Mullae teppanyaki bar with my sister at 5pm opening: Akai Teppan

Akai Teppan, a Mullae teppanyaki bar that was perfect for a date!

Why we chose Akai Teppan for teppanyaki in Mullae

My sister came to visit Seoul for the first time in a while! I wanted to eat something good and spend time somewhere with a nice mood, so after some thinking we headed to the hot spot that is Mullae-dong. For tasty teppanyaki (iron-griddle cooking), we picked the teppanyaki bar Akai Teppan (아카이테판).

Akai Teppan location and hours

Akai Teppan is at 34 Dorim-ro 125-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, 1st floor, near Mullae Arts Village and close to Exit 7 of Mullae Station. It is open Mon–Fri 17:00–24:00 and Sat–Sun 15:00–24:00.

• Address: 34 Dorim-ro 125-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, 1st floor (near Mullae Arts Village)
• Mullae Station Exit 7
• Hours: Mon–Fri 17:00–24:00 / Sat–Sun 15:00–24:00
• Amenities: group seating, reservations, Wi-Fi, mobile payment, parking

From Exit 7 of Mullae Station, walk a little way toward Mullae Arts Village and the bold, pretty red exterior catches your eye right away, so it's easy to find!

Go at opening time to avoid a wait

We wanted an early dinner, so we went around 5pm when it opens, and luckily there weren't many guests yet. I'd heard this Mullae teppanyaki bar is popular enough to often have a wait, so being early let us enjoy the place calmly and quietly. So good.

What is the atmosphere at Akai Teppan like?

The inside of Akai Teppan was spacious and pleasant! The interior captures a Japan-local feel while still looking stylish and clean. The soft, warm lighting made the mood even better.

The tables are well spaced too, so it's a great spot for chatting comfortably with your group. I thought it was ideal for a date or a get-together with friends.

What we ordered at Akai Teppan

As a proper teppanyaki bar, Akai Teppan has everything from okonomiyaki (savory pancake) to yakisoba (stir-fried noodles) and lots of side dishes, all looking delicious, so choosing wasn't easy. After a long think, we ordered the spicy seafood yakisoba and the cuttlefish mushroom tempura.

How was the spicy seafood yakisoba?

The spicy seafood yakisoba came out first, just stir-fried on the griddle, and a lovely smoky aroma hit my nose before anything else. Plump shrimp, chewy squid and other fresh seafood were packed in generously, so it was great to chew.

The special sauce is deliciously spicy without being harsh, and it soaked right into the chewy soba noodles, so I couldn't put my chopsticks down.

A generous heap of katsuobushi (bonito flakes) danced on top of the noodles and lifted the savory flavor even more.

Cuttlefish and mushroom tempura: better than expected

The dish that really exceeded expectations was Akai Teppan's cuttlefish mushroom tempura! The thickly sliced fried cuttlefish wasn't tough at all, soft to chew, and gave off its own sweetness.

The oyster mushroom tempura served with it was something I'd never had before. The moment I bit through the thin, crispy coating, the chewy mushroom and fragrant juices filled my mouth. It was a surprise, and honestly really good.

This nutty, crispy tempura balanced out the spiciness of the seafood yakisoba, so the two dishes paired fantastically.

Ade on a driving day, and a sweet yogurt-flavored drink

Good food needs a drink, right? My sister had to drive, so she ordered a refreshing, cool ade (fruit soda), and I took a recommendation for a sweet alcoholic drink. I don't remember the exact name, but it tasted like yogurt with alcohol in it, sweet and a perfect match for the dishes!

Eating good food with my sister, whom I hadn't seen in a while, at the atmospheric Mullae teppanyaki bar Akai Teppan made for a very satisfying date. If you're looking for a bar in Mullae-dong with a nice mood and tasty snacks, I recommend Akai Teppan!