Hongdae yakitori bar for quiet drinks: Yakitori Iyu

I visited Yakitori Iyu with a friend after looking for a place for yakitori in Hongdae! There are so many lively drinking spots around Hongdae these days, but...

This place has a slightly sunken, semi-basement feel (not completely underground!) that makes it calmer and cozier, so it was great for having a drink while chatting. It has the feel of a lovely Hongdae izakaya (Japanese pub)!

Yakitori Iyu exterior and basic information

It is on B1 at 20-13 Jandari-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, about a 7–8 minute walk from Exit 3 of Hapjeong Station. It is open Monday through Saturday from 17:00 to 24:00, with last orders at 23:00, and is closed Sundays. Reservations and group bookings are available, along with Wi-Fi and bar seating. There is no dedicated parking, so they recommend using a nearby paid lot.

The publicly listed store information also confirms the same address, hours, and reservation availability, and there were lots of reviews from people visiting for dates or drinks with friends.

Inside, the wood tones and soft lighting gave it exactly that izakaya mood! It was not too noisy, so it was nice to talk with my friend for ages, and it would not feel awkward to come alone for a drink or on a date either.

Yakitori Iyu menu and our order

The main menu included a five-skewer assortment for ₩17,800, a three-skewer assortment for ₩11,800, yose nabe for ₩25,000, chadol museongchae somyeon (beef brisket and seasoned radish thin noodles) for ₩13,000, whole pork belly yuringi for ₩22,000, and spinach butter stir-fried shrimp for ₩20,000. We ordered the five-skewer assortment, yose nabe, and Kirin draft beer that day!

Five assorted skewers with Kirin draft beer

First up, the five-skewer assortment! Since it lets you try a little of the day’s special handmade skewers, it felt perfect for a first visit. Each skewer had a different degree of char, which made eating them fun; they had a lightly grilled aroma outside while staying moist within. Especially with Kirin draft beer...

Ahh... this is the real yakitori pairing, haha. Looking through reviews, I saw that skewers in tare sauce and salt-seasoned styles sometimes come mixed together, so the assortment seems like an easy choice if you want several kinds at once. It was definitely a menu people looking for good yakitori in Hongdae would enjoy.

Hot, clean-tasting yose nabe

We also ordered yose nabe because we were craving something with a hot broth! It is a nabe (Japanese hot pot) with a chicken-stock base, vegetables, chicken, and meatballs. The broth was not overly intense—clean but deep in flavor—so it was lovely to spoon up between skewers.

You know how, after a drink, a hot broth suddenly opens up more room in your stomach, haha. Skewers alone might have felt a little lacking, but adding one nabe made the lineup just right for the two of us.

You cannot resist Kirin draft beer with yakitori

You cannot resist Kirin draft beer with yakitori, haha. A bite of skewer followed by draft beer paired the savory charred flavor so nicely with the cold beer that the drinks went down very easily.

The atmosphere was calm too, making this a Hongdae izakaya where it was nicer to eat slowly while talking than simply drink.

A good place for a quiet drink and conversation

The skewers at Yakitori Iyu were good, but personally, what I liked most was the atmosphere for quiet conversation. Sampling several kinds with the assorted skewers and finishing warmly with yose nabe made for a great combination too.

I think it would suit anyone looking for a Hongdae bar for a casual drink with a friend, a date, or solo drinking. Especially if you are looking for good yakitori in Hongdae, keep it in mind! ( •⌄• ू )✧