Sadang izakaya for a blind date: booth seats and yurinchi at Cheonjan

What is the atmosphere like at Cheonjan, the Sadang Station izakaya?

Cheonjan (천잔) is an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) in the Sadang food alley, with dim, soft lighting. It's open from 5 PM to 2 AM, as I understand it. I'm being honest here, so just trust me. It feels better for a man and a woman on a blind date or a date than for a group of guys.

Cheonjan's signature is the 1++ grade yukhoe, but I was full, so I went light with yurinchi.

It looks cozy and dark at a glance. An izakaya really comes alive when it's this dim. It's the kind of mood that's good for a date around Sadang Station. A couple of light drinks and then heading out is fine.

What's on the menu at Cheonjan in Sadang?

The menu has set meals that come as a full spread, plus a wide range of side dishes.

Cheonjan menu, Sadang Station izakaya

There's a really curious item called hanwoo yukhoe mulhoe. It looks like beef tartare served like a cold raw-fish soup. I didn't have the courage to try it.

So a Japanese izakaya, not a Chinese pub, does a mala-flavored hot pot too.

If you come with several people, the Cheonjan Hansang set menu looks like a good way to go.

There are even salads for a light bite. Cheonjan has no minimum order, so you can happily order something like a salad and just have a drink.

How big is Cheonjan's yurinchi, and how does it taste?

Cheonjan's yurinchi is just the right amount for two, and the tangy soy sauce suited it well. And of course I ordered a cold Cass beer first.

The yurinchi at Cheonjan has arrived. Exactly enough for two people. The soy sauce is pleasantly tangy and goes really well with the chicken.

Onions and vegetables are piled on well, so it didn't feel greasy.

It has hongchoju (red vinegar liquor) in it too, so it's nicely tangyyyy.

The sprouts themselves were fresh, and the fried coating wasn't hard. Soaked in the yurinchi sauce, it was pleasantly soft, and really good.

Peanuts are sprinkled on top, so there's a nutty flavor too. It didn't feel like dakgangjeong (sweet crunchy fried chicken) at all, just a mildly sweet, tender yurinchi. The meat was tender too, so it was super easy to chew without thinking.

I took a close-up to show the condition of the chicken. Good condition, fine.

Is one yurinchi enough for a second round when you're already full?

Cheonjan's yurinchi is quite generous and filling. It's so well-sized that you don't need to order anything else. If you've had a drink around Sadang Station and want chicken for round two but you're full and unsure, one yurinchi at Cheonjan seemed just right.

It was tasty, so I finished almost all of it. I hardly ever eat vegetables, but I ate them too. Later the batter got quite soggy from soaking in the sauce, but even that was soft and perfectly edible.

I ate it down to the very last piece.... And the meat wasn't dry. It seems to be a mix of thigh and breast. Moderately tender and moderately firm. It wasn't that awful dry chicken. Anyway, it was edible, it was fine, yep.

Does Cheonjan near Sadang Station serve sake?

Yes, Cheonjan has sake too. There aren't that many places to drink sake around Sadang Station, but Cheonjan has it. For the sake menu, please check the place info on the map.

Are Cheonjan's booth seats good for a blind date or date?

Cheonjan has wide tables and partitioned wall-side seats, good for a quiet chat for two. I went when everyone had cleared out, so I could take photos at leisure. The tables are wide, so eating is comfortable.

There are partitioned seats along the wall like this, so you can talk privately while you eat. They say a dark mood like this puts people more at ease on a date or blind date. A brightly lit pub doesn't give you this vibe. Also, in the dark, people look a bit better, prettier and more handsome.

Cheonjan near Sadang Station: the verdict

Anyway, for a light first or second round on a blind date or date at Cheonjan, the Sadang Station izakaya, the mood is good, that's my word. And be careful when going for Japanese sashimi around Sadang Station, there are really a lot of trap cards. Ask me in the comments before you go. As for Cheonjan, I only tried the yurinchi, but it doesn't seem to be a trap card, at least not yet. Thanks for the meal.