Gangnam outdoor izakaya for oden and Napolitan: Shunno Oden

When making dinner plans in Nonhyeon, there is that sneaky little dilemma, you know? Rather than simply eating and calling it a night, it is nicer to find somewhere with good food to drink with and talk for ages—and even better if you can enjoy the outdoor atmosphere when the weather is nice. Shunno Oden Nonhyeon (슌노오뎅 논현), the outdoor-table izakaya I visited this time, was exactly that kind of place near Nonhyeon Station.

It was about a five-minute walk from Nonhyeon Station, so getting there was easy, but the atmosphere was striking from the moment I spotted it down the alley. With its large Japanese-lettered sign and outdoor tables out front, it felt as if I had briefly traveled to another neighborhood despite being in the middle of the city. It was especially nice in the evening, when the sign lit up and people gradually took their seats outside. Wow, it had that look that made me think, I need to take a photo here. If you want an outdoor izakaya near Nonhyeon Station with character and a relaxed drinking atmosphere rather than an overly hectic bar, this is one to remember.

How close is it to Nonhyeon Station?

Shunno Oden Nonhyeon is around a five-minute walk from Nonhyeon Station, making it easy to visit by public transport. Since you do not have to travel far from the station, it is convenient for meeting friends and close enough to feel effortless when you are looking for somewhere to eat and drink properly for the first round.

More than anything, arriving in front of the restaurant gives you a slightly different first impression from a typical indoor izakaya. The outdoor tables spread out naturally, so on a cool evening you feel like sitting outside instead of heading straight indoors. The lively Nonhyeon evening scene paired with Shunno Oden's Japanese-style sign made for a rather lovely atmosphere. Anyone who likes outdoor drinking would probably glance over while passing by, and it felt well located for dinner plans or a casual drink.

Outdoor seating and Japanese retro charm

Outdoor-table vibes in Nonhyeon

The first thing that caught my eye at Shunno Oden Nonhyeon was, of course, the outdoor seating. Tables and chairs are set out front, and rather than feeling deliberately overstyled, it has the natural feel of a neighborhood pub, which I liked. On a nice day, having a drink with oden (Japanese fish cake stew) broth while enjoying the cool air outside would make a pretty great evening plan all by itself. That is why the description “outdoor izakaya near Nonhyeon Station” suits it so well.

A Japanese retro-style interior

Inside, there is a different kind of fun. Wooden furniture, stained-glass-style decorations, Japanese liquor bottles, and little objects throughout make it feel like stepping into an old Japanese pub. Rather than a flashy, polished new bar, it had the comfortable charm of a place where a little time has accumulated. Wow, looking at all those details was quietly fun too. It was an atmosphere made for taking your time over oden and drinks.

Oden and drinks, together

With a name like Shunno Oden, oden was naturally the centerpiece. Choosing one or two items would be nice too, but ordering the eight-item oden moriawase (assorted platter) made the table feel much more abundant. Adding Napolitan spaghetti brought the Japanese pub feeling fully to life. It was quite a fun menu combination, alternating between a brothy dish and noodles with a rich sauce.

How was the eight-item oden moriawase?

The eight-item oden moriawase I ordered as the main dish grabbed my attention right away with its large bowl. Daikon radish, egg, konjac, and several kinds of fish cake were generously nestled in the broth, making it fun to pick through the different pieces. The daikon, especially, was memorable because it had soaked up plenty of broth; when I lifted it with my chopsticks, you could see the liquid had seeped all the way through. It was less about a forcefully intense flavor and more about slowly enjoying the warm broth and each ingredient.

Each fish cake had a different shape and texture, so this was not a dish where you eat one piece and finish—it kept drawing my chopsticks back. Taking a sip of alcohol and then a bite of warm oden came so naturally that it reminded me why oden makes such a good drinking snack at an izakaya.

Why add Napolitan spaghetti?

And then there was the Napolitan spaghetti, which had more presence than I expected. The red sauce coated the noodles with a glossy sheen, topped with sausage and a soft-cooked egg, and from the moment it arrived—wow—I thought, this is a familiar flavor, but it is definitely going to be good.

Twirl the noodles and eat them with the sausage, and the sweet, rich sauce comes through first. Then, when you break and mix in the egg yolk, the whole dish feels a little softer and nuttier.

It went in a completely different direction from the clean oden broth, which made ordering the two dishes together even better.

A relaxed atmosphere for groups

The restaurant had an izakaya atmosphere where you can comfortably enjoy food and drinks rather than somewhere that calls for formality, so it was good for lingering and talking with friends. The open kitchen and bar area were visible, and you could naturally feel the bustle of food being prepared. A place like this might feel awkward if it were too quiet, but here the blend of diners' conversations and staff moving around felt like part of the atmosphere. It seemed better for two or more people to spread out a few dishes and chat than for a quiet solo meal. Foods like oden, which you eat slowly, are especially nice because they set an unhurried drinking pace. Rather than rushing through a meal and leaving, it was the kind of place where time passes naturally as you choose and eat one item at a time.

The indoor atmosphere was quite distinctive. Wood-toned furniture, retro decorations, rows of Japanese liquor bottles, and colorful lighting gave it a slightly different character from the clean-cut izakayas commonly seen these days. There were photo-worthy details everywhere, and being able to step back outside and enjoy the outdoor-table mood was appealing too. The clear strength of Shunno Oden Nonhyeon was being able to choose between indoor coziness and outdoor openness depending on your preference. It would work for a date, or for friends stopping by for a first or second round. In seasons with lovely evening air, such as spring or fall, the outdoor seats would feel even more attractive.

An outdoor izakaya to remember in Nonhyeon

When you have plans in Nonhyeon, sometimes you want somewhere where not only the food but the mood of the day stays with you. By that standard, Shunno Oden Nonhyeon was quite a fun choice. Its location about five minutes on foot from Nonhyeon Station, the feeling of its outdoor tables, and the retro Japanese pub atmosphere waiting inside meant you could enjoy different charms in one place.

Especially if you are looking for an outdoor izakaya near Nonhyeon Station, you will probably like the view from the front of the restaurant from the start. The eight-item oden moriawase was wonderful when you were craving warm broth, with the fun of choosing each ingredient, while the Napolitan spaghetti—with sausage and egg—was richer and more filling. The two dishes made a great pair.

Personally, I thought this place suited the picture of sitting at an outdoor table on a nice day, with oden broth in front of you and a drink taken slowly. Boisterous drinking gatherings are great too, but sometimes you want to sit in a place like this with one warm dish in the middle of the table and talk with a friend for a long time, right? If you want that kind of evening in Nonhyeon, Shunno Oden Nonhyeon is worth remembering.