Mapo Station izakaya for an anniversary date: Yakitori Shomong

Why I picked Yakitori Shomong Mapo Station Branch for our anniversary date

Yakitori Shomong Mapo Station Branch (야키토리쇼몽 마포역점) is a Gongdeok/Mapo izakaya (Japanese-style pub) where the yakitori omakase 6-skewer course is ₩25,800 per person. I'd recommend it if you want a special meal for an anniversary date in Seoul! It was an anniversary, so I wanted a meal a bit different from usual, and I went looking. This place hit exactly what I wanted haha

It's also a popular Japanese spot near Gongdeok where office workers from Mapo and Gongdeok come for evening get-togethers!

Yakitori Shomong Mapo Station Branch: location, hours and parking

Yakitori Shomong Mapo Station Branch is at 26 Dohwa-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, a 3-minute walk from Mapo Station Exit 3. Hours are Mon–Thu 17:00–01:00, Fri–Sat 17:00–02:00 and Sunday 16:00–23:00.

• Reservations: Catch Table, Naver Reservation
• Corkage allowed, separate men's and women's restrooms
• Parking: use nearby public lots
• Samseong Plaza - ₩3,000 for the first 30 minutes, then ₩1,000 per 15 minutes
• Dohwa Public - ₩3,000 per hour

Turn into the alley from Mapo Station Exit 3 and keep going, and you reach it really quickly! It's not far from Gongdeok either, and after 6 p.m. lots of office workers really did show up. The weather was still nice, so they had the windows opened all the way, so wonderfully airy~

Seating at Yakitori Shomong Mapo Station Branch: the window seat for two is made for dates

There are tables for 4 and for 2, and with a reservation you can dine in a group of 6 or more! There's also counter seating (dacchi-seok), so you can eat like you're at a yakitori bar.

The weather was cool, so I sat by the window! There are window seats for 4 and for 2, and the 2-seater I got was totally tucked in so all you see is the view outside. It felt really private, which I loved!!

How to order, and the free cabbage for a review

You order with the QR code at your table. After ordering the yakitori course, you can add individual skewers too!

Write a Naver review and you get shio-kombu (salted kelp) cabbage! You know how the cabbage at Japanese restaurants is the real deal, right? Everyone, go grab it.

Each table has seasonings like cumin-style zira, and side dishes come out too!

In what order does the 6-skewer yakitori course come out?

I ordered Yakitori Shomong's 6-skewer course (₩25,800 per person). There are 3-, 6- and 9-skewer courses, and I heard the 6-skewer is the most popular signature course here!

Even if you sit at a regular table instead of the counter, the staff bring the next skewer at just the right moment. The skewers come out one at a time in this order!

• Tenderloin - Negima (chicken with leek)
• Tsukune (chicken meatball) - Heart
• Breast cartilage - Shoulder

The moment I finished the first tenderloin skewer I wanted a beer and ordered one,,, ahh 🍺

Classic yakisoba for ₩22,000: how big is the portion?

I also ordered the classic yakisoba (₩22,000) from the à la carte menu. The portion was seriously huge...! Tons of shrimp and cabbage too.

Adding one à la carte dish to the 6-skewer course left me totally full! I thought 6 skewers would be too little, but the portion was bigger than expected and I was stuffed.

Special chicken cuts on skewers, and how to eat the tsukune

Look closely. I went in with high expectations and the skewers were even better!! 🤭 They felt like skewers made with real care... Since these weren't the cuts I usually eat, the special chicken cuts felt even more unusual, and delicious haha

Yakitori Shomong specializes in 19 special cuts of chicken, so if you're looking for a different, tasty yakitori place beyond the usual skewers, I totally recommend it!!

Dunk the tsukune deep into the beaten egg. The egg is seriously amazing too....🤤

Overall review of Yakitori Shomong Mapo Station Branch

Eating while watching the world outside the window made it even better haha The staff were all friendly, and as they brought the yakitori they explained the course and how to eat each skewer for the best taste, which I loved!!

A great-value yakitori omakase for around ₩25,000, Yakitori Shomong Mapo Station Branch!! If you want yakitori made with real, detailed care, I highly recommend it. So chewy and good!!!