Yeongdeungpo izakaya dinner then drinks: spicy nabe, skewers at Nani

I heard there was a great-vibe izakaya near Times Square in Yeongdeungpo, so I went to check it out on a precious weekday evening after work (haha). It's Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch. You can get there just by crossing the street from Times Square, and it's also pretty accessible from Yeongdeungpo Station.

I booked ahead through Naver Reservation for a weekday evening slot.

What the seating and mood are like at Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo

Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch is an izakaya with a bookshelf-lined space on the first floor plus bar seats facing the open kitchen. From the moment you step through the wooden door, there's a cozy, distinctly Japanese-style feel. Once inside, the bookshelf-decorated first floor looked gorgeous. Besides that bookshelf space, there were plenty of bar-style seats by the kitchen too. The lighting had a warm glow, so I felt myself getting swept up in the atmosphere the second I walked in 🌿 hehe.

Ordering by QR code at Nani Byeolgwan: what we picked

You check the menu via the QR code at your table, then press the bell to order with staff. Besides what's shown above, there was also sake and other drinks on the menu. I sat down, looked over the menu and mulled it over — since I'd already had some beer at the first place, I decided to fill up on food first and order drinks later. We decided to go with skewers for protein (?) plus a warm, spicy broth combo!

Here's what we ordered —

• Beef intestine skewers
• Chicken skewers
• Nagasaki seafood nabe (spicy)

For drinks, we started with a nicely fizzy Singha sparkling water. Cutting back, cutting back, cutting back on the drinking haha.

The cabbage salad came out first as a complimentary side. True to izakaya style, it was tossed with a salt-pepper dressing. The crunchy cabbage and salty dressing whetted the appetite in the best way 👍

How spicy is the new Nagasaki seafood nabe at Nani Byeolgwan?

The first thing to arrive was the Nagasaki seafood nabe (hot pot)! It's a new menu item and honestly, it was the star of the day. Piled high with beansprouts and scallions on top, with squid, clams and other seafood underneath, the broth was refreshing yet had a sharp kick. Delicious.

Since we ordered the spicy version, a spoonful after a slightly greasy bite of skewers felt like a total reset! Slurping down that spicy, sharp broth was so satisfying 👍 The spicy version wasn't actually all that hot — if you're not great with spice, I'd recommend going with the mild version instead.

Beef intestine skewers (daechang kkochi)

Next up, beef intestine skewers!

Grilled nicely golden-brown over charcoal, crisp on the outside with the savory fat bursting out inside. Paired with the pickled hot peppers served alongside, it cut through the richness completely and made the perfect drinking snack ✨ The distinctive savoriness of beef intestine combined with that chewy, satisfying texture — this was a textbook-perfect version of the dish 👍 Writing this blog post and thinking back on it now, it was delicious all over again. Beef intestine skewers are the best.

Chicken skewers (dak kkochi)

Then came the chicken skewers! The portion looked pretty generous right off the bat, which was satisfying 👍👍 The sauce had soaked in with just the right sweetness — the seasoning was spot-on and so tasty. The meat wasn't dry at all, it was tender and juicy, and dipping it in the mayo sauce, the texture just melted in my mouth, so good 😋

Second-floor group space and private rooms for bigger parties

We were seated on the first floor, but going up to the second floor, there's a fairly spacious central area that seemed great for group gatherings. There's also a small room-style space. Looking at the Naver Reservation menu, room bookings are listed separately — seems like a cozy option to reserve that spot too!

With its great atmosphere, this feels like a good spot for a quick drink as a second stop, and since the food was above average across the board 👍👍👍, it also works well as a first stop to fill up on dinner. Being a weekday evening, it wasn't too crowded, and having reserved ahead meant we got to enjoy it leisurely, with no waiting, taking in the atmosphere in comfort.

Every single dish was delicious with nothing to complain about, so I'll definitely be back to try other menu items next time! Though honestly, I wouldn't skip any of the dishes we had today either 🤔 If you're looking for a low-key drink in Yeongdeungpo or a great-vibe date spot, this is a place I'd recommend 💛