Guro izakaya after a workout: skewer set and sashimi, Robatayaki Sodam

After finishing the currently trending Hyrox workout with friends 😤, we decided to grab a drink to celebrate — this was our first stop.

After working out, hunger hits hard and your body craves protein, so I really thought about where to go. This is the place I picked. Let's eat vegetables and meat from skewers, and get healthy protein from sashimi!

I'd been to this izakaya in Guro Digital Complex before and remembered it being ✔️great for conversation ✔️good value, with nice partitioned seating. So here's my review from a return visit after a while.

🕰️Hours: daily 17:00–01:30 📍Reservations and group bookings available

How to find Robatayaki Sodam from Guro Digital Complex Station

It's right at the entrance to Kkalkkal-geori from E-mart, and it's a 3-minute walk from Guro Digital Complex Station. We walked from the station. It's not a narrow drinking alley but a wide street, so it felt safe to walk through too.

Inside Robatayaki Sodam: dotchi counter, tables and private rooms

When we went in and looked around, there were really so many rooms..! The tables were big enough for 4–6 people to sit comfortably. The tables in the lobby had blinds hanging down, which made the space feel private enough for conversation.

There's a big window that makes it feel spacious, and the dotchi (counter) seats looked fun since you can watch the skewers being grilled over charcoal. The Japanese-style decor also made the food feel even tastier somehow ☺️✨

Robatayaki Sodam menu and how the skewer sets are put together

Sets are ₩3,000–5,000 cheaper than ordering à la carte, so it makes sense to order a set here.

⭐️There was also a 3.33 event running in the store.

• Use the Naver Place coupon for 1 free skewer type and 10% off sake
• Write a Naver visitor review for a special mini tempura gift

What three of us ordered, plus the fried egg banchan

Our order for 3 was 4 sets of mixed skewers + small sashimi platter for ₩44,000, plus soju for ₩5,000. The banchan included one fried egg per person.

This kind of service is just so nice — even better since we'd just worked out and the egg showed up, and it's great to have with a drink before the main menu arrives too.

Handmade charcoal-grilled skewers after a Hyrox workout

The skewers came out first!

🍢 Handmade charcoal-grilled skewers The charcoal aroma was rich but nothing was burnt — everything came out juicy and well-grilled, which honestly impressed me. Crisp outside, full of juice inside — every bite had that flavor spreading through it, and it was delicious as expected.

We ordered soju, but I seriously considered ordering a draft beer too... In the end I stuck with soju since mixing drinks means a headache tomorrow, but this would pair perfectly with beer or a highball too.

Is the mixed sashimi at Robatayaki Sodam fresh?

The mixed sashimi looked so fresh my eyes were satisfied before I even took a bite — a variety of seasonal fish, sliced thick and neat. One taste and there wasn't a hint of fishy flavor, just clean and crisp — I thought, this was a great choice after working out, glad I ordered it. You could really feel the owner's dedication to ingredient quality.

Final verdict on Robatayaki Sodam in Guro

⭐️Final thoughts⭐️

• Spacious, comfortable space & attentive service: Great for a private gathering or a relaxed drinking session. Add the staff's warm, careful friendliness on top, and the comfortable atmosphere doubles — 😙
• Outstanding quality: The combo of handmade skewers, grilled to order over charcoal with the juices still alive, and fresh sashimi with zero fishy taste, was perfect.
• Satisfying value perks: With various sets and coupon events, you can pick up plenty of little perks — 1 free skewer, 10% off sake, a mini tempura gift — so it's great to plan your visit around them.

I've been here before, but I'll definitely be back again.