Mapo izakaya for family dinner: mackerel sushi and nabe at Mulgogijip

There was an izakaya I always noticed whenever I walked along the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail. In the evenings it had such a nice atmosphere and so many customers that I kept thinking, "I have to come here sometime!" This time I finally visited with my family — Mulgogijip, a Sogang University-area restaurant — and it was just as good as I'd hoped, so let me tell you about it 💛

📍 26 Baekbeom-ro 10-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (1F) / 🕐 Daily 17:00–24:00 (last order 22:30) / 🅿️ Use Sinsu public parking lot

How to find Mulgogijip: 4 minutes from Daeheung Station Exit 4

Mulgogijip is a 4-minute walk from Daeheung Station Exit 4. Walk along the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail toward Sogang University and you'll spot it. There are terrace seats outside too, which seemed perfect for eating outdoors on a cool day like the one I visited.

The interior was clean with soft, cozy lighting, and the big floor-to-ceiling windows looked straight out onto the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail, so just sitting there felt atmospheric 🌿 The weather was nice on the day I visited, so the windows were wide open and a cool breeze kept drifting in — made for a really pleasant meal!

Ordering at Mulgogijip: QR at the table, payment at the kiosk

You order by scanning the QR code at each table, and payment is done at the kiosk near the entrance! No paper menu needed — ordering straight from your phone was convenient.

Mulgogijip menu and prices

The menu was varied — great for enjoying aged sashimi as the main event, but also stocked with drinking snacks and hearty dishes, so a group could order according to everyone's taste.

• Dry-aged sashimi moriawase ₩39,000
• Extra portion of sashimi moriawase ₩16,000
• Wild mackerel bongcho sushi ₩30,000
• Truffle abalone innard cream pasta ₩24,000
• Odeng tantan nabe (fish cake spicy hot pot) ₩28,000
• Ebisu draft beer ₩12,000

The basic side dish was a chicken breast cabbage salad, light enough that we finished it and asked for a refill!

Dry-aged sashimi moriawase, 7 kinds for ₩39,000 plus an extra portion for four

The dry-aged sashimi moriawase (assorted platter) came out first 🐟 Seven kinds — red seabream, flounder, flounder fin, amberjack, sea bass, tuna, and abalone — three pieces each, generous just from looking at it. Since there were four of us, we added one extra portion (₩16,000).

Being dry-aged, the sashimi had this chewy yet soft texture that just melted in my mouth ㅠㅠ None of it had any fishy taste, so every piece was delicious no matter what cut it was! If you're looking for aged sashimi near Daeheung Station, this is the place 👋🏻

Wild mackerel bongcho sushi at ₩30,000, limited quantity each day

The wild mackerel bongcho sushi (₩30,000, a hand-rolled sushi style) uses only wild-caught mackerel, no farmed mackerel, so it's sold in limited quantities. The surface was slightly crisp, the inside moist and soft! The mackerel was well-aged too, with no fishy taste — just savory richness.

Taking a big bite of one piece made me so happy…🤎 Wrapping it in seaweed (gim) brought out even more flavor. Definitely recommend trying the mackerel bongcho sushi at Mulgogijip!

Open kitchen seats: watching the chefs work

Since it's an open kitchen, we could watch the cooking happen right in front of us — prepping the sashimi, torching the mackerel, all of it. It was fun to see, and watching them prepare everything with such care made me trust the food even more 👍🏻

We each had a cold glass of Ebisu draft beer (₩12,000) too! Good food with a smooth draft beer — irresistible >< The izakaya atmosphere made it taste even better.

Truffle abalone innard cream pasta and odeng tantan nabe

I was curious about the truffle abalone innard cream pasta (₩24,000), so we ordered it! It arrived still steaming, looking delicious. The rich cream sauce had abalone innards mixed in and was really tasty. It had such a deep umami flavor that it paired well with the sashimi too.

The noodles were cooked just right, so the sauce soaked in nicely, and the abalone pieces were big enough to give a satisfying bite. With a subtle truffle aroma on top, I enjoyed it right to the last bite.

My dad wanted something with broth, so we added the odeng tantan nabe (₩28,000)! It's a mala-based tantan hot pot, and it came packed with more fish cakes, vegetables, and udon noodles than I expected.

My parents were trying mala flavor for the first time and thankfully liked it! Even I, who can't handle spicy food well, could eat it comfortably. The broth was rich and clean, so it kept pulling me back for more even though I was already full 🤤

Is Mulgogijip worth it for a family dinner?

• An izakaya with a great atmosphere on the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail, with window views and terrace seating
• A Daeheung Station spot where you can enjoy 7 kinds of dry-aged sashimi alongside wild mackerel bongcho sushi
• A Sogang University spot with enough menu variety — sashimi, pasta, nabe — for family dinners, dates, or drinks with friends

If you're looking for a nice-atmosphere izakaya on the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail, or a good restaurant near Daeheung Station or Sogang University, I'd recommend giving Mulgogijip a visit!