Sangsu charcoal skewer and sashimi bar for old friends: Ppaeret

Whenever I meet friends I've known for more than 30 years combined, we somehow always end up eating raw fish. This time too, we were still debating where to go when a friend said, "This is my regular spot," and took us to this Hapjeong bar, Ppaeret (빼레), which I'm introducing today.

Where is Ppaeret near Sangsu and Hapjeong, and what is the seating like?

Ppaeret sits between Exit 6 of Hapjeong Station and Exit 1 of Sangsu Station (on Dongmak-ro 5-gil in Mapo-gu), so it was easy to walk to from either station.

Inside, there are counter seats wrapped around the central kitchen, with 4-person tables on both sides. We booked ahead on Catchtable and were shown to a table.

What we ordered at Ppaeret

You order by QR code, and since the menu is large, I took the menu from Naver Maps. We ordered the half-and-half sea bream + flounder sashimi and a variety of skewers.

• Sea bream + flounder half-and-half sashimi - ₩58,000
• Heart - ₩4,000
• Chicken wing - ₩4,000
• Chicken drumstick - ₩4,500
• Pork jowl - ₩4,000
• Cherry tomato - ₩4,000
• Asparagus - ₩4,000
• Ginkgo nuts - ₩4,000
• Jinro - ₩6,000
• Saero - ₩6,000 × 2 bottles

Ppaeret's complimentary sides: pickled chili peppers and perilla seaweed salad

The starters were pickled chili peppers (gochu jangajji) and a seaweed salad, with chojang (spicy vinegar sauce) and soy sauce to go with the fish. The seaweed salad came with a nutty perilla dressing, and that toasty perilla flavor softened the crunch of the seaweed nicely. It was perfect for getting the appetite going before the sashimi.

How was Ppaeret's half-and-half sea bream and flounder sashimi?

The half-and-half sashimi (₩58,000) came out quickly after we ordered. The fin section was in the middle, and there were plenty of sides like radish sprouts, ginger and wasabi.

I tried the flounder first. It was chewy with a faint sweetness that came through the more I chewed, and it felt extra tender, maybe thanks to the aging. The sea bream was much cleaner in taste than the flounder, with a refined savory depth that stood out. A nutty richness spread softly as I chewed, so I kept reaching for more.

Eating it with the pickled ginger was especially good: the ginger's gentle aroma and fresh taste brought out the savoriness of the sea bream. The crunch of the ginger also contrasted nicely with the soft fish, so every bite felt richer in texture.

Which charcoal skewers to order at Ppaeret

The skewers you must try at Ppaeret are the asparagus and cherry tomato (₩4,000 each). They came with cabbage lightly sprinkled with soy sauce.

Honestly, a lot of places make skewers too salty or too intense, but Ppaeret's were seasoned just right across the board, which suited my taste perfectly. I especially recommend the asparagus and cherry tomato skewers. The asparagus kept its sweet juices the more I chewed, and the cherry tomato turned hot as it cooked, then burst in my mouth with juice, which was a fun surprise.

The chicken skewers were all moist and tender, with a subtle smoky charcoal flavor, great for chatting over a drink.

Is Ppaeret a good bar for catching up with old friends?

This lovely Hapjeong bar, Ppaeret, let us enjoy fresh sashimi and carefully grilled skewers in one place. It was quiet yet had a good atmosphere, which made it a fitting spot for catching up over drinks after a long time. If you're looking for a stylish izakaya (Japanese-style pub) in Hapjeong with a varied menu, I'd recommend giving Ppaeret a visit.