Gangnam izakaya date with mackerel pressed sushi: Izakaya Goko

So, we went ahead and set up a date. I chose Izakaya Goko because it was easy for my friend to get to after work too ✨

What is the atmosphere like at Izakaya Goko near Gangnam Station?

It is a 2-minute walk from Exit 6 of Sinnonhyeon Station and an 8-minute walk from Exit 11 of Gangnam Station. Goko is on the second floor! I booked it because the atmosphere looked so good in photos too, and they had the window seats thrown wide open!! It has plenty of that open-air pub feeling without being hectic, which was the best.

The weather was so nice that we headed straight for the one remaining window seat. There are also somewhat private seating areas, so it would be great for a blind date or a date. (They are not private rooms!)

When we came in at 6 p.m. on Thursday, and then as it got close to 7, it was completely full of people stopping by for a drink after work, as expected. I recommend booking ahead on Thursdays, Fridays, and weekends! Especially for a work dinner, definitely make a reservation.. ✨

Izakaya Goko menu near Sinnonhyeon Station

There were all kinds of Japanese dishes, including sashimi, yakitori, noodles, fried items, and nabe hot pots! It is right in the middle of Gangnam, yet the alcohol prices were pretty reasonable too… ✨

Highballs and Japanese bar snacks for two

The two of us ordered this much, and just so you know, we were pretty full ^~^,,

Cheers. Goko Highball (₩8,000) and Suntory Highball (₩9,000). The popcorn served alongside was so delicious. It was consomme-flavored, with a sort of roasted taste?

I tried both the Suntory and Goko versions, and the Goko Highball was more my taste because it tasted less boozy. (Me, someone who likes alcohol that does not taste like alcohol…) Squeeze the lemon hard for an extra burst of freshness.

Full Moon tsukune and cheese tsukune

Full Moon Tsukune (₩6,000) and Cheese Tsukune (₩6,500). Honestly, I came because I wanted the mackerel pressed sushi, so I had been debating whether to order yakitori! But the tsukune looked so good that I ended up ordering both.

Tsukune are charcoal-grilled meatballs made by grinding chicken, cartilage, and fat together. You whisk the egg well and dip them in the sauce, and they are ridiculously good! They are plump too, so they are worth six billion won… ✨

The cheese tsukune looked so incredible that I could not possibly not order it. Just one slice of cheddar makes it taste richer! I have not had tsukune that many times, but this was my first one topped with cheddar. If you order yakitori, try getting one tsukune each 🤍

Chicken nanban with lemon and wasabi

Chicken Nanban (₩20,000). Finally, our delicious main arrived! I have wondered about chicken nanban every time I went to an izakaya, but always chose something else, so I finally got to try it.

I expected it to be similar to karaage, but the coating was thinner and somehow less salty! It went so well with the tartar sauce, which added richness and softness. Love it.

To enjoy the chicken nanban at its best, first squeeze the lemon juice as if you are determined to dry out every seed in that lemon. Then cut it into easy-to-eat pieces!! Add wasabi too, and the combination is insane… Wasabi really goes with absolutely everything. It is all tender chicken thigh meat, so it is extra moist and tasty. Please try it exactly like this ლ(╹◡╹ლ)

Order the mackerel pressed sushi early

And the dish I wanted most! Mackerel pressed sushi (₩27,000). I think it is called saba bo-zushi in Japanese.

Why is the onion plating so pretty? It looked almost too good to eat. But I ate it well, right? Every so often, I get a huge craving for mackerel pressed sushi. I truly do not know why..

Even sushi is not exempt from a cheers. Goko's dishes are plated so prettily too, so once again, it gets full marks as a date spot haha.

Rich mackerel with none of that fishy taste! It is lightly aburi-seared, which makes it even better. Squeeze over lemon juice and wrap it in gim (roasted seaweed) for perfection. I think Goko's mackerel pressed sushi includes shiso, a Japanese herb, and ginger! It feels like a combination that suits mackerel especially well. ✨If you do not like them, ask to leave them out in advance!

The mackerel pressed sushi and mackerel sashimi (goma saba) were sold out after 7 p.m.! If you want them, order quickly and early ฅʕ•̫͡•ʔฅ

It was such a perfect dinner at a window seat with the outdoor breeze gently drifting in. Recommended as a bar with a great atmosphere near Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station!