Samgakji Station bar with counter seats and shomaek: Hatpiendo

Today I visited Hatpiendo, a hidden gem tucked in a Samgakji Station alley with tons of atmosphere and high-quality food to go with your drink!! 🍶🍣

Where is Hatpiendo, and what are its hours?

Hatpiendo is an izakaya near Hangang-daero 62-gil in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, about a 3–4 minute walk from Samgakji Station (Line 4, 6). Hours are Mon–Thu 17:30–24:00 (last order 23:00), Fri 17:30–1:00, Sat 16:30–00:30, and Sun 16:30–23:00.

• Signature menu: aged kimchi sashimi salt gimbap, abalone innard pasta, mackerel hand roll sushi, various sake
• Vibe: Japanese vintage mood and a cozy izakaya atmosphere, known for its sharp cooking
• Restroom inside

One drink order per person is required, and at least one bottle of liquor per 4 people.

Visiting and ordering tips for Hatpiendo

It's a cozy, atmospheric spot — perfect for dates or small gatherings! You absolutely must order Hatpiendo's signature 'shomaek' drink along with the signature aged kimchi sashimi salt gimbap!!

Hatpiendo's atmosphere and seating: bar counter and 3rd-floor tables

Hatpiendo has both tachi (bar) seats and regular table seats, and the 3rd floor is spacious, made up entirely of table seating. There are big windows too, great for conversation.

The moment you walk in, you're greeted by that warm, trendy mood like a late-night diner straight out of Japan! The music was mellow, and the big windows made it feel breezy and open — such a great setting for conversation. The 3rd floor is spacious and entirely table seating! Isn't the vibe just amazing?

With both neat tachi (bar) seating and regular tables, it's perfect for a Samgakji date course or a hangout with friends! The staff were really friendly too haha

Counter seats with a view of the open kitchen

We sat at the tachi (bar) seats! Once seated, neat tableware and water were already set up! The kitchen was fully open, so it was spotless and fun to watch haha. The staff never stopped prepping ingredients, cooking everything up the moment an order came in!!

What we ordered at Hatpiendo

• Aged kimchi sashimi salt gimbap
• Abalone innard pasta
• 2 glasses of shomaek

What makes Hatpiendo's shomaek different?

Hatpiendo's shomaek mixes Japanese shochu Daiyame with Kirin draft beer, which sets it apart from a typical somaek!! It has a burst of sweet potato aroma and finishes clean!!

Two glasses of shomaek! The first thing to arrive was this refreshing shomaek! The finish was so smooth that one sip washed away the whole day's fatigue — the crispness and flavor were incredible haha. We shouted 'cheers' before the food even arrived lol

The signature aged kimchi sashimi salt gimbap

The signature aged kimchi sashimi salt gimbap (seaweed rice roll) arrived, and it was a total showstopper just visually!! Thick, fresh aged sashimi and tangy, well-fermented aged kimchi sat in perfect harmony atop savory, lightly seasoned salt gimbap!

That day's aged sashimi was sweet shrimp, salmon, and flounder!! The sweet shrimp was seriously delicious,,, with a light dab of tube wasabi, one bite and the sashimi's chewy-soft texture, the kimchi's crunch, and the gimbap's salty savor all burst in your mouth ㅠㅠ Zero fishy taste and a perfectly balanced combo — this is truly an unbeatable pairing!!

How does the abalone innard pasta taste?

The abalone innard pasta, the ultimate in richness, arrived! The moment it landed, a savory, deep sea aroma wafted up. Just from the sauce's color, you could tell it was loaded generously with real abalone innards haha

There's an oil layer and the abalone innard sauce, so you need to mix it well — I coated the noodles thoroughly in the thick sauce and took a bite, and there was no bitterness at all, just deep, creamy umami soaked into every strand, I couldn't put my chopsticks down!! The abalone bits scattered throughout added the perfect chewy texture, so I scraped up every last bit of sauce with a spoon lol. A sip of shomaek alongside the abalone pasta and sashimi salt gimbap was genuinely delicious!!

What we liked about Hatpiendo

• Atmospheric, cozy Japanese-style interior, perfect date mood
• A fantastic trio of aged kimchi, fresh aged sashimi, and salt gimbap
• Rich, thick, deeply flavorful abalone innard pasta with zero fishiness
• Cool, clean shomaek that pairs perfectly with the food

Satisfaction: 5/5 ★★★★★ Every single dish was fantastic quality, and the atmosphere is exactly my type, so this pick is fully justified lol!! If you want a great time drinking with sharp, well-crafted food near Samgakji Station, be sure to visit 'Hatpiendo'! 💕