Yeouido bar hungry-for-two set, swap stew for spicy jjamppong

Why an izakaya, out of all the Yeouido Station bars

Yeouido is packed with office workers, so there's no shortage of Yeouido Station bars and restaurants. That night I didn't want somewhere loud like a BBQ joint — I wanted an izakaya where we could order a bunch of good side dishes and talk slowly. That's how I landed on Robadayakki Sodam Yeouido Branch.

From sashimi to grilled skewers, grilled fish, and warm soup dishes, the menu was varied, and they even had set menus made for two people. It's popular enough that you'll end up waiting without a reservation. Since we hadn't eaten dinner separately, we went with the Set 5 Hungry-for-Two Set — the name alone sold me.

The vibe of an old-school Japanese pub

From the wood-clad exterior, Robadayakki Sodam Yeouido Branch feels like an old-school Japanese pub. It sits among the tall buildings of Yeouido, but the moment you step through the entrance you feel briefly transported to a different neighborhood entirely — a nice change of pace.

It's a different mood from the sleek new izakayas popping up lately. Rather than flashy or trendy, it has the comfortable, familiar feel of a neighborhood pub that's been standing in the same spot for years — the kind of place that suits a casual after-work drink with a coworker, or an easy chat with a friend.

Skewers and grilled fish on a wooden menu board

On the wall hangs a wooden menu board with the names of the dishes. There's grilled fish like Greenland halibut, Spanish mackerel, Atka mackerel, and shishamo, plus chicken skin, shrimp-bacon rolls, bacon tomato, bacon enoki mushroom, and button mushroom skewers — basically anything that pairs well with beer or soju.

There's also plenty of variety in sashimi, grilled dishes, fried dishes, and soups, so you can pick according to your taste. If you're not sure what to choose, the set menus are a great option — there are several, so you just pick the one you want.

Set 5 Hungry-for-Two Set, ₩67,000

We ordered the Set 5 Hungry-for-Two Set. It comes with three components below.

• Sashimi small size
• Assorted skewers
• Oden nabe (fish cake hot pot)

Set 5 costs ₩67,000! With sashimi, grilled skewers, and a warm soup all included, it's a good combo for two people to eat and drink together. We swapped the oden nabe that comes standard for spicy jjamppong instead (you can change it for an extra charge). I usually love a mild broth like oden nabe, but that day I was craving something spicy to go with beer.

Starting with fried eggs on an iron plate

After ordering, we waited and two fried eggs arrived on a hot iron plate. Not a fancy or flashy side dish, but nice that it came out hot and ready to eat right away : ) The yolks weren't fully cooked, so we could finish cooking them to our liking with the plate's residual heat, which made them even tastier.

It also paired well with a light draft beer before the main dishes arrived. Simple, familiar side dishes like this actually suit Robadayakki Sodam's relaxed pub atmosphere — I think that's why it's so popular as a Yeouido Station bar.

The first drink to blow away after-work stress: draft beer! Cold as ever. A draft beer with just the right amount of foam — isn't that basically happiness?

How much is the sashimi small size for two?

The first dish out was the sashimi small size included in the hungry-for-two set. Several kinds of sashimi, including salmon, arrived together on one plate, garnished with lemon, radish sprouts, and wasabi. Pickled radish and pickled ginger were served on the side, refreshing the palate between bites of raw fish.

It was a comfortable amount for two, not overwhelming, and we got to sample a good variety of raw fish. Unlike ordering sashimi as a hearty standalone dish, this portion was built to be enjoyed alongside other food. It went fine with beer, but if you like sake or soju, I imagine it'd pair even better.

Swapping oden nabe for spicy jjamppong

The hungry-for-two set normally comes with oden nabe. But that day I wanted something spicy, so we swapped it for spicy jjamppong. It arrived in a large stone bowl loaded with mussels, squid, and other seafood, and the broth was properly spicy.

After the cold sashimi, a spoonful of the warm jjamppong broth hit the spot — the two dishes worked really well together. Since we barely eat noodles, we asked if we could get just a little, and the staff kindly prepared the noodles separately for us.

Assorted skewers arrive last

Last to come out was the assorted skewers included in the set. Meat, ginkgo nuts, mushrooms, and other ingredients were threaded on skewers, easy for two people to split one at a time. Nicely charred, the skewers had a subtle smoky flavor and salty edge that paired well with draft beer.

Robadayakki Sodam has a wide range of skewer options, so it might be worth trying the assorted skewers in the set first, then adding your favorite as a standalone order. Eating the sashimi first, then following with the warm jjamppong broth and the skewers, kept things interesting all the way through — no fatigue at all. Totally satisfied with the set!

A Yeouido izakaya good for an after-work drink

Robadayakki Sodam isn't a sleek, flashy modern izakaya — it's more like a Yeouido Station bar with the comfortable atmosphere of an old-school Japanese pub. With such a varied menu, it's a good spot to satisfy different people's tastes at the same table.

Even without eating dinner first, you can come here for drinks, plenty of side dishes, and good conversation, which is probably why so many Yeouido office workers keep coming back to Robadayakki Sodam Yeouido Branch. If you're looking for a relaxed drink with a friend or coworker after work in Yeouido, give this Yeouido izakaya a try.