Mapo Japanese dining bar for tomato seafood nabe: Orot Robata

A stylish izakaya by Gongdeok’s Gyeongui Line Forest Park

I visited Orot Robata while looking for a nice place for a drink in Gongdeok. Right in front of Gyeongui Line Forest Park, this Gongdeok izakaya is a great fit for dates, an after-work drink, small gatherings, or team dinners.

What caught my eye at the entrance more than anything was the sign saying it had been listed in the Blue Ribbon Survey for six consecutive years! Seeing those Blue Ribbons running from 2021 to 2026 naturally got me excited about the food before I even walked in.

• Address: 1F, Gongdeok Park Xi Building 202, 152 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울특별시 마포구 백범로 152 공덕파크자이 202동 1층)
• Hours: 11:30 AM–11 PM
• Closed: Every Sunday
• Parking: Building parking available

Orot Robata is a premium robatayaki (Japanese fireside grilling) specialist from Orot, a Japanese dining brand. True to the name robata, or “fireside,” it grills fish, seafood, and meat with premium binchotan charcoal and straw fire, alongside a wide range of à la carte dishes—from seasonal sashimi to nabe hot pots and fried dishes.

As soon as I stepped inside, I loved the overall calm, polished atmosphere. Soft lighting and wood-toned furniture come together in this wonderful blend of Japanese ambiance and a modern dining bar!

At the bar seats in front of the open kitchen, you can watch the chefs cook right in front of you, which makes even the wait fun. There are also window seats with folding doors, and on a nice day it looked like a lovely spot for a drink while soaking up the Gyeongui Line Forest Park atmosphere.

Easy ordering with an NFC tag

Ordering from the table via an NFC tag was easy and convenient. The open kitchen was right there, so it was fun to watch the chefs at work, too! The neat, refined setting also felt hygienic, which made it even more reassuring.

A varied menu, from charcoal grills to nabe

The menu has so much to choose from: charcoal-grilled dishes, sashimi, nabe, fried dishes, even pasta. The drinks lineup is generous, too, with Yebisu draft beer, highballs, sake, and wine, making this an izakaya where you can choose according to your taste.

Starting with a glass of Yebisu draft beer

The complimentary snack came with crisp cucumber and refreshing tomato! Its sweet-tangy flavor woke up my appetite, so it was a fresh start. My first order that day was Yebisu draft beer. Even the creamy foam rising in soft little clouds over the glass was spot-on. One cool sip brought together that smooth foam and clean finish, and I thought, “Let’s make some good menu choices tonight!”

And because there are so many delicious dishes to have with drinks, it seemed like a good place to take care of both the first round of dinner and a second round of drinks in one spot.

Crisp yet moist abalone shrimp agemono

The abalone shrimp agemono (fried dish) we ordered to go with drinks was memorable, too. The contrast between its crisp fried exterior and moist interior filled every bite with savory flavor! The textures of the filling with its large mushrooms were especially fun, while the umami of seaweed made it a perfect beer snack. A sip of Yebisu draft beer followed by a bite of agemono—this pairing makes it pretty hard to put your chopsticks down.

Tomato kaisen nabe after the grilled black cod sold out

Honestly, I had really wanted to have the grilled black cod that day, but sadly it was sold out! Since I was at a robatayaki specialist, I definitely wanted to try it, but I suppose you have to be quick for popular dishes. Leaving that disappointment behind, I chose the tomato kaisen nabe (seafood hot pot). In the end, I was happy because it felt like discovering a new dish.

A large pot was filled with red tomato broth, generous seafood, and vegetables, so it grabbed my attention from the moment it arrived! A big whole tomato sat on top, and it was fun to break it into the broth as I ate. Tomato’s distinct tang blended with the seafood umami, making the broth deeper and richer than I expected. After a spoonful of hot broth and a drink of cool draft beer, the spoon goes straight back into the nabe. It was a great dish to order when you start craving something warm later in a drinking session.

Following Orot, the first branch already known by word of mouth on Gongdeok’s Gyeongui Line Forest Park, the brand is said to be expanding its culinary world through Orot Robata and Orot Silbi, which serves Japanese fusion dishes tapas-style.

After visiting, it felt less like an izakaya simply for drinks and snacks, and more like a Japanese dining bar where you enjoy the food, drinks, and atmosphere together. The lively open kitchen and refined interior make it great for a Gongdeok date, a small team dinner, or a special evening gathering.

If you are looking for a stylish izakaya in Gongdeok or a bar by Gyeongui Line Forest Park, Orot Robata is worth remembering for binchotan charcoal grilling and its varied à la carte dishes.