Izakaya in Sejong for tokkuri sake and motsunabe: Motsumo Dodam

Fukuoka vibes, straight up! This is my fifth revisit to Motsumo, a Dodam-dong favorite in Sejong, and here's the review of the rich motsunabe, tokkuri sake, and ramen noodle combo I had this time.

I really love spending a good time enjoying warm soup dishes with a drink in the cozy atmosphere that only a Japanese izakaya can give you! Today I went back to Motsumo, my go-to spot located across from the Shinhyup credit union in the Dodam-dong dining alley — this was already my fifth visit. 🍺

I'm actually leaving for a real trip to Fukuoka next week, so I got a bit more excited thinking I could compare tonight's meal to the real thing over there! From the interior that makes you feel like you've traveled to Japan, to the rich motsunabe broth, to the sake and draft beer pairing — let me walk you through the whole visit. 🍃

The vibe at Motsumo Sejong Dodam Branch: retro, just like a local izakaya

As you approach the entrance, a yellow sign catches your eye from far off. 💛 It's right in the middle of the Dodam-dong dining alley, so it's very accessible, and even from the outside it gives off the unique aura of a small izakaya lifted straight from a Japanese street.

Step through the door and under warm lighting, the walls are covered with Japanese-language posters and retro knickknacks. 🏮 Counter-style seats and comfortable table seats are neatly divided up — among izakayas in Dodam-dong, this one especially lets you soak up the feeling of a trip to Japan!

Thanks to the cozy, relaxed atmosphere, this really felt like a solid spot for a low-key drink after work or a date-night stop. ✨

(Special) motsunabe: chives piled like a mountain, broth deep and rich

Once seated, we ordered the signature (special) motsunabe (Japanese beef intestine hot pot). 🍲 When it arrived, the sight of it drew a gasp like always — fresh chives piled up literally like a mountain, just looking at it was reassuring!

It was loaded with plenty of Korean beef intestine parts — daechang, yuchang, and heart — and thanks to careful prep, there was no gamey smell at all, just a clean, savory flavor.

A hidden gem: mentaiko mayo and tsuyu-style soy sauce

The hidden gem here is the banchan (side dish) they bring out first: salted pollock roe mixed with mayonnaise! Mix it up right away, then dip a piece of savory daechang in it, and the salty umami really comes alive. The soy sauce on the table also has a slight tang, almost like tsuyu, and it pairs perfectly as a dip! 💡

If you want to cut through the richness of the daechang a bit more, a small tip is to ask staff for some wasabi on the side. Topping it with chives and a touch of wasabi made it noticeably cleaner and less heavy to eat. 😋

Kirin draft, tokkuri sake, and the ramen noodles that stole the show

When you're enjoying Japanese food, a good drink to pair with it is a must! 🍶 We had smooth, cold Kirin draft beer alongside tokkuri sake, served in a neat little bottle. This was my first time ordering tokkuri sake — I usually stick with soju, but this opened up a whole new world for me.

Motsunabe loaded with intestines can get a little rich, right? Haha. A sip of refreshing draft beer or clean sake reset the palate every time and balanced everything out perfectly! 🍺

After fishing out most of the solid ingredients, we didn't forget to add ramen noodles! With the noodles soaking up the broth that had turned deeply flavorful from all the melted-in ingredients, it felt just like eating a deeply flavored bowl of tonkotsu ramen.

A meal really does feel complete once you get some carbs in at the end — seeing how satisfied and full I felt, I guess I really am Korean after all! Adding the ramen noodles was an excellent call. 🍜

For when you're craving a Japan-travel mood and warm broth

So, how was this look at my visit to Motsumo, the izakaya in Dodam-dong? 🌿 I kept coming back because I couldn't forget the deep flavor of motsunabe I had in Fukuoka, and before I knew it, this was already my fifth revisit — the rich broth and tidy atmosphere always give me such good satisfaction.

If you're craving warm broth with a drink after work, or looking for a good-atmosphere restaurant in Sejong, I think this is a place you could comfortably drop by.

This review was written based on personal experience and is an honest account. 😊