Isu Station pizza pub: peanut butter porter ale and 50.8cm pizza

Where is Raymond Isu Branch and what are its hours?

• Address: Sadang-dong 1006-2, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Location: 173m from Exit 9 of Isu (Chongshin University) Station
• Hours: Daily 11:30–23:00 (food orders close at 22:00, alcohol and drinks close at 22:30)
• Highlights: Genuine American-style pizza, limited to 20 pies on weekdays / 30 on weekends, full lineup of Art Monster craft draft beer

One-line review of Raymond Isu Branch

Creamy peanut butter porter ale, crispy big-size pizza, and crispy-on-the-outside-juicy-on-the-inside chicken all on one tray — such great value! A pizza-and-beer pilgrimage spot with a lineup that's absolutely perfect, roar~~~

Wandering around looking for good food, today I visited a place lit up bright white in the neighborhood alley — a proper pizza-and-beer spot in Isu, 'Raymond Isu Branch.' It's really close to Exit 9 of Isu Station, and even at night the first floor was lit up brightly, like it was welcoming us in, so I found it right away. If you're looking for a good-vibe restaurant and bar in Sadang-dong, this place passes the test from the entrance alone!

What is the interior like? A chandelier-lit pizza pub with American flair

Inside Raymond Isu Branch, it's got an American pizza pub feel with white arched columns and a hanging chandelier. The standing sign at the entrance reads 'American Big Size Pizza,' and the 50.8cm size grabs your attention first.

The moment you arrive at the entrance, the 'American Big Size Pizza' standing sign grabs your attention. I was overwhelmed by the massive 50.8cm size — as a pizza lover, there was no way I could just walk past it.

Once you step inside, white arched columns are paired with a luxurious chandelier, giving off an exotic yet cozy feel.

Red neon signs reading 'International Beer Award Winner' glow here and there on the walls, which really built up my anticipation for the beer.

Raymond Isu Branch menu and prices: sets, pizza and craft beer

Raymond Isu Branch takes orders through T Order, and the signature set is the Raymond Set at ₩54,900. Pizza can be ordered by the slice, half pie, or whole pie, and Art Monster craft draft beers fill out the lineup.

We sat down and carefully looked through the T Order menu. What stood out most was definitely the set menu! From the signature 'Raymond Set (₩54,900)' to the Monde Set and the Ray Set, the lineup was excellent.

The pizza menu was varied too — pepperoni, cheese, bacon Hawaiian, brown potato, and more — and you can order by slice, half pie, or whole pie as you like. (The seasonal American Bulbuck pizza also caught my eye!)

True to its reputation as a pizza-and-beer pilgrimage spot in Isu, the beer lineup was impressive. From a sampler to Vienna lager, Belgian witbier, blueberry sour ale, and the peanut butter porter ale I fell for — Art Monster's craft beers filled the list. Five types of gourmet chicken made with a chicken master's recipe, plus mac and cheese, truffle fries, rosé tteokbokki (stir-fried rice cakes), and spaghetti rounded out the sides perfectly.

The weekday lunch set starting at ₩9,900 is also a great deal, making it a solid choice for pizza lunch near Isu. (Don't forget the soda you can get through the Naver Reservation review event!)

How does the peanut butter porter ale taste? World-champion quality

The peanut butter porter ale I drank at Raymond Isu Branch had a nutty peanut butter aroma swirling creamily in the mouth, with a clean finish typical of craft draft beer. One sip and I understood exactly why it won an international beer award.

We ordered the 'Peanut Butter Porter Ale' along with the Raymond Set. Wow, this beer is just insane! One sip and the distinctive nutty peanut butter aroma bursts out, swirling super creamily through your mouth, with a clean finish.

The sweet lingering peanut butter aftertaste kept going, and I immediately understood why it swept international awards. Taking a sip of this beer at a good-vibe restaurant and bar in Sadang-dong felt like all the fatigue of the day just melted away. It instantly became my beer of a lifetime!

What comes in the Raymond Set: half a 20-inch pizza, sausage, chicken and truffle fries

The Raymond Set (₩54,900) comes piled onto a checkered tray with 4 pizza slices (a 20-inch half-pie portion), plump house-made sausage, boneless fried chicken, truffle fries, and 4 sauces. The crust at Raymond Isu Branch isn't salty and is chewy, so I ate every last bit of the crust edge.

And finally, the massive-looking Raymond Set arrives! 4 pizza slices (a whopping 20-inch half-pie portion!), plump house-made sausage, boneless fried chicken, truffle fries, and 4 sauces, all piled onto a wide checkered tray.

This completely shattered the assumption that American-style pizza is salty. It wasn't salty at all, and the crust was incredibly chewy and soft! I usually don't eat pizza crust edges, but this one was baked crispy like a baguette, so I ate every bit of it. It's high quality enough to enjoy guilt-free as a light pizza lunch near Isu during the day.

The sausage, not salty and packed with juice, was delicious too, and the boneless fried chicken was so crispy outside and juicy inside I nearly mistook this place for a dedicated chicken restaurant! The fries, coated with an appealing truffle aroma, kept my hand reaching back for more.

Is Raymond Isu Branch worth a visit? Final verdict

This is a place that perfectly recreates the lively atmosphere of a Manhattan slice pizza shop right in the middle of Isu Station. During the day, it's a hearty and delicious hotspot for pizza lunch near Isu; at night, it's a restaurant and bar in Sadang-dong where you can enjoy a beer of a lifetime under a luxurious chandelier — 200% satisfying whenever you visit.

If you want to properly experience real pizza-and-beer near Isu, don't hesitate — head straight to Raymond Isu Branch! Wandering around looking for good food, I've now fully conquered Raymond Isu Branch, roar~~~