Izakaya in Yeonnam-dong, Seoul: 8 skewers and mentaiko pasta at Gokko

I recently went out for drinks with some coworkers to celebrate my resignation. Since we were looking for a bar near the office, we ended up searching around Hongdae, and I found a really solid izakaya I want to introduce.

We rushed over right after work, and it turned out to be a Yeonnam-dong izakaya spot my coworkers loved too. Here's where we went!

Yakitori Gokko Yeonnam

Where is Yakitori Gokko Yeonnam, and is there a wait?

Yakitori Gokko Yeonnam is on the 1st floor of 41 Seongmisan-ro 26-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul. It's squeezed in among other shops so it was easy to find. Since we got there right after work while it was still light out, there was no wait at all.

Table seats, bar (dachi) seats and the interior

The interior of Yakitori Gokko Yeonnam had a slightly exotic feel, and aside from one table of foreign guests, most seats were open. There's both regular table seating and dachi-style bar seating, so it seems comfortable whether you're coming with friends, a couple, or on a first date.

Isn't the atmosphere great?? Since izakayas are usually a second-round spot, it wasn't crowded at all during our earlier time slot, which I liked. It was really hot inside that day too, but they brought out a fan for us, which helped cool the sweat off at least a little.

While taking photos I felt like this place would look even prettier at night. There were four of us, so we took a table. Also, the restroom is on the south side of the store, and there's a slightly more private seating area in the back. So if you'd like to eat somewhere quieter, heading to the back could be a good idea.

Complimentary cabbage, drinks and beer

The complimentary side dish at Yakitori Gokko Yeonnam was cabbage, which we snacked on while waiting for our order. It's crunchy with a tangy sauce that pairs well and gets your appetite going before the meal.

We heard that if you can't drink, you have to order this particular drink, so the one non-drinker in our group ordered it. I don't remember the exact name, but I think it was just a grapefruit-flavored beverage.

Our drink of choice that day was beer!!! I was so hot that I drank it the second it arrived. Coming straight from work made it taste even better, but with how hot it was outside, the beer warmed up fast, ugh.

Mentaiko cream pasta and shishito pepper karaage

We ordered the mentaiko (pollock roe) cream pasta and kkwari-gochu (shishito pepper) karaage. Even though I usually don't love dishes with mentaiko, this pasta was genuinely delicious. The noodles were super chewy and the sauce was fantastic.

But this karaage (Japanese fried chicken) was really good too. The sauce and shishito peppers went well together, cutting through the richness of the chicken and pairing nicely with beer. The pieces were also nice and big, and the batter wasn't too thick, so it wasn't greasy either.

What to know before ordering the 8-skewer platter

Feeling like we needed a bit more, we ordered the 8-skewer platter, which comes pre-seasoned. Looking closely, the skewers had salt sprinkled on top, and honestly I think it would've been better without the salt. So you probably don't need to dip them in any sauce, and since they come out in two batches rather than all at once, that's worth keeping in mind if you order skewers.

Is Yakitori Gokko Yeonnam worth a visit?

That's my review of a great izakaya to recommend to anyone looking for a spot in Yeonnam-dong! It's easy to talk and eat here, the atmosphere is nice, and the food is tasty, so if you're looking for a good-vibe izakaya around Hongdae, give Yakitori Gokko Yeonnam a try!!