# Hongdae izakaya counter seats for solo drinking: Midosawa Sangsu - By Haon (https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-gallery-passage/) - Written Sep 16, 2026 - Local places › Bars › Mapo, Seoul - Sponsored: This post was written after a visit sponsored by the business. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-gallery-passage/midosawa-sangsu-solo-counter-sashimi/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@seoul-gallery-passage/midosawa-sangsu-solo-counter-sashimi/index.md) ## In short Midosawa Hongdae Sangsu Branch is an izakaya in Mapo, Seoul, a 2-minute walk from Sangsu Station Exit 3. Sitting alone at the counter, the writer ordered today's sashimi (for 2) at 28,000 won and grilled gabrisal (pork jowl) with charred green onion at 19,000 won with sake, watching the chef slice fish and work the grill an arm's length away. Midosawa is quiet enough for solo drinking and comfortable for a date, and the grilled gabrisal alone is reason to come back. ## Good to know - **Location**: 1F Unit 103, Sangsu Doosan We've Apartment commercial building, 98 Dokmak-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul (2-minute walk from Sangsu Station Exit 3) - **Hours**: Weekdays and weekends 17:30–24:00 (last order 24:00) - **Closed**: Sundays - **Seating**: Counter seats, tables for 2, tables for 4 - **What was ordered**: Today's sashimi (for 2) 28,000 won, grilled gabrisal (pork jowl) with charred green onion 19,000 won, sake - **Menu prices**: Sea bream sashimi tossed in white miso 19,000 won, perilla oil buckwheat noodles topped with sea bream sashimi 26,000 won, rare tuna katsu 19,000 won, grilled aged pork jowl with kkwari peppers 19,000 won, tofu with kimchi and stir-fried pork 19,000 won, chicken karaage 14,000 won, fried squid 14,000 won, sea bream pot rice 19,000 won *as written by the visitor on Sep 16, 2026* A great izakaya near Sangsu Station for solo drinking — here's my Midosawa review 😍 This place has such a good atmosphere and the side dishes were sooo, soooo good, so I really want to recommend it!! If you're looking for a good bar in Hongdae/Sangsu, a spot for solo drinking near Hapjeong, or a date course, stick around till the end! ![Entrance of Midosawa Hongdae Sangsu Branch izakaya near Sangsu Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/midosawa-sangsu-solo-counter-sashimi/midosawa-sangsu-solo-counter-sashimi-01-194nd-900.webp) ![Exterior view of Midosawa Hongdae Sangsu Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/midosawa-sangsu-solo-counter-sashimi/midosawa-sangsu-solo-counter-sashimi-02-1t03o-900.webp) ## Where is Midosawa Hongdae Sangsu Branch, and what are its hours? Midosawa Hongdae Sangsu Branch is at 1F 103, Sangsu Doosan We've Apartment commercial building, 98 Dokmak-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul. It's 105m from Sangsu Station Exit 3, a 2-minute walk, so it's super close to the station. - Hours: weekdays/weekends 17:30–24:00 (last order 24:00) - Closed Sundays ![Quiet and cozy interior of Midosawa](https://img.superchart.com/images/midosawa-sangsu-solo-counter-sashimi/midosawa-sangsu-solo-counter-sashimi-03-1h1sb-m-900.webp) ![Midosawa interior with counter and table seating](https://img.superchart.com/images/midosawa-sangsu-solo-counter-sashimi/midosawa-sangsu-solo-counter-sashimi-04-19rcs-m-900.webp) ## Counter seats at Midosawa: easy for solo drinking, right in front of the chef Midosawa has counter (dachi) seats, 2-person tables, and 4-person tables, and since I was alone I sat at the counter. The moment I walked in, I felt how quiet and cozy the atmosphere was. I could watch the chef slice sashimi and grill dishes right in front of me, so even eating alone wasn't boring at all — actually, it felt immersive. ![Self-chosen sake glass and counter seat setting](https://img.superchart.com/images/midosawa-sangsu-solo-counter-sashimi/midosawa-sangsu-solo-counter-sashimi-05-ov696-m-1200.webp) They even let me pick my own glass, which made me even happier!! ## What's on the Midosawa menu, and what does it cost? ![Menu board at Midosawa Hongdae Sangsu Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/midosawa-sangsu-solo-counter-sashimi/midosawa-sangsu-solo-counter-sashimi-06-75mt2-900.webp) - Today's sashimi (for 2) ₩28,000 - Baekmiso sea bream sashimi salad ₩19,000 - Perilla oil buckwheat noodles with sea bream sashimi ₩26,000 - Tuna rare katsu ₩19,000 - Aged pork neck grill with shishito peppers ₩19,000 - Grilled gabrisal (pork jowl) with grilled green onion ₩19,000 - Tofu kimchi pork stir-fry ₩19,000 - Chicken karaage ₩14,000 - Fried squid ₩14,000 - Sea bream hot pot rice ₩19,000 I ordered today's sashimi (for 2) and the grilled gabrisal with grilled green onion. Today's drink: sake!! How's the glass I picked myself, haha? Pretty, right! You can also get sake through the Naver event review, so keep that in mind~ ![Today's sashimi plate for two and sake](https://img.superchart.com/images/midosawa-sangsu-solo-counter-sashimi/midosawa-sangsu-solo-counter-sashimi-07-16xuj-900.webp) ![Sashimi plate with flounder salad, tuna, and abalone](https://img.superchart.com/images/midosawa-sangsu-solo-counter-sashimi/midosawa-sangsu-solo-counter-sashimi-08-ynuqr-900.webp) ## Today's sashimi for 2 at 28,000 won: how does the aged fish taste? Midosawa's today's sashimi (for 2) came out as one plate with a variety of cuts — flounder salad, tuna, abalone, and more. Maybe because it was aged, the texture was much chewier and the umami was much deeper ❤️ Especially the tuna eaten with the sesame sauce doubled the umami. So good!!! ![Aged tuna sashimi served with sesame sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/midosawa-sangsu-solo-counter-sashimi/midosawa-sangsu-solo-counter-sashimi-09-572ta-900.webp) ![Midosawa's grilled gabrisal with grilled green onion](https://img.superchart.com/images/midosawa-sangsu-solo-counter-sashimi/midosawa-sangsu-solo-counter-sashimi-10-20usv-900.webp) ## The highlight: grilled gabrisal (pork jowl) with charred green onion, 19,000 won The highlight of Midosawa was the grilled gabrisal with grilled green onion. The thick-cut gabrisal was juicy and moist, and the green onion was crisp, boosting the fragrant flavor even more. I honestly would come back 100000% just for this one dish 😭 Dip it lightly in wasabi and the sharp kick pushes it over the top!!! ![Solo drinking at the counter seat under soft lighting](https://img.superchart.com/images/midosawa-sangsu-solo-counter-sashimi/midosawa-sangsu-solo-counter-sashimi-11-smcxe-900.webp) ## Is Midosawa better for solo drinking or for a date? I sat alone listening to music and writing in my diary, and it felt so good ㅠㅠ The quiet vibe, the soft lighting, and even the neatly set dishware showed how much care went into everything, so it seemed like it would suit both a date course and a solo drinking spot. - 2-minute walk from Sangsu Station Exit 3, super close to the station - Counter, 2-person, and 4-person seats make solo dining comfortable - The distinctive chewy texture and deep umami of aged sashimi - The gabrisal and grilled green onion combo is insane - Quiet, cozy atmosphere satisfies both solo drinking and dates - 1000000% would visit again For anyone looking for an izakaya near Sangsu Station, or a good spot to eat alone, I strongly recommend Midosawa. Definitely try the gabrisal and green onion grill — I think I'll be going back just for that 🥺 ## Where it is - Midosawa Hongdae Sangsu Branch (미도사와 홍대상수점) - 1F 103, Sangsu Doosan We've Apartment commercial building, 98 Dokmak-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 마포구 독막로 98 상가동 1층 103호 - 37.5474842, 126.9243035 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EB%AF%B8%EB%8F%84%EC%82%AC%EC%99%80%20%ED%99%8D%EB%8C%80%EC%83%81%EC%88%98%EC%A0%90/@37.5474842,126.9243035,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-gallery-passage/midosawa-sangsu-solo-counter-sashimi/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt