Spicy seafood yakiudon at Nani Byeolgwan, a Yeongdeungpo izakaya

I finished a makeup class in Yeongdeungpo and stepped outside right around dinner time. Wondering what to eat, I noticed a yakitori izakaya nearby and decided to check it out.

The name is Nani Byeolgwan (나니별관), and the moment I saw the sign, I couldn't help thinking of that distinctive "Nani~?" tone of voice, haha.

Where is Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch, and what are its hours?

• Address: 1F, 183 Munnae-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Closed on Sundays / Mon–Sat 18:00–02:00, last order 01:00
• Parking: Not available; use nearby public parking lots

Inside Nani Byeolgwan: first-floor bar seats and upstairs tables

When I first walked in, I saw a bar-style counter and figured this was the kind of place where you eat while watching the cooking. Turns out there were more seats further inside, plus a whole second floor. I thought it would be a cozy little spot, but it was actually a big place.

The seats further inside on the 1st floor are set up as 2-person and 4-person tables. There's also a restroom on the 1st floor, which is handy to know if you're visiting Nani Byeolgwan.

The walls were decorated with interior design books, liquor bottles, and candles. Soft lighting inside the wall shelves gave the whole space extra atmosphere.

Second-floor curtained private seats and 4-person group tables

The 2nd floor of Nani Byeolgwan is made up of sofa-style 4-person tables. There's also a separate space closed off by a curtain, giving you a more private seating option. If you'd like to use it privately, it's best to book ahead. The 2nd floor is mainly for groups of four or more, apparently.

Even the cabinet holding the tableware was done in a wood tone, so a spot that could easily look cluttered actually blended nicely with the interior. Staff usually bring the tableware over, but if they're busy you can just grab it yourself, which I actually appreciated. And there were charging outlets too, which was great.

Nani Byeolgwan menu and QR code ordering

You order by scanning the QR code on the wall, choosing from the menu on your phone, and then telling the staff directly. There's a wide range of dishes — butter garlic king prawns, clam sake-steam, cheese-grilled scallops, beef tataki, pasta, tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), yakiudon, fried oysters, Shin Ramyeon risotto, and more.

What we ordered at Nani Byeolgwan

• Chicken skewers ₩15,000
• Gopchang (beef intestine) skewers ₩12,000
• Spicy seafood yakiudon ₩28,000

They brought out a cabbage salad as a basic side. The dressing wasn't the usual mayonnaise-based one — it was a soy sauce dressing mixed with black pepper. It was my first time trying a Japanese-style salad dressing like this, and even though the pepper flavor was strong, it worked really well with the unseasoned cabbage. I kept reaching for it without even realizing.

How did the chicken skewers, gopchang skewers and spicy seafood yakiudon taste?

While chatting with my friend, the food arrived. They brought the chicken skewers and gopchang skewers out one after another. The chicken skewers came as 5 pieces topped with mayonnaise and mala (Sichuan pepper) powder. The gopchang skewers were 3 pieces, also served with mala powder.

While I was busy taking photos, they brought out the spicy seafood yakiudon too, so I tried to get a nice shot of that as well.

The spicy seafood yakiudon came piled generously with seafood and vegetables. Being able to eat a good variety of both was really nice. I was worried it would be very spicy since it's called "spicy seafood yakiudon," but thankfully it wasn't that hot — more just mildly spicy. Both of us are bad with spicy food, so we were relieved, and we ended up enjoying it a lot.

The gopchang skewers weren't tough at all — they had that springy gopchang texture with a slightly tangy taste. The tanginess surprised me a bit at first, but I think they add lemon to cut down any gamey smell. If anything, it felt like a distinctive touch unique to Nani Byeolgwan — I found myself wondering, is this what it would taste like in Japan? The chicken skewers had no gamey smell either, and dipped in mayonnaise, they were absolutely delicious.

My rating of Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch

4.8/5.0

Overall, I was really satisfied. It was an easy place to talk, and the food was tasty. The gopchang had no gamey smell, and the spicy yakiudon wasn't too spicy, so it was something you could enjoy without much worry.