Melon cream highball at Hatpiendo, a Yongridan-gil date izakaya

These days, whenever I'm looking for good food or a good drink in Yongsan, I naturally end up in Yongridan-gil. There are so many great-looking restaurants and bars tucked into the alleys, perfect for a dinner date or a casual drink.

This time I visited Hatpiendo, a place in Yongridan-gil where you can really feel the vibe of a Japanese izakaya. The food is unique and the atmosphere is relaxed, so I wanted to introduce it to anyone looking for a date bar in Yongridan-gil.

Where Hatpiendo is and how to find the second-floor entrance

Hatpiendo is located on the 2nd floor of 12 Hangang-daero 54-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, about a 3-minute walk from Exit 3 of Samgakji Station. It's very accessible since it's so close to the station, and being right in Yongridan-gil, it works well whether you're stopping by first or coming for a second round.

• Location: 12 Hangang-daero 54-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 2nd floor
• Hours: 16:30 / 17:00 – 23:00 / 24:00 / 1:00 the next day (check daily hours on Naver Map)
• Parking available (paid) / venue rental available
• Corkage available (paid)

There's an entrance on the left side, tucked behind the convenience store — just head up the stairs.

Inside Hatpiendo: open kitchen and floor-to-ceiling windows

Walking in, my first thought was that Hatpiendo really matches the distinct feel of Yongridan-gil. The open kitchen catches your eye first — watching food get prepared right there gave me the feeling of stepping into a small izakaya in Japan.

There's also a section with big floor-to-ceiling windows, which keeps the space from feeling cramped and lets you eat while looking out at the view outside. Of course, it's even better if you get a seat facing the window!

Overall, it's less flashy and more cozy and comfortable, which makes it great for hanging out with friends, but personally I thought it suited a Yongsan date bar even better.

The lighting is soft and the tables feel relaxed, making it a good spot for a slow evening highball and conversation.

How do the Hatpiending melon cream highball and Earl Grey highball taste?

You can't come to an izakaya and skip the highballs. This time I ordered the Hatpiending highball and the Earl Grey highball at Hatpiendo.

The Hatpiending highball had a sweet melon aroma — that distinctive, sweet and fragrant melon flavor came through gently, so it was easy to drink without feeling heavy. What really set it apart from a typical highball was the whipped cream on top. It felt more like drinking a dessert.

The sweetness of the melon meeting the soft cream gave it a dessert-like quality. If you prefer sweet, fragrant highballs over ones with a strong alcohol punch, this one will suit you.

The Earl Grey highball had a subtle, fragrant black tea aroma, offering a completely different charm from the Hatpiending highball. Switching between the two made the contrast between the sweet style and the fragrant style really clear, so it's worth choosing based on your preference.

Ankimo (monkfish liver) bomb salt gimbap: rich and creamy

One of the dishes I was most looking forward to was the ankimo (monkfish liver) bomb salt gimbap (seaweed rice roll)! The name alone made me curious, and once it arrived, I understood exactly why it's called a 'bomb.'

The gimbap is piled with ankimo like an actual bomb going off. Unlike regular gimbap, it's stuffed with rinsed mugeunji (aged kimchi), which adds a tangy, clean flavor.

And the ankimo on top had a rich, soft texture that was quite intense. The nutty, heavy signature flavor of ankimo came through fully, and every bite carried a clear blend of richness and tangy mugeunji.

It's a dish that could easily turn greasy, but the tangy mugeunji balances the flavor in the middle, so the combination works better than you'd expect. Adding a generous amount of wasabi brought out even more flavor.

If you like ankimo, I think this is one of Hatpiendo's unique dishes worth trying at least once.

Napolitan pasta at Hatpiendo: the nostalgic ketchup classic

The next dish I ordered was the Napolitan pasta. Japanese-style Napolitan pasta usually brings to mind a familiar, slightly sweet ketchup-based flavor, and that's exactly what this was — the kind of dish unlikely to divide opinions much.

The noodles were well coated in ketchup sauce, giving off a tangy-sweet, savory flavor, and the fried egg and sausage on top made it look quite appetizing too.

Breaking the egg yolk a little and mixing it with the pasta added a softness that worked well. Paired with a strong-personality dish like the ankimo gimbap, the Napolitan's familiar flavor helped balance out the meal, making it easy to order several dishes together.

It's also a solid choice for anyone who wants more than just a light snack — something closer to an actual meal.

Final verdict: is Hatpiendo a good date bar on Yongridan-gil?

Hatpiendo was a great choice when looking for a good-atmosphere izakaya in Yongridan-gil. From the open kitchen and floor-to-ceiling window view to the layout that evokes a Japanese izakaya, it suited a casual drink and conversation really well.

It was fun to find dishes like the ankimo bomb salt gimbap that feel unique to this spot, while also being able to enjoy familiar, comfortable dishes like the Napolitan pasta — a good range of menu options.

Add in the sweet melon-flavored Hatpiending highball and the fragrant Earl Grey highball, and you've got a great-atmosphere evening drink session. If you're looking for a Yongridan-gil bar, a Samgakji Station izakaya, or a Yongsan date bar, I'd recommend Hatpiendo as a relaxed place to enjoy good food and highballs together 🐥