Hapjeong alley izakaya: sweet shrimp sashimi with added uni at Ppaeret

When I want a quiet drink around Sangsu and Hapjeong along with some properly good food, there's one place I drop by every now and then: Ppaeret (빼레), an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) near Hapjeong Station~.~ This time I went with a friend and we happily devoured some tasty seasonal dishes, hehe.

Where is Ppaeret in Hapjeong, and what does it look like outside?

Ppaeret is a 5-minute walk from Exit 6 of Hapjeong Station, tucked inside an alley. It's just a little off the busy main street, so it's not hard to find and it's easy to move on to for a second round😀

The exterior has a modern feel with soft light spilling out. The warm wood and signage typical of a Japanese izakaya blend nicely with a Korean modern style, so it feels more like a good restaurant than a bar! It's even more atmospheric at night, perfect for a date or a small get-together, and it's in a quiet alley away from the noisy Hongdae/Hapjeong streets, so my expectations were already rising!☺️

Ppaeret's interior and seating

Inside, you can see the open kitchen, and regular tables are mixed in with dacchi (counter) seats. Overall it's clean and modern, yet cozy~.~

The interior is so tidy that you can really feel the owner's good taste👍 The lighting is soft and the music is mellow, so it was great for talking😊 Highly recommended for people in their 20s and 30s who don't like noisy bars! There are no private rooms, but the whole place feels quiet and relaxed, a good spot for friends to chat intimately!

What's on Ppaeret's menu, and what are the prices like?

Ppaeret specializes in handmade dishes, so the menu is wide, from seasonal seafood sashimi to all kinds of fusion bites. Prices are a bit high for an izakaya, but considering the portions and quality, they seem reasonable!

I hear the owner is a former chef who makes everything with fresh ingredients he sources himself from the market, so the quality is probably a cut above😚 Ordering is by QR code, which is convenient, and apparently special dishes that aren't on the menu are possible if you reserve, so keep that in mind😣

• Sweet shrimp sashimi + fried shrimp heads ₩45,000
• Uni add-on ₩30,000

How does Ppaeret's sweet shrimp sashimi with fried heads taste?

Here come the sweet shrimp sashimi with fried heads and the uni! The sweet shrimp sashimi and fried shrimp heads I properly ate this time are a dish I can't help but recommend, haha.

The sweet shrimp is so fresh that it's sweet and springy even on its own😄 The texture melts the moment it goes in your mouth, and I couldn't help but marvel!

Lightly dipping it in soy sauce with fresh wasabi is the best too~.~

Finishing with fried shrimp heads

The fried heads in particular are crispy and insanely nutty😋 What can I even say about freshly fried food, absolutely delicious, no contest!

Eating the raw shrimp and then finishing with the fried heads is a perfect combo! There aren't many places where you can enjoy fresh sweet shrimp all the way through to the tempura-style fry like this, so it'll stay in my memory, haha.

How were the amount and taste of the uni add-on at Ppaeret?

The uni I added for ₩30,000 was also better than expected😃 It wasn't a full tray of uni, but the amount was still quite generous!

It's smooth, rich and so fresh, quality where you really taste the sea, haha. Next time we come, we plan to order a whole tray of uni!

If you like seafood, the uni + sweet shrimp combo seems like a sure win😊 If you're going to order the shrimp sashimi, I strongly recommend adding the uni!!

Verdict: if you want a quiet izakaya in Hapjeong

All in all, if you want a quiet, cozy izakaya in Hapjeong or Sangsu for seasonal seafood, properly made handmade dishes and a drink, I strongly recommend Ppaeret, a Hapjeong Station favorite, haha.

Ppaeret hours, location and parking

• Address: 23 Dongmak-ro 5-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Mon–Sat 18:00–02:00, Sun 18:00–24:00 (closed every 5th Sunday of the month)
• 5-minute walk from Hapjeong Station Exit 6
• 8-minute walk from Sangsu Station Exit 1
• Parking available next to the building