Yeouido izakaya off-menu Terra Zero and free ice cream: Robadayakki

The weather's been so good lately that my friends and I have been walking along the Han River a lot, and stopping by nearby The Hyundai Seoul often too! This time I suddenly wanted to really feel that authentic Japanese vibe. Honestly, when I traveled to Japan before, I really wanted to try robatayaki but never got the chance, so I still had that lingering regret. Plus, the izakayas I experienced in Japan had seasoning that was way too strong and salty, so I thought — let's find a place in Korea that does it properly.

Where is Robadayakki Sodam Yeouido Branch, and what are its hours?

Robadayakki Sodam Yeouido Branch is located at 17 Yeouidaebang-ro 65-gil, 1F Units 113, 114, 115, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea, and is open daily from 17:00 to 01:30 the next day (last order 00:30). After doing some serious research, I found out there was a lot of buzz about a proper robatayaki restaurant in Yeouido, so I booked without hesitation. Before I start, I want to strongly recommend this to anyone looking for restaurants and bars near Yeouido Station or Saetgang Station.

• Sun–Sat 17:00 - 01:30 the next day (last order 00:30)

Naver coupon perks and booking a weekend counter seat at Robadayakki Sodam

Robadayakki Sodam Yeouido Branch gives you a free skewer coupon when you book through Naver, and if you join the review event after your visit, you can even get free ice cream. My friend who came with me thought the perks were really solid too.

The interior really looks like Japan, right? I felt like I was on a trip to Japan too, haha. We booked counter (dachi) seats this time, and since it was the weekend, the place was already fully booked. If you're planning to visit for the nice counter seats or on a weekend, I definitely recommend booking ahead!

What the counter seats and atmosphere are like

Robadayakki Sodam is a space that reinterprets the quiet, old-school izakaya feel in a very modern and upscale way. The warm wooden bar counter and soft, calm lighting come together beautifully, so the moment you step in you can fully feel that traditional Japanese atmosphere. To think you can experience this special Japan-trip feeling right in the middle of Yeouido — it put me in a good mood the second I walked in, haha.

Off-menu Terra Zero: what drinks cost at Robadayakki Sodam

Robadayakki Sodam Yeouido Branch isn't listed on the menu, but they do keep Terra Zero (a zero-alcohol beer) in stock. Since I've been into zero-calorie drinks and zero-alcohol options lately, I asked the staff just in case, and it turned out they had it! If alcohol feels like too much or you're looking for a clean zero-alcohol option, try the Terra Zero. My friend ordered a highball and said the ratio was just right — she really enjoyed it.

Another surprising thing about this place is that, compared to other izakayas, the prices for premium soju and other liquor are really affordable! It's perfect for enjoying good drinks without worrying about the bill. There were plenty of good-value set menus and discounts that tempted us, but we ended up ordering à la carte — the assorted skewer set and grilled sea bass, the two things we most wanted to try.

Honestly, we wanted to try everything, but... we had plans to keep hanging out by the Han River, so we decided to keep it simple!!

Two complimentary eggs on the hot plate

When you sit at the counter at Robadayakki Sodam Yeouido Branch, they bring out two eggs by default as a first dish — and it's actually a surprisingly nice bite! But if you're chatting and eat them a bit late, they keep cooking from the hot plate's heat, so I'd definitely recommend eating them right when they arrive, haha. I like my eggs soft-boiled, but the hot plate was so hot that mine cooked through quickly, haha. My friend likes hers fully cooked, so she scraped up every last bit, hahaha.

What's in the 24,000 won assorted skewer set (11 kinds, 13 pieces)

The assorted skewer set is 11 kinds, 13 pieces for ₩24,000, and the lineup included 2 pieces of ginkgo nuts, garlic, king oyster mushroom, grilled heart, chicken thigh meat, chicken skin, 2 pieces of shrimp, bacon-tomato rolls, and bacon-rice cake skewers. Right in front of us they grilled everything over charcoal and even used a torch to add real charcoal aroma — there was just no way it could taste bad. You could see how carefully they grilled everything, which made it taste even better. Even for my taste, the seasoning wasn't salty at all — it was perfectly balanced!

I was so proud watching my friend eat so well that day, haha. I don't like ginkgo nuts so I gave mine to her, and she said they were delicious!! The garlic and king oyster mushroom here are so good — turns out they grill them in butter!! Seriously so good, I almost teared up.

The biggest advantage of counter seating is that you get to watch fresh ingredients being grilled right in front of your eyes! Every single fish looked so fresh, and watching them carefully grill our order right there made even the waiting time a little fun. >_<!!

Grilled Chilean sea bass, 29,000 won: taste and portion size

The grilled sea bass (Chilean sea bass, known as mero in Korean) is ₩29,000 and is Sodam's best grilled fish. As the restaurant's signature dish, it was visually stunning from the start. It comes grilled to a golden brown over charcoal, brushed with a classic sweet-and-salty teriyaki sauce — and that sauce is truly a stroke of genius. Dip it lightly in wasabi soy sauce and the savory, tender, rich flavor comes together perfectly — pure honey-sweet deliciousness...!!! (The portion is a bit on the smaller side, but it's perfect for a second round.)

Free ice cream from the Naver receipt review event

After happily finishing our meal, we joined Sodam's Naver receipt review event for a bonus dessert! (You can do this once per table — if you want to join, pay first, then show the staff your posted review screen.)

The dessert we got as a service was vanilla cheese ice cream. It came with crisp, savory butter waffle cookies, and putting them on top of the ice cream was a perfect match. The cheese flavor wasn't overwhelming, so it felt easy to eat, and the combination of vanilla sweetness, caramel, and the savory crunch of almonds gave the meal a clean, satisfying finish.