Gwanak private-room bar for birthday parties: Tomo

Private rooms perfect for birthday parties

Tomo, a bar near Seoul National University Entrance with private rooms in a range of sizes, had such a lovely atmosphere. You can play the music you want and enjoy games in the room too, so I really wanted to introduce it to anyone wondering where to hold a birthday party.

Tomo Izakaya location and parking

It is a two-minute walk from Exit 3 of Seoul National University Entrance Station on Line 2, so it was easy to get there by public transport. If you are driving, please note that you will need to use a nearby public parking lot.

A private-room izakaya across the second and third floors

This izakaya operates across two floors, the second and third floors of the building, and you need to use its dedicated entrance via stairs only—there is no elevator.

The cozy, upscale atmosphere seems to make it popular for dates and blind dates too. Apparently, there is even a separate room where you can bring your dog—how refreshing is that?

There is also free corkage for every kind of alcohol except soju and beer, with no limit on the number of bottles. That makes this a space made for gatherings—family dinners, business meetings, year-end parties, birthday parties, and more!

Among the bars around Seoul National University Entrance, these are the only fully private rooms, and they can accommodate up to 15 people, so keep that in mind.

Seasonal dishes and a Naver Reservation event

Because the menu is built around seasonal ingredients, it is refreshed about four times a year, with food suited to each season. There is lots to choose from—sashimi, soups, pasta, grilled dishes, and appetizers—so let me introduce a few options.

• 12-kind premium sashimi (for 2) ₩48,000
• Aged kimchi bacon pasta ₩24,000
• Salmon straw-smoked tataki ₩28,000
• Five charcoal-grilled handmade skewers ₩23,000
• Mussel lemon wine steam ₩30,000
• Soy sauce shrimp rice ₩10,000
• Truffle honey cream cheese tomatoes ₩19,000

If you visit after making a Naver Reservation, you receive either steamed clams in sake or tako wasabi (octopus with wasabi) on the house. They also set out glasses in advance if you request them for the free corkage service, so do give it a try.

Ordering seafood jjamppong soup and chicken karaage

• Seafood jjamppong soup ₩24,000
• Chicken karaage ₩21,000

You really have to try the seafood jjamppong soup~~

I am not usually a huge jjamppong fan, but I was deciding on a soupy drinking snack and chose the seafood jjamppong soup because it sounded refreshing. Even my jjamppong-enthusiast friend approved, and I was happy with both the quality and flavor.

It came loaded with ingredients: a whole large squid, crab for building the broth, shrimp, vegetables, and more. The spicy, rich broth went so well with the springy noodles.

Chicken karaage with a great texture

I picked the chicken karaage as something substantial to chew on, and I could immediately tell that it was made with fresh ingredients and clean oil.

Naver Reservation tako wasabi service

The quality of the tako wasabi I received as a service after making a Naver Reservation was excellent too!! It has quite a sharp kick, so eat it with gim (roasted seaweed).

Because it was such a private space, as we listened to music and chatted, it felt as though we had rented out Tomo Izakaya near Seoul National University Entrance all to ourselves. We could laugh without worrying about anyone else and comfortably share personal stories—so good!! So good!!

And you really have to try this seafood jjamppong soup from a bar near Seoul National University Entrance, with its amazing smoky flavor~~ I normally love squid, and this squid was plump, chewy yet tender. Above all, the spicy broth was so rich that it felt like I had finally had a proper bowl of jjamppong for the first time in ages.

Chicken is a menu item loved by everyone, but this one really nailed the texture: only chicken thigh was brined in a house-made soy sauce marinade, then coated in a thin layer of batter.

Spicy yet savory, nutty yet light, with chewiness and a peppery kick—this atmospheric izakaya near Seoul National University Entrance had so many flavors and textures that I lost track of time. It is a lovely place to visit with friends too.

Time spent focusing on each other in the room

I loved the free corkage available on both weekdays and weekends, along with the little events, and the private room made it possible to focus on each other. That is why it seems well suited for a date, a blind date, or all kinds of gatherings if you are looking for an atmospheric bar near Seoul National University Entrance.