Yeongdeungpo izakaya butter garlic shrimp, highballs: Nani Byeolgwan

Today's review is a restaurant near Yeongdeungpo Times Square! I'm reviewing 'Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch,' a great-atmosphere izakaya I'd recommend for both blind dates and regular dates!!

Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch: hours, parking and reservations

• Hours: Mon–Sat 18:00–02:00 (closed Sundays)
• Parking: use nearby public parking lot
• Reservations: available via Naver or by phone
• Restroom: inside

A two-floor izakaya a short walk from Yeongdeungpo Times Square

My boyfriend and I heard there was a great-atmosphere izakaya near Yeongdeungpo Times Square, so we zipped over to Nani Byeolgwan!

Even from the outside, the two floors made it feel bigger than expected — more like a proper izakaya than a small neighborhood pub.

Right from the entrance, the wood tones gave off a warm vibe, and the sign and exterior had a slightly retro feel that made for good photos.

(The bar seats also looked totally fine for drinking solo.)

My first thought walking in was: I've been to plenty of bars near Yeongdeungpo Times Square, but it's hard to find one with this scale and this quality — haha, it was that good.

The first floor has a pretty display-cabinet interior, and the overall dim lighting matched the wood tones well. It felt less like a loud bar and more like an izakaya good for actually talking.

Are the second-floor semi-rooms good for a blind date?

Going up to the second floor of Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch, there are semi-room-style spots as well as sofa seating, so the space is used really well.

If you book the whole second floor, it'd be great for a group work dinner, and renting a semi-room also looked good for a private gathering or a date.

I especially thought it'd be great for a blind date, and sure enough, there was actually a couple on a blind date at the table next to us haha. It wasn't too formal or heavy, but not too casual either — just the right mood.

(The restroom is inside, which is convenient and reassuring!)

Sharing the menu here~~ At Nani Byeolgwan you can check the menu via QR code! So convenient haha.

What we ordered at Nani Byeolgwan: shrimp and two kinds of skewers

The garlic shrimp was so good I'm previewing it right at the top haha.

Today's order: butter garlic king shrimp ⭐️ pork belly scallion skewers ⭐️ daechang skewers

A light appetizer of cabbage came out as a basic side dish

Butter garlic king shrimp

First up, the butter garlic shrimp! This was genuinely so good ㅜㅜㅜㅜ the shrimp was plump with a satisfying bite, and the garlic sauce was the total highlight.

The garlic aroma really comes through, but it's not overwhelming on its own — eaten with the shrimp, the flavor just clicks into place.

There's plenty of sauce pooled on the plate, so dipping the shrimp generously in it made it even better ㅜㅜ

(Blurry beer photo because I got too excited;;;) This goes so well with beer and felt like the perfect first thing to order 👍

Daechang (beef intestine) skewers

The daechang skewers had a strong savory flavor that really came through. The outside had a light char, and the more you chewed, the richer and more savory it got — great as a drinking snack.

It wasn't overly heavy, so it paired perfectly with the highball

Highballs at Nani Byeolgwan

Isn't the highball so pretty to look at ㅜㅜㅜ A lot of places do a half-hearted highball that's just for show, but Nani Byeolgwan's highball was actually really well made haha. I felt like the owner really knows what they're doing.

At an izakaya, the food matters, but when the drinks are good too, satisfaction goes way up. Nani Byeolgwan was exactly that kind of place.

Pork belly and scallion skewers

The pork belly scallion skewers left a strong impression too... even writing this blog post now, I want to eat them again...

The scallion aroma and the pork belly went so well together, with a level of polish you wouldn't expect from a neighborhood izakaya. (Honestly felt like eating at a proper high-end yakitori place.)

One bite and you immediately get why this combo works...! Especially with the scallion cutting through the richness a bit, my hand kept reaching for more! Next time I visit, I'm definitely ordering this again!!

Is Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch worth a visit?

Overall, this seems like a great fit for anyone looking for a great-atmosphere izakaya near Yeongdeungpo Times Square. Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch has a pretty space, and the skewers, garlic shrimp, and drink pairings were all quite satisfying. The chef has 15 years of experience making everything by hand, which I think is why the food has such good depth of flavor!

If you're looking for a spot to make a date or blind date go well, I strongly, strongly recommend it! It sets a mood without being heavy-handed, so it should win over the ladies haha. Or if you book out the whole second floor, it'd also make a fun, unusual spot for a group dinner! Recommending this izakaya near Yeongdeungpo Times Square ✨