Sashimi and grilled skewers at Gyeongseong Sanghoe, a Sadang izakaya

After dinner in Sadang, I didn't feel like just heading home, so I went looking for somewhere for a simple drink and ended up at Gyeongseong Sanghoe (경성상회), a Sadang bar. I'd had my eye on it after seeing photos of their tsukune on Naver Place that looked so good, and once I saw how many kinds of anju (drinking snacks) they had — from sashimi to skewers — it seemed perfect for a night like this when I just wanted a light drink.

This Sadang izakaya has dachi seats and table seats separated, and the interior was decorated with that distinct Japanese bar feel. We started with beer and ordered today's assorted sashimi for two along with the five-piece assorted skewers together — having both cold sashimi and grilled skewers on one table made for a pretty satisfying combination of drinking snacks.

What is the seating like at Gyeongseong Sanghoe — counter seats and tables

As soon as you walk into Gyeongseong Sanghoe Sadang, the dachi and table seating are clearly separated, making it easy to find a spot depending on your group size. You can drink with a group at a regular table, or sit at the dachi counter to lean a bit more into the izakaya feel. Sadang itself is a neighborhood where a lot of people make evening plans, but once inside, the atmosphere felt more suited to slowly working through drinks and anju than to a full meal.

What I especially liked was having sashimi and skewers on the same menu. There are days when sashimi alone feels a bit plain, but you also don't want to commit to something heavy — ordering cold sashimi alongside warm grilled skewers meant the two didn't overlap at all. We got our beers first and waited for the anju to arrive.

Gyeongseong Sanghoe menu and prices near Sadang Station

Looking at the menu, the signature five-piece assorted skewers were ₩19,000, and the akaji gokunabe and motsunabe were each ₩34,000. Today's assorted sashimi could be ordered by group size: ₩38,000 for two, ₩57,000 for three, ₩76,000 for four. There were also smaller options worth a look if you just want to add one or two extra items, like the original mochi-ri tofu at ₩9,000.

Sashimi didn't have to be ordered only as a set either. Halibut sashimi, sea bream sashimi, and salmon sashimi were each ₩12,000, akami 5 pieces was ₩14,000, salmon salad was ₩18,000, and the sea cucumber and white fish innards salad was ₩28,000. We wanted to try a little of several kinds of fish, so we chose the assorted sashimi for two and added the five-piece skewers as a warm option.

The complimentary otoshi: salad, soy-braised beef and pickled chili peppers

While waiting after ordering drinks, the complimentary otoshi turned out to be more substantial than I expected. Salad, braised beef (jangjorim), and pickled peppers were all served together, which was good for a sip or two of beer and some picking before the main anju arrived. It wasn't just one item — each had a different flavor, so the waiting time never felt boring.

Of the three, I ate the most of the jangjorim with quail eggs. Popping one salty quail egg after another made the beer disappear fast. Having the pickled peppers alongside was good for switching up the flavor too, and it was an easy thing to reach for before the sashimi and skewers arrived.

What comes on today's assorted sashimi for two (38,000 won)

Today's assorted sashimi for two was ₩38,000 at the time of our visit, arriving as a single plate with several kinds of fish. From familiar choices like salmon to white fish and tuna-family cuts, the colors and types varied, which made it more fun to pick through than eating just one kind of fish the whole time. It wasn't an overwhelming amount for two people to share as anju either.

The reason I picked the assorted sashimi that day was because I wanted to try a little of many kinds. Since it's built mostly around seasonal fish, the composition can change depending on when you visit. Eating one piece at a time and following it with beer cleaned my palate for the next piece, and it did a good job as the main anju before the warm skewers arrived.

Five-piece assorted skewers, 19,000 won: bacon-wrapped king oyster mushroom to chicken wings

The five-piece assorted skewers that came next, ₩19,000, are grilled fresh right after ordering. Our set that day was bacon-wrapped king trumpet mushroom, chicken skin skewer, bacon-wrapped cherry tomato, chicken tenderloin skewer, and chicken wing skewer. Since different kinds were served on one plate, it was good for two people to split and each pick their favorites.

With bacon-based skewers mixed in with chicken-based ones, the texture changed with every bite. Some pieces, like the chicken skin and chicken wing skewers, really came alive from grilling, while others, like king trumpet mushroom or cherry tomato with bacon, offered something different — so eating through all five skewers in a row never felt repetitive. Above all, eating freshly grilled skewers hot with beer was the most bar-like part of the whole meal that night.

Is Gyeongseong Sanghoe worth it for a drink near Sadang Station?

If, like us, the goal near Sadang Station is a drink rather than a full meal, ordering sashimi and skewers together was a pretty good combination. Alternating between a piece of sashimi with beer and a warm skewer made the contrast between the two anju really clear. It was also an easy composition to choose on days when ordering something with broth, like nabe, feels like too much.

The store signage at the time also mentioned a highball 1+1 promotion and a mini tako wasabi gift for following or saving the page, so it's worth checking whether these are still running before you go. We had ours with beer that day, but both the sashimi and skewers seemed like they'd pair just fine with a highball too. On a day when I didn't want a big, formal meal in Sadang but wanted a few pieces of sashimi, some warm skewers, and a drink, the menu at Gyeongseong Sanghoe Sadang hit exactly the right note.