetite before properly getting into the raw shrimp maki, yukhoe, and Saero.

Susan Sadang Main Branch focuses on aged sashimi and seafood, while also offering a range of dishes to drink with, including yukhoe, yuk sashimi, and maki. Rather than being a sashimi restaurant that specializes only in raw fish, it felt more like a Sadang izakaya where you can choose from all kinds of Japanese-style bar snacks.

• Korean beef yukhoe ₩28,000
• Raw shrimp maki ₩28,000
• Saero ₩5,000
• Terra ₩5,000

A glass of Saero after the aperitif

After lightly opening my appetite with the aperitif, I ordered a bottle of Saero. Since I had come for a solo drink, I slowly sipped while waiting for my food. Just thinking about the raw shrimp maki and Korean beef yukhoe that would arrive soon had me excited already. A clean shot of soju is simply essential with snacks like these, right? :)

How was the Korean beef yukhoe?

The first dish to arrive was the Korean beef yukhoe. It came generously piled across the plate, more substantial than I expected for one person, with sesame seeds scattered over the top. Garlic, chili peppers, radish sprouts, and pickled ginger came alongside it, so it was nice to mix and match them to my taste.

The yukhoe was thinly sliced, tender to chew, and deeply seasoned. It was good on its own, but dipping it lightly into the accompanying sauce added a nutty flavor that naturally called for another sip of Saero.

The raw shrimp maki and yukhoe pairing

Then the raw shrimp maki I had been waiting for appeared! Whole raw shrimp sat on top of each piece, so the visual caught my eye as soon as it arrived. The pieces were an easy size to pick up one by one, so they did not feel overwhelming as a solo-drinking snack. The shrimp came through first with a springy, pleasantly chewy texture, then the maki inside and sauce came together with a nutty, savory richness. Alternating it with the boldly seasoned yukhoe worked especially well. One bite of raw shrimp, one sip of Saero—personally, this was my favorite thing I ordered that day.

With Korean beef yukhoe and raw shrimp maki on the table, my solo-drinking spread was properly complete. Moving from the richly seasoned, nutty yukhoe to the springy raw shrimp maki made the two dishes great to alternate, thanks to their different flavors and textures. It was quite a generous amount for one person, but having the two things I wanted most alongside Saero made it feel like I had really enjoyed my solo night out!

Final thoughts on the solo-drinking snacks

Alternating the yukhoe and raw shrimp maki was a combination that naturally made me want another sip of Saero. A bite of springy raw shrimp maki, a clean shot of soju, then a piece of seasoned yukhoe—it made me think I had chosen my menu combination just right, even though I was drinking alone. The charm of solo drinking is taking two snacks you really want and slowly enjoying them at your own pace!

Taste

I was satisfied with both the Korean beef yukhoe and raw shrimp maki. The yukhoe had deeply absorbed seasoning and a soft texture, while the maki paired the springy shrimp texture nicely with nutty rice. Above all, they made a good combination to alternate with soju.

Price

At ₩28,000 each for the Korean beef yukhoe and raw shrimp maki, they are not especially cheap, but the price felt understandable considering the quality, composition, and portion size.

Atmosphere and service

The dim lighting and wood-toned interior gave it that distinct izakaya atmosphere. I did not feel uncomfortable visiting alone, and it was also a fine place for a quiet drink. The food came out relatively quickly after ordering, and the aperitif made a good first impression too. Overall, the service was kind and the meal felt comfortable.

Would I return?

Yes ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Next time, I would like to order aged sashimi or other seafood dishes too.

Recommended for

• Anyone looking for somewhere to have a drink near Sadang Station
• Anyone who wants to enjoy yukhoe and seafood together
• Anyone looking for a Sadang izakaya
• Anyone looking for a spot for solo drinks or a small group of two to four
• Anyone who loves raw shrimp maki 🍤🍶