Pork and bean sprout stir-fry for three at Yeongdeungpo izakaya Nani

Today I want to introduce a place where my friends and I had great food and drinks in Yeongdeungpo. There are so many bars in Yeongdeungpo that it's often hard to decide where to go, so this time I looked for an izakaya near Times Square with real Japanese-style atmosphere, and that's how I ended up at Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch.

Bottom line first: the actual store was much bigger and had a much better vibe than it looked in photos! It was great for the three of us to sit comfortably and chat over drinks, and the space itself was pretty enough that it'd work well for a date, a blind date, or a friends' get-together too.

Where is Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch, and when is it open?

Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch is at 183 Munnae-ro, 1st floor, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. It's about 2-3 minutes on foot from Times Square, and it's also walkable from Yeongdeungpo Station, so accessibility is quite good.

Looking at other reviews, many said it takes about 8-10 minutes from Yeongdeungpo Station, and since it's right by Times Square, it's a good spot to stop for dinner and drinks after shopping or a movie. It sits a bit apart from the busiest strip between Yeongdeungpo Station and Times Square, which actually gives it a nicer atmosphere.

As of now, the hours listed are Monday to Saturday 18:00-02:00, last order at 01:00, closed every Sunday. That said, some online info lists the opening time as 17:00, so if you're planning a visit, I'd recommend checking with the store that day. Since it stays open late, it's also a good spot for after work or as a second stop.

Parking and how to walk there from Times Square

Nani Byeolgwan is really close to Times Square, so it was convenient to reach by public transit. Think about 2 minutes on foot from Times Square, 10 minutes from Yeongdeungpo Station, and 12 minutes from Munnae Station.

The store doesn't have a large dedicated parking lot, so if you're driving, I'd recommend using a nearby public parking lot. Especially if you're planning to drink, personally I think public transit is the easiest way to get there :)

Inside Nani Byeolgwan: atmosphere and seating options

True to its name, Nani Byeolgwan has a bit of a different feel from a typical izakaya. From the exterior it already has Japanese-style charm, and inside, wood-tone interiors blend with soft lighting for an overall warm, cozy mood. From the photos I thought it might be a small bar, but once I actually walked in, I was surprised at how much bigger it was than expected.

We visited as a group of three, and the tables weren't cramped at all, making it comfortable to sit and talk. Other reviews mention bar seats near the entrance, table seating further in, and even an upstairs space for larger groups. Each area really did have a slightly different mood, so it seemed like a place that could work for solo drinking, dates, friend gatherings, blind dates, and group drinking sessions alike.

If there are two of you, the bar seats are great for a moody drink, and if there are three or more like us, I'd recommend the table seats where you can order several dishes and take your time.

What worked well for a table of three

That day I visited with two friends, myself included. At a bar, the food matters, but honestly, whether the atmosphere is comfortable for three people to talk is just as important. Nani Byeolgwan had soft lighting overall, and the music and mood weren't too loud, so it was easy to drink while chatting.

What I personally liked was how spacious it was. A lot of bars around Yeongdeungpo are cramped with tables packed close together, but here the space is divided into several zones, so there was much less of that closed-in feeling.

The Nani Byeolgwan menu and prices

Looking at the menu, there was a surprising variety — skewers, fried dishes, seafood, noodles, and side dishes.

Here are some of the Japanese-style dishes they had on offer:

• Chicken skewers
• Pork belly & scallion skewers
• Beef intestine skewers
• Butter garlic king prawns
• Steamed clams in sake
• Pork & bean sprout stir-fry
• Beef tataki
• Takoyaki
• Spicy seafood yaki udon
• Salmon sashimi
• Beef brisket tantan nabe
• Nagasaki seafood nabe

Looking at the price list, most items fell in the 10,000-30,000 won range, making it a good setup for a group to order several dishes and share.

What the three of us ordered

With three of us, it was perfect to order one dish at a time and share everything.

Pork and bean sprout stir-fry, 25,000 won

The first dish to arrive was the pork and bean sprout stir-fry!

As you can see in the photo, it was loaded with bean sprouts, so the portion looked quite generous. Pork stir-fried with bean sprouts and vegetables made a great drinking snack, and with the three of us eating it alongside skewers, the amount was just right.

When you're drinking, having a dish like bean sprout stir-fry means you just keep reaching for it. Since it wasn't just meat but had bean sprouts mixed in, it wasn't heavy and was easy to keep eating. We kept going back and forth between the skewers and the stir-fry, and the combination worked really well.

Pork belly and scallion skewers, 15,000 won

And here's the dish I personally really liked that day! The pork belly and scallion skewers.

In the photo you can see green scallions packed between the pork belly, and doesn't it just scream 'drinking snack' from the visual alone? The pork belly was grilled to a nice golden brown, and with the scallions in there, you got both the savory taste of the meat and the aroma of scallion together. Best of all, each skewer was grilled just right for easy bites while drinking.

You could eat it with the accompanying sauce or plain, and since it came plated nicely with the sides, it looked good too. This is the kind of dish that pairs perfectly with draft beer!

Beef intestine skewers, 12,000 won

If you like beef intestine, I'd recommend the beef intestine skewers too!

Grilled to a nice golden brown, the beef intestine came on skewers, which made it easier to eat than a regular grilled intestine dish. The outside was crispy while the inside had that distinctive rich, savory taste of beef intestine — perfect as a drinking snack. Ordering the pork belly-scallion skewers and the beef intestine skewers together was fun for comparing the different textures and flavors.

Asahi draft beer, 8,000 won

And of course, no bar visit is complete without draft beer! We started with Asahi draft.

Clinking glasses with friends like in the photo really got the night going. Skewers with draft beer really is the best combination...!

Bite of skewer, sip of beer, bite of stir-fry, another sip. We just kept going with this combo, haha.

Mojito highball, 9,000 won

After a while of just beer, we also ordered a highball. Mojito highball, 9,000 won. It was clean and refreshing, and went well alongside the meat dishes too. Rather than sticking to one drink the whole time, switching from draft beer to highball gave us a nice change of pace.

Why Nani Byeolgwan was a good pick for drinks

What I liked most about visiting in person was the space. At first I thought it was just a nice-looking izakaya near Times Square, but once inside, the space turned out bigger than expected with a good variety of seating.

Especially with three of us, it never felt too tight, and it was easy to order several dishes and chat. Other reviews also mention the inner section, the second-floor space, and the bar seats as strengths, so it seems like a place where you can pick your seat based on group size or purpose.

The warm wood-tone interior also made the food photograph nicely. Our photos from that day came out with pretty color thanks to the warm lighting overall.

Who this Yeongdeungpo izakaya suits

• Anyone looking for a bar near Times Square — it's close enough to stop by after shopping or a movie.
• Anyone looking for a date spot in Yeongdeungpo — it has Japanese-style atmosphere rather than a casual pojangmacha vibe, so it works well as a date bar.
• Anyone looking for a place to drink with friends — even a group of three like us had plenty of room to relax.
• Anyone looking for a good spot to drink alone — there are bar seats, so it's a nice atmosphere for a solo drink too.
• Anyone looking for a blind date spot — if you prefer calm lighting and interior over a loud, crowded bar, this is a good option!

Final verdict on Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch

If you're looking for an izakaya with a bit more atmosphere and character than the typical pojangmacha vibe in Yeongdeungpo, I'd recommend Nani Byeolgwan! We visited as three and the store itself was more spacious than expected, so it was comfortable, and each area had a different mood, which was fun to explore. Above all, it was great for ordering several dishes like skewers and stir-fry to share with friends over drinks.

It's also close to Times Square, so accessibility is good. Whether you're looking for a date spot in Yeongdeungpo, a good atmosphere to drink with friends, or a place for solo drinking, this is a place I'd broadly recommend. If you're visiting as three like me, I'd suggest ordering one skewer dish plus a stir-fry or nabe to share a variety of snacks. We kept adding one more dish and one more drink as we talked, and the time just flew by :)

If you're looking for a good-atmosphere izakaya in Yeongdeungpo, give Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch near Times Square a try!