Hongdae bar with charcoal omakase meat set and mungtigi: Soottori

Today I'm sharing my review of Soottori Hongdae Hapjeong, which I visited while looking for an izakaya with good vibes in Hongdae! Hongdae, Hapjeong and Sangsu have tons of great restaurants and bars, but this place stood out when I wanted skewers and drinks in a spot full of Japanese atmosphere. Soottori serves yakitori alongside a range of izakaya dishes, so it works well for everything from dinner to a light drink.

📍Soottori Hongdae / 🏠Address: 18 Dokmak-ro 9-gil, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul / 🕛 Hours: 18:00–04:00

What is Soottori Hongdae Hapjeong like inside? A Japanese izakaya mood

Even before stepping inside, Soottori already feels like a Japanese izakaya! The yellow lighting and stylish exterior make it easy to spot while looking for bars in Hongdae. The interior is decorated in the same Japanese style, so it felt like I'd taken a trip to Japan.

The soft lighting and cozy atmosphere made it a great place to enjoy good food with a drink. The tables are comfortable enough for a proper meal, so it's good with friends and also works for a Hongdae date with a partner. The setting is pretty enough for photos too — not just of the food but of the space itself :)

As soon as we arrived we felt a bit lightheaded, so first up: draft beer! One look at that ice-cold glass and my thirst was gone.

What comes in the Soottori charcoal omakase meat set

The menu that caught my eye most at Soottori was the charcoal omakase. Picking skewers one by one at a yakitori specialist is fun, but being able to enjoy a whole range of skewers as a course is even more appealing. The charcoal omakase runs from appetizers through skewers to various dishes in sequence, which is great for anyone who struggles to choose from a menu. We ordered the charcoal omakase meat set — perfect for drinking with hardcore meat lovers!

I never expected mungtigi (thinly sliced raw beef) to show up, so that was such a nice surprise! Thanks to that, the beer went down way too easily!!!

The charcoal-grilled yakitori: which skewers arrive, in what order

You can't skip yakitori at an izakaya! At Soottori we got to try a range of skewers: pork neck, chest cartilage, knee cartilage, heart and more. The skewers grilled over charcoal had a subtle smoky aroma, and each one had a different texture and flavor, which made tasting through them one by one really fun.

The meat pieces were especially generous and hearty, which made the meal feel more satisfying. I also liked that the skewers came out in sequence, so we could eat each one fresh and warm. At the end, pepper and bacon-wrapped tomato skewers arrived to round things off with a different set of flavors. ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

Why Soottori works as a date izakaya in Hongdae

Soottori Hongdae Hapjeong is an izakaya where you can enjoy a Japanese-style atmosphere along with a wide range of yakitori. I liked being able to try many dishes as a course through the charcoal omakase, and it was even more satisfying since kushikatsu and raw beef were also on offer, not just skewers.

I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a bar with good atmosphere in Hongdae, or a date spot around Hapjeong and Sangsu. If you want to enjoy tasty yakitori, cold draft beer and a sweet sawa all together, give Soottori Hongdae Hapjeong a visit :)