Iberico skewers and Kirin draft beer at Yakitori Iyu, a Hongdae bar

Hongdae yakitori spot Yakitori Iyu! A Hongdae izakaya, a Hongdae bar, a Hongdae yakitori place — the soft-lit window bar seats and charcoal skewers really stand out here.

Why Yakitori Iyu for a third round of drinks in Hongdae

My friend and I hadn't seen each other in a while, and after catching up we went looking for a good spot for a third round with some autumn breeze — haha.

The cool air, the view through the window, and charcoal-grilled skewers straight off the flame all came together in a clean, understated way!

Yakitori Iyu location, hours and parking

Yakitori Iyu is located at 20-13 Jandari-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea, basement level. Hours are 17:00 to 23:00, closed every Sunday.

There's no dedicated parking for the restaurant, so you'll need to use a nearby public parking lot.

What we ordered: five-piece skewer assortment and Iberico skewer

Once we settled in, we ordered the 5-skewer assortment, an Iberico skewer (₩4,500), a Kirin draft beer, and an Earl Grey highball — haha.

As a default side, three sauces came neatly arranged: shichimi, pink salt, and cheongyang chili pesto. Piling the chili pesto on the fattier cuts brought a spicy edge that cut through the richness really well.

What comes in the five-piece skewer assortment

The assortment that arrived first was made up of wing, chicken neck, knee cartilage, heart, and pork jowl.

Each cut had a totally different texture, so there was a small pleasure in comparing them bite by bite.

They were savory and crisp on the outside, moist inside, and paired well with either the plain salt or the pesto.

Iberico skewer for 4,500 won

The Iberico skewer we ordered on top (₩4,500) had just the right amount of juiciness, and got cleaner-tasting the more you chewed.

Kirin draft beer and Earl Grey highball

A cold sip of Kirin draft matched the charcoal-grilled skewers perfectly — haha. Doesn't it just fit the mood of the place so well?!

My friend loves draft beer, and said this place's draft was seriously great. The Earl Grey highball also had a subtle fragrance, easy to drink without feeling heavy.

Yakitori Iyu dishes to try next visit

Other items on the menu here also caught my eye.

• Iyu hormone, sweetened offal served with wasabi
• Kawa (chicken skin), crisp outside and tender inside
• Negima, with sweet grilled scallion
• Tsukune, meatballs dipped in egg yolk
• Eggplant skewer, a palate cleanser

There was a nice range of options put together.

If you love skewers... save this place! Oh, and if you're into Japanese food, I think you'd really love it here too.

What are the window bar seats like at Yakitori Iyu?

Inside Yakitori Iyu, soft lighting and generous space between seats create a quiet, cozy atmosphere.

We sat at the window bar seat and enjoyed our meal there! With the window open, we could feel the crisp autumn breeze and the faint sense of an open-air pocha.

Thanks to the calm, cozy setting, I thought this would be a great Hongdae date spot for small group chats or couples, and a good fit for a second or third round of the night.

Naver review perk: cream cheese raisins

There's also a Naver review event — write a review and you get a cream cheese raisin snack (cream cheese with biscuits), worth keeping in mind if you go — haha.

Definitely join in and claim yours!!~

Is Yakitori Iyu worth a stop in Hongdae?

Feeling the crisp autumn air at the window bar seat, with charcoal-grilled skewers and cold drinks, over a calm conversation with a friend — haha.

With a well-composed spread of snacks and charming interior details, this is a Hongdae yakitori spot I'd recommend, and a Hongdae bar that's easy to drop into.

A skewer spot worth adding to your list of atmospheric Hongdae izakayas. Next time, nabe (hot pot) is calling!