Mapo bar set with yakitori and mango sherbet: Soottori

Soottori Hongdae Hapjeong is the perfect neighborhood izakaya for a casual drink, with yakitori carrying a restrained charcoal aroma and a generous dessert set.

Open bar seating and a retro atmosphere

There is also open bar seating directly connected to the outdoors. On a cool day, this would be just the spot for a draft beer while watching people pass by.

A large freestanding menu board stands outside the restaurant. Being able to quickly look over the set prices and skewer selection before going in made choosing much easier.

Once inside, the retro patterned floor tiles immediately stand out. Counter seats facing the kitchen and regular tables are nicely mixed, so you can choose what suits you.

Atmospheric animation plays on a wall via a beam projector. It is the touch that makes what could be an ordinary drinking atmosphere feel that much hipper.

In one corner, phone chargers for different models and blankets are neatly provided. It may seem small, but this kind of consideration feels really reassuring as a guest.

Every table has a sign for the Naver receipt-review event. Take part and you can receive a fruit highball or a spicy butt skewer on the house, so do not miss it.

Starting the set with draft beer and pudding

Once seated, you are served cabbage salad drizzled with a salty sauce as a basic side. A Soottori coaster is set out with it.

Seasonings to add according to your taste are placed on one side. Shichimi (Japanese seven-spice), sansho pepper, and soy sauce are neatly arranged with labels.

Just looking at this ice-crusted draft beer makes you feel chilled to the bone. The foam was so dense that it went down incredibly smoothly. It was exactly the kind of glass that wipes out your thirst in one go after work.

The bouncy pudding I chose as a side came in a pretty bowl. Its bright yellow flower shape was a visual treat even before I took a bite.

A gentle tap with the spoon made the pudding wobble beautifully. True to its name, its chewy, soft texture was fully intact.

Cheese-seasoned fried bites and charcoal-grilled yakitori

The crispy fried item included in the set arrived neatly plated. It was generously dusted with a cheese-powder-like seasoning, and the savory aroma really burst out.

The batter was thin and the filling was substantial, so every bite had great texture. The seasoning powder coated it generously without a bare spot, making it excellent with beer.

I deliberately loaded the fried bites with plenty of soft sauce and parsley topping. The added nutty, creamy flavor made it an addictive bar snack that kept drawing my hand back.

The skewers I had been waiting for were served on a wooden plate. Little wooden tags list the cut for each skewer, which makes it easy to know exactly what you are eating.

Meat turns tough when grilled too long, but these were cooked just right, with a springy texture and no off smell. The crisp exterior, moist interior, and well-sealed juices were so satisfying.

I took bites of the other meat skewers in turn, too. With a good balance of fat and lean meat, a rich, nutty flavor gently builds the more you chew.

The set finale: mango yogurt sherbet

My choice for the perfect finale to the set, mango yogurt sherbet, arrived. Bright yellow, sweet diced mango flesh was piled high and generously, like a little mountain.

The cold, dense sweetness and mango flavor that spread through each bite were so delicious. I did not expect to find dessert of specialist-shop quality in a neighborhood izakaya set.

If you have drinks planned in Hapjeong and want somewhere that handles both dinner and second-round snacks, Soottori is a very good choice. The set was excellent value, moving from high-quality, tender charcoal-grilled yakitori to refreshing mango sherbet for dessert.