Hannam-dong date izakaya: cherry-smoked lamb and tsukune at OSA Hannam

I was looking for an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) with a great atmosphere in Hannam-dong and ended up at OSA Hannam. Hannam-dong has no shortage of lovely restaurants and bars, but I had my eye on OSA Hannam because it pairs stylish interiors with a wide range of Japanese dishes.

It felt a bit more refined and upscale than your average izakaya, so it looked right for a date or a special day. This time I ordered a bit of everything, from sushi to charcoal-grilled tsukune and lamb chop steak :)

What does the exterior of OSA Hannam look like?

The exterior has white-toned walls and a softly lit OSA Hannam sign, so it feels clean and stylish. The vibe was already great from the entrance.

From outside you can see into the restaurant through large windows, with warm lighting and cozy seats, and it looked so inviting even from the street. The window side feels especially open, which suits a Hannam-dong date spot.

OSA Hannam interior and seating

Inside, a calm black-toned space blends with a bright, terrace-like window area. The interior was one of my favorite things about OSA Hannam!

The back is dimly lit, private and cozy, while the window side has white tables and rattan chairs for a brighter feel. Plants and small lights are dotted around, so you can tell every corner was thought through.

The gold lamps on each table were especially pretty. Food photos come out moody, and the soft light makes it a nice place to talk. There are various seating types, so it looked fine for a date for two as well as for a group.

OSA Hannam menu and prices

The OSA Hannam menu covers sashimi and sushi, plus robatayaki (charcoal grill), fried and simmered dishes, nabe (hot pot) and meals. The range was much wider than I expected.

• Grilled black tiger shrimp ₩59,000
• Hanwoo striploin gyukatsu sando ₩45,000
• Cherry-blossom-smoked lamb chop steak ₩38,000
• Charcoal-grilled tsukune ₩18,000

There are light dishes to pick at and mains to build a meal around, so you can order to your taste. We ordered the OSA sushi platter, charcoal-grilled tsukune and cherry-blossom-smoked lamb chop steak.

OSA sushi platter

The OSA sushi platter comes with several kinds of sushi lined up neatly in a row on a long black plate. This is the first dish I'll introduce!

Isn't the plating gorgeous already? Tuna, white fish, shrimp, sea urchin (uni) and more made it a very showy sight. The lightly seared piece in the middle and the uni gunkan (seaweed-wrapped sushi) at the end really stood out.

Each piece differs in color and shape, so taking photos was fun too. I liked being able to enjoy a variety of sushi rather than just one kind, and I liked that this Hannam-dong izakaya lets you order sushi as well. If you love sushi, keep an eye out for it when choosing your menu.

Charcoal-grilled tsukune (2 pcs): ₩18,000

The charcoal-grilled tsukune at OSA Hannam is ₩18,000 for two, with two round, thick patties served with cabbage. The glossy sauce looked delicious, and a sauce with egg yolk came on the side.

Tsukune is a Japanese chicken meatball dish, and unlike the usual small skewers, these were quite thick and had real presence. I especially liked the combination of the sweetish glaze with the yolk sauce. The cabbage went well with the meat too. It has a different charm from the sushi, so it was a good pick when ordering several dishes.

Cherry blossom–smoked lamb chop steak (2 pcs): ₩38,000

The cherry-blossom-smoked lamb chop steak is ₩38,000 for two pieces, and it's the last dish I'll introduce!

Personally, this was the most striking dish visually. Two lamb chops with big bones attached came on a black plate, and the plating looked very upscale. Mushrooms were laid under the meat, and green sauce and red seasoning sat on one side of the plate. There was also a separate sauce, so you can mix and match to your taste. The chops had appetizing grill marks and a glossy shine that made them look even tastier.

With those long bones, the lamb chops had a definite presence on the table. I think one of the charms of OSA Hannam is that, at a Hannam-dong restaurant, you can enjoy meat dishes like this alongside sushi and sashimi.

Is OSA Hannam a good date spot in Hannam-dong?

Above all, the atmosphere is what I remembered about this Hannam-dong izakaya. The window area with white tables and rattan chairs, the soft gold lamps and the calm black interior blend together nicely despite being so different.

It felt closer to a stylish dining space than an ordinary bar, and the varied menu made it a good place for a meal with a drink. I especially liked that you can order such different dishes as sushi, tsukune and lamb chops all in one place.

If you're looking for a good date spot in Hannam-dong, or planning a slightly special dinner, put OSA Hannam on your list. It's a place I'd recommend to anyone searching for a Hannam-dong restaurant, bar or izakaya :)