Hongdae izakaya patio with Earl Grey highballs: Yakitori Iyu
In short
Yakitori Iyu is a handmade skewer izakaya on the first basement floor of an alley building on Jandari-ro, between Hongdae and Hapjeong in Seoul, with outdoor patio seats that look onto trumpet vines over the wall. The 5-skewer assorted set costs 17,800 won, and Yakitori Iyu also serves cheese tsukune, iberico, tebasaki and grilled corn alongside Kirin draft beer and an Earl Grey highball, with basil pesto for dipping the skewers. It is one of the best bars in Hongdae for a relaxed drink outdoors.
Good to know
- Address
- B1F, 20-13 Jandari-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- Location
- 576 m walk from Hapjeong Station Exit 3, across from the hanok café in the alley behind Sangsangmadang, in the alley to the left of Goobne Playtown
- Hours
- Tue–Mon 17:00–24:00, last order 23:00
- Closed
- Every Sunday
- 5-skewer assorted set
- 17,800 won
- Kirin draft beer
- 8,500 won
- Earl Grey highball (with soda water)
- 8,000 won
- Iberico pork skewer
- 4,500 won
- Cheese tsukune
- 5,000 won
- Tebasaki (chicken wings)
- 4,000 won
- Grilled corn
- 3,500 won
- Seating
- Outdoor patio seats, group tables available
- Reservations
- Available by phone
- Price reference
- ₩17,800 ≈ $13 · ₩8,500 ≈ $6.3 · ₩8,000 ≈ $5.9 (2026-09-15)
as written by the visitor on Sep 15, 2026
Handmade skewers and a sauce simmered for 6 hours meet precise charcoal flavor at Yakitori Iyu, a Hongdae yakitori favorite.
Where is Yakitori Iyu, and what are the patio seats like?
Yakitori Iyu is a Hongdae izakaya located at basement level 1, 20-13 Jandari-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, a 576m walk from Hapjeong Station Exit 3. Head into the alley across from the hanok café behind Sangsangmadang, to the left of Goobne Playtown.
I was searching for an izakaya with real atmosphere around Hongdae and found Yakitori Iyu. The reviews from people who'd been were so good that I rushed over with high expectations.
Walking further into the place, there was an outdoor patio seat set up right where you could see trumpet vines over the wall! On a nice-weather day like this, having a drink here with a breeze blowing through is a total mood boost...!
It kept that hip Hongdae vibe without being too loud — a perfectly calm spot for a drink!
The 5-skewer assorted set, 17,800 won, with basil pesto for dipping
First up at Yakitori Iyu was the 5-skewer assorted set for ₩17,800. It comes with a variety of parts like heart and thigh meat, all evenly seasoned as grilled, so it was delicious even without sauce, full of charcoal aroma.
Dipping the skewers alternately into the three sauces — basil pesto, salt, and shichimi — that come alongside made the flavors feel completely new each time, so I never got tired of it.
The combo of basil pesto and yakitori. I love yakitori and have been to a lot of yakitori places, but this was the first time I'd seen one serve basil pesto...! It's a little spicy with a hint of basil aroma, and it went surprisingly well with the chicken skewers.
Kirin draft beer and the Earl Grey highball, 8,000 won
For drinks, I had a Kirin draft beer at ₩8,500 and an Earl Grey highball (soda) at ₩8,000. Freshly grilled hot skewers with an ice-cold Kirin draft? There's no way that combo isn't delicious!
You can't skip beer with yakitori, so I washed it all down cold —
Earl Grey highball with soda, ₩8,000. After the beer I tried the Earl Grey highball too, and the subtle Earl Grey aroma with the sharp fizz of the soda made it go down cleanly — it paired so well with the greasy skewers!
À la carte at Yakitori Iyu: cheese tsukune, iberico and tebasaki
I also ordered iberico for ₩4,500 and cheese tsukune for ₩5,000 extra. After the assorted set, I ordered a bunch more of the skewers I wanted to try again! I already like tsukune, and it turns out Yakitori Iyu has cheese tsukune?! The cheese stretches long over the soft meat, with a hint of charcoal aroma too — genuinely so good. I also got the iberico, and true to pork, the juices burst right when you bit into it, plus the charcoal flavor made it insanely savory.
Tebasaki (chicken wings), ₩4,000. Can't skip the tebasaki either! Crispy outside, juicy inside chicken wings coated in a salty seasoning — this really calls for a draft beer.
Why the grilled corn at 3,500 won is a must-order
The grilled corn at Yakitori Iyu is ₩3,500, and I debated ordering it, but it was so good that if you go, you have to try it...! Lightly charred husk, full of buttery aroma, with sweet corn kernels popping in your mouth — genuinely the best corn of my life.
I was so curious what this powder was... the staff told me it might be corn powder?, so I immediately ordered consommé seasoning powder online lol. Not sure it'll taste the same as that powder, but I'm looking forward to it anyway.
Yakitori Iyu hours and reservations: what to check before you go
Yakitori Iyu's hours run Tuesday through Monday, 5pm to midnight, with last order at 11pm! It's closed every Sunday, so double-check the day before you go.
It's a popular spot that fills up fast, so I'd recommend reserving ahead — calling in advance gets you friendly guidance. They also have group seating ready, so it looked totally fine for gatherings or work dinners with a bigger crowd!
Who will like this Hongdae izakaya?
Yakitori Iyu, with handmade skewers grilled with care one by one and proper special sauces. Sitting on the patio watching the trumpet vines with grilled corn and a highball in hand was such a refreshing, happy moment!
- Anyone looking for an izakaya with amazing atmosphere in Hongdae/Hapjeong
- Anyone who wants to taste proper handmade skewers with real charcoal flavor
- Anyone who wants a drink in a charming outdoor patio seat
Where it is
20-13 Jandari-ro, B1F, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea서울특별시 마포구 잔다리로 20-13 지1층
