Izakaya bar in Gangnam with white ragu pasta and soju: Goko

I went to Izakaya Goko, one of the hyped spots in Gangnam with tons of reviews. So excited~~😆 This is Izakaya Goko Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch, an atmospheric Japanese-style bar on the main street between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station. Let's go!

Where is Izakaya Goko Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch, and what are the seats like?

This Gangnam bar is 176m from Exit 6 of Sinnonhyeon Station 👀 it's on the 2nd floor~

I visited around 7pm on a weekday and it was completely packed with customers. As a popular spot, a reservation seems essential! Book on Naver like I did.-.-

The space has private booths, an open table hall, and counter seats where you sit facing the chef and chat while you eat, so you can pick a seat that fits your purpose or company. The soft lighting and modern interior seemed to make conversation feel even richer 😊

What is on the menu at Izakaya Goko in Gangnam?

• Goko aged sashimi ₩45,000 (seasonal mix of mackerel, bluefin tuna, flounder, sea bream, sweet shrimp, salmon, steamed abalone, octopus, amberjack, etc.)
• Seared mackerel platter ₩39,000
• Flounder sio sanhap ₩35,000
• Goko 7-piece yakitori ₩25,000
• Kansai oden nabe ₩26,000
• Spicy seafood nabe ₩26,000
• Fukuoka-style mizutaki ₩30,000
• Futomaki ₩30,000
• Spinach pasta ₩21,000

With aged sashimi, yakitori, and pasta all on offer, izakaya lovers and Japanese food fans like me will be happily overwhelmed the moment they see the menu 🤭

You get sweet and salty caramel cheese popcorn as a house snack by default💛

What to drink: Sunyang Oak soju

For drinks, I ordered Sunyang Oak the moment I saw it on the list. I've been really into Sunyang Oak lately, so I was so glad they had it. It's soju with no bitterness at all and zero sugar, so it goes down smooth.

Flounder sio sanhap, 35,000 won

Whoa, the flounder sio sanhap — a 2.5kg-class flounder enjoyed as a trio with salted gimbap (seaweed rice roll) and aged kimchi — came out first. The color of the sashimi is stunning..👏

Can you see how long and thick the flounder slices are! It's chewy and delicious even on its own. But~

When you dip the thick flounder sashimi lightly in salt, then top the gimbap with wasabi and aged kimchi and pop it all in one bite, it's paradise. The balance of sweetness, umami, tang, and salt is a masterpiece 🫶🏻 There were also 3 pieces of thick salmon, so soft it melts in your mouth.

500 out of a 5-point scale.

White ragu pasta, 21,000 won

White ragu pasta, ₩21,000. The flounder sashimi was already amazing, but the pasta is top-tier too... It comes with 2 pieces of garlic bread, and the white ragu pasta is completely thick and rich. It's deep and savory, and as the sauce clings to the noodles, every bite brings up creaminess and a savory meaty aroma together 😋

I mixed it well and enjoyed every bite.

Piling the ragu sauce onto the garlic bread was fantastic — the crispy sweetness of the bread with the rich creamy sauce. We kept saying it was so good the whole time, and the two of us cleared the sashimi and pasta in 30 minutes lol

After eating, I understood why Izakaya Goko is so popular. The vibe is great and the food is all delicious, so this is a place I want to come back to again and again and again 😍 If you want to have a drink with someone special in a moody autumn-night space, Izakaya Goko Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station really won't disappoint you 🍂