Cod roe cream udon at Robadayakki Sodam, a Yeouido izakaya

Hi, this is Daejang. I was looking for somewhere in Yeouido to grab dinner and a light drink, and ended up at Robadayakki Sodam Yeouido Branch. It's a place where you can enjoy all kinds of robatayaki-style dishes, from grilled fish to skewers. The moment I stepped in, the atmosphere felt exactly like a real izakaya in Japan, and my expectations shot up right away.

Where is Robadayakki Sodam Yeouido Branch, and its hours and parking

• Address: 1F 113·114·115, 17 Yeouidaebang-ro 65-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: 17:00 – 01:30 the next day
• Last order: 00:30
• Parking: available at Seorin Building

Inside Robadayakki Sodam: a Japanese izakaya feel from the door

The first thing that caught my eye walking into Robadayakki Sodam Yeouido Branch was the atmosphere. It felt like stepping into a real izakaya in Japan. Behind the bar counter, fish and skewer ingredients are neatly displayed, and everything is grilled over an open flame right in front of you, which makes it fun to watch. Seeing the big fish laid out made me want grilled fish especially. Between the setting and all that, I was buzzing with anticipation the second I walked in.

Robadayakki Sodam's signature menu and what we ordered

True to its name, Robadayakki Sodam has a wide range of grilled fish and skewer dishes. Some of the signature items are below.

• Grilled Chilean sea bass ₩29,000
• Mixed skewers, 11 kinds / 13 pieces ₩24,000
• Whole grilled Spanish mackerel ₩21,000
• Grilled mackerel ₩19,000
• Kansai oden stew ₩19,000
• Yurinji ₩20,000
• Flame-grilled jjamppong ₩21,000

What we ordered that day was the mixed skewers, whole grilled Spanish mackerel, cod roe cream udon, lemon chuhai, and draft beer.

Starting with draft beer and lemon chuhai

Since we were at an izakaya, we started with something cold to drink. We ordered a draft beer and a lemon chuhai, and both were properly chilled. The draft beer especially had smooth foam and came in a cold glass, so the first sip went down fast. The lemon chuhai had that crisp fizz too, and paired well with the skewers and grilled fish. We didn't order it this time, but they also have Kirin Ichiban, so this place is good to know if you're in the mood for a proper beer.

The free fried egg served with every table

While we waited for our order, a fried egg arrived as a complimentary side. It wasn't just plated — it came still sizzling on a hot iron plate. Scooping it up right away, the whites were cooked just right and the yolk was still runny and rich. It was a great light appetizer before diving into the main dishes.

Mixed skewers: 11 kinds, 13 pieces for 24,000 won

After a short wait, the mixed skewer platter we'd been waiting for arrived. A big plate lined up with skewers, and just the sight of it was satisfying. There were chicken skewers, pork neck, bacon and tomato, chicken heart, ginkgo nuts, garlic, king oyster mushroom, shrimp, and more, so it was fun picking through each one. Overall the smoky char came through nicely and the seasoning wasn't overdone, making it a great pairing with drinks. Personally, my favorites were the bacon-tomato and the shrimp. The salty bacon combined with the tomato, sweetened from grilling, was a great pairing, and the shrimp had that springy texture that disappeared in no time.

Cod roe cream udon: spicy, creamy and worth ordering

Since I was hungry, I also ordered a noodle dish — the cod roe cream udon. Honestly, at first I thought it would just be a decent side dish, but it was way better than expected. The udon noodles themselves were much springier and chewier than I expected — I thought they'd be like an ordinary packaged udon noodle, but they had a lot of bounce and a satisfying bite. On top of that, the smooth, savory cream sauce combined with the salty umami of the cod roe made for a great combination. Thanks to the Vietnamese chili, a spicy kick cut through, so even though it was a cream sauce, it never felt too heavy — a great dish to order either as a drinking snack or as a meal in itself. If you're hungry, ordering this is a solid choice.

Whole grilled Spanish mackerel, 21,000 won and plate-filling

And finally, the whole grilled Spanish mackerel arrived. The menu name said it was a whole fish, but I didn't expect it to actually come as an entire mackerel that size. It nearly filled the whole plate, so satisfaction shot up the moment it landed. The outside was grilled to a nice golden brown while the inside stayed moist. Since the mackerel itself was so large, each flake of flesh came off in big chunks, letting you really taste that thick, meaty fish bite. It was delicious plain, but personally I liked it even more with a light dip in wasabi soy sauce. Taking a big piece of mackerel, dipping it in wasabi soy sauce, and washing it down with a sip of draft beer was a great combination. The flesh came off so easily that by the end, only the skeleton was left... T_T

Is Robadayakki Sodam Yeouido Branch worth a visit?

• That real Japanese izakaya atmosphere
• The fun of watching various skewers and grilled fish cooked right in front of you
• The spicy yet mellow cod roe cream udon
• The whole grilled mackerel with its size and thick, meaty flesh
• A good spot in Yeouido for dinner, drinks, or a date