Seolleung izakaya free starter: fried sweet shrimp heads at Sakai

📍 Address: 15 Yeoksam-ro 67-gil, 1F 101, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea (479m from Exit 1 of Seolleung Station)

🕐 Hours: Open every day, last order at midnight

🔴 Amenities: Group seating available / WiFi / separate men's and women's restrooms / reservations possible

Where is Sakai near Seolleung Station, and what is it like inside?

Sakai is a Japanese izakaya tucked into an alley about a 6-minute walk from either Exit 1 or Exit 2 of Seolleung Station. I was hunting for a great after-work beer-and-snacks spot near Seolleung and went in with high hopes for Sakai, which has been getting real buzz lately for its food quality!

The inside had that cozy, simple izakaya warmth going on

The bar seating and cozy layout made it look totally comfortable for solo drinking after work near Seolleung

There's also this bigger seating area, perfect for gathering with people who matter after work in a warm, relaxed space!

What we ordered at Sakai

Sakai has a solid lineup, from a daily special using fresh same-day ingredients to a variety of Japanese snacks that grab your appetite

After some deliberation, I ordered a mix of the famous signatures and dishes that matched my taste!

The free starter: fried sweet shrimp heads

First came the house snack — fried sweet shrimp heads. The batter was thin and nutty, perfect beer food. Each dish arrived carefully served one by one, and just the look of them was mouthwatering!

Today's special: snow crab, picked from the shell for you

Sakai's daily recommendation changes every day, and today's had a clever name — "crab picked for you by someone else." Curious, I ordered it right away! Sweet, softly picked crab meat topped generously with nutty uni (sea urchin) and popping flying fish roe — so luxurious and satisfying

The moment I took a bite, a rich ocean aroma and the crab's signature umami spread through my mouth — totally my taste

Sweet shrimp with kimi sauce (₩4,500)

Sakai has a lot of sushi options too, so I struggled to decide, but this sweet shrimp seemed to be a popular order. Just look at that gorgeous color! The sweet shrimp tossed in a rich egg-yolk-based kimi sauce was chewy and sweet in the best way

Benjari (₩4,500)

The lightly torch-seared benjari, with its nutty aroma cranked up, just melted the moment it hit my mouth!

Since you can order pieces individually at an affordable price, it was really great for trying a variety of flavors to taste

Mackerel and shiso hosomaki (₩10,000)

You could pick your hosomaki (thin seaweed roll) from 5 kinds, and I went with a mackerel and shiso combo. I liked that you could choose your own filling based on preference

The mackerel had zero fishiness — just clean, nutty flavor. So good!

Suntory draft beer (₩10,000) and a Kaku Highball

You can't skip a cold, smooth Suntory draft here. Full of soft foam, paired with sushi — need I say more!! Best combo ever

After finishing the beer, I also ordered a refreshingly crisp Kaku Highball — made with soda water, so it wasn't too sweet and was really tasty. Felt like all my stress just flew away!

Final verdict: who should drink at Sakai in Seolleung?

Sakai near Seolleung was the perfect spot for a satisfying drink alongside delicate, carefully made Japanese dishes. If you're looking for a proper drinking-food spot near Seolleung Station or want to unwind in a cozy atmosphere, stop by.

• Anyone looking for an izakaya near Seolleung Station with perfect drinking-food quality
• Anyone who wants fresh seafood dishes like crab, uni, and mackerel with a highball
• Anyone who wants a cozy, comfortable spot for solo drinks or a date