Eunpyeong izakaya for group dinners: aged sashimi, uni pâté at Kosei

Got together with people I love today at a bar near Eungam Station! Of all the bars I've been to around Eungam Station, this was the most upscale and had the tastiest food... I was so satisfied I want to bring my husband on a date here next time! He's absolutely obsessed with aged sashimi haha.

Where Kosei is and when it opens

Kosei sits roughly halfway between Eungam Station and Saejeol Station! Closed every Sunday, and otherwise open 17:00–01:00! Loved that it stays open late haha.

Even the exterior gives off that upscale izakaya vibe! Walked in feeling excited haha.

Kosei's menu: what we ordered

The menu lineup here is seriously amazing... it was dinner time and everything looked so good we ended up ordering a little of everything! First up, the two-person sashimi! And the uni pâté!

And we also ordered the cuttlefish vegetable tempura!

Need to try the ankimo (monkfish liver) gratin or the beef tongue teppan steak next time! So many rare, hard-to-find dishes on this menu!

Heard the ankimo flounder sushi is really good too.. ㅠㅠ

The drink list was extensive too, from sake to shochu, highball, Hwayo, soju and wine!

Bar seats or table seats? Why Kosei suits a group

Kosei has bar seats like an omakase place, plus table seats. I sat at a table. Sitting at the bar seems like it'd be fun to watch the chefs cook haha. Next time I'll try the bar seats on a date with my husband!

Even the tableware comes out so neat and tidy, right? They also give you a personal hand towel that smells so good I kept sniffing it haha. Total high-end omakase vibe!

The tables are big and the seating is spacious, so it was comfortable. Seems great for a work dinner or a group gathering. When you're laying out dish after dish, a cramped table would be so annoying ㅠㅠ

What does Kosei's uni pâté taste like?

The uni pâté came out first! Precious uni piled on top of baguette — what a dish! Wow, it was genuinely delicious... the uni just melts in your mouth and the baguette is crispy! Kosei really knows what it's doing!!!! Everyone at the table loved it too, which made me happy haha.

The plating is gorgeous too — total catnip for anyone who loves pretty food! haha. Impossible not to photograph!

The two-person sashimi platter: eight kinds of aged fish

The sashimi! A staff member walked us through all 8 kinds of fish!

The abalone was seriously chewy, and the flounder, yellowtail, Spanish mackerel — a whole lineup of premium fish. The smoked Spanish mackerel melted in my mouth too... ㅠㅠ I thought the mackerel sashimi might be fishy but it was next-level nutty and savory haha. Is there any better pairing with drinks..? Best izakaya in the Eungam-dong area, hands down.

Even the plating is art haha. Guess aged sashimi really is the way to go!

We immediately ordered an extra one-person sashimi! The one-person portion comes out in a size perfect for solo drinking!

Cuttlefish and vegetable tempura, plus a chestnut ice cream monaka

After all that sashimi, gotta eat some fried food too haha. The cuttlefish vegetable tempura — cuttlefish and seasonal vegetables, fried. I especially loved the house-made tartar sauce. I could've eaten it straight, on its own haha. Because they use clean oil, there wasn't a hint of greasiness even though it's fried! I could eat tempura like this every day haha. The cuttlefish was plump and chewy too!

Finished with the chestnut ice cream monaka for dessert! The chestnut-flavored ice cream was sweet yet nutty, perfect for cleansing the palate. Would've regretted skipping it haha.

Is Kosei worth it for a night out near Eungam Station?

We ended up staying the latest out of everyone that day, haha. That's how well the drinks go down at this izakaya... ㅠㅠ Such a happy day, having a drink with people I love, in a good restaurant with good food and a good atmosphere >_<

The seasonal sashimi was so good! And everything felt upscale enough for a date or a group gathering! If you're looking for a great bar near Eungam Station, I recommend Kosei!