Seocho, Seoul izakaya for outdoor motsunabe: Gobusi Nonhyeon

A quiet outdoor-table night near Nonhyeon Station

Gobusi Nonhyeon Branch (고부시 논현점) is 138 m from Exit 8 of Nonhyeon Station. Gobusi originally opened near Exit 8 of Hakdong Station in 2018, then recently expanded and relocated near Exit 8 of Nonhyeon Station, apparently! 👀 Rather than being in the noisy Nonhyeon Station bar alley, it is in a relatively quiet spot—just right for a date or a calm conversation.

The interior feels neat and polished~

Outdoor tables and the menu

With this cool breeze and weather, how could we skip the outdoor tables? Hahaha. We sat outside.

Looking over the menu at Gobusi Nonhyeon near Nonhyeon Station, everything already looked so good that we had a hard time choosing. There are lots of options: the motsunabe set (motsunabe + fried chicken skin), seemingly a must for outdoor-table dates and blind dates, from ₩45,000; yakisoba for ₩23,000; assorted yakitori, 7 random skewers, for ₩22,000; mentaiko cream udon for ₩23,000; okonomiyaki for ₩21,000; grilled black cod for ₩24,000; beef tongue tataki for ₩23,000; chicken karaage for ₩18,000; baby crab for ₩9,900; and more.

We ordered the spicy motsunabe and six assorted skewers. The motsunabe was moderately spicy—hotter than Shin Ramyun but not as hot as Buldak 볶음면 (fire chicken noodles). Exactly Eunming's kind of heat haha 😘

Braised konjac and soy-braised quail eggs came as the complimentary starter, and even these were insanely good!

Before the mains arrived, we cooled down with a somaek (soju-and-beer mix). How much did Jani and Eunming drink? Hahahahaha. Spoiler: it is at the end of the post.

Spicy motsunabe with plump beef intestines

The mains are here!! 🤩 Motsunabe is kept simmering as you eat, so the big advantage is that it stays piping hot until the end. One spoonful brings a sharp, spicy hit right away, followed by the subtle savory depth of rich meat stock—this was a broth that kept making me reach for another spoonful. 🫶🏻

I was a little disappointed recently when I had horumon-don and motsunabe elsewhere because there was so little offal and the pieces were tiny, but Gobusi Nonhyeon had genuinely plump pieces and plenty of them. A mouthful of broth and beef intestine together was an unreal mix of spice, richness, and chewiness 😋 The kind of flavor that keeps calling for drinks~

Seven yakitori skewers right up my alley

The yakitori came as seven skewers in a lineup right up my alley: chicken hearts, chicken skin, enoki bacon, tamagoyaki, asparagus bacon, wagyu, and more. I tried every one, and seriously, they were all delicious 👍

Above all, the wagyu (beef) skewer was ridiculously delicious. The outside was nicely browned with a faint smoky char, while the inside was tender and full of juices, so it practically melted as soon as I bit into it. The chicken skin was grilled crisp, releasing that rich savory fat aroma with every bite. The tamagoyaki was soft and moist, too—the kind you keep reaching for. I wholeheartedly recommend the spicy, plump motsunabe + yakitori combination 👏

Tasty skewers and motsunabe with somaek in a cool, lovely seat... 🍻 This is happiness.

Ankimo to finish

Lastly, we ordered ankimo (monkfish liver) for ₩11,000. Eunming really loves monkfish liver. With its soft, creamy texture and incredible umami, the ankimo was the best final palate-cleansing snack 😊

Swept up in the atmosphere and flavors, the two of us cleared three dishes, four bottles of soju, and one bottle of beer ^_^ It had been ages since I found an izakaya with such generous portions and good quality, you know. It suits everything from outdoor-table drinks, pet-friendly visits, wedding-invitation gatherings, team dinners, groups, small get-togethers, private events, dates, and couples' outings to wedding after-parties 🥰