Second-round izakaya in Bangi-dong: yurinji and doguri sake at Sangkai

Sangkai Bangi Branch as a second-round bar in Bangi-dong

You know that moment after a solid first round in Bangi-dong when you're like, "where do we go now?" Too-loud pojangmacha (street tent bars) aren't the vibe, but a place with good atmosphere shouldn't be too pricey or too heavy either! This time I went with a friend for round two at Sangkai Izakaya Bangi Branch.

It's smack in the middle of the food alley! Even among the many bars on Bangi-dong's drinking street, it stands out from a distance on the 2nd floor. With the weather so nice these days, they had the windows wide open!

This place is pretty large even by Bangi-dong food alley standards, running the 2nd and 3rd floors with everything from 2-4 person date seats to group seating for 10+.

Where Sangkai Bangi Branch is and where to park

It's about a 10-minute walk from Exit 8 or 10 of Jamsil Station, or about 8 minutes from Exit 3 of Mongchontoseong Station, so it's easy to reach by public transit! There's a parking space in front of the building, but it's quite narrow, so I'd recommend using the Songpa-gu office public parking lot or a paid lot in the Bangi-dong alleys!!

What kind of izakaya is Sangkai Bangi Branch?

Sangkai leans less toward the small Japanese-style pub feel you'd usually picture and more toward a sizeable premium izakaya. With both the 2nd and 3rd floors in use, the interior feels bigger than expected, and the tables have decent spacing between them!

The 2nd floor has tables for 2-6 people, and the 3rd floor seemed mostly for group guests or private bookings. The interior uses wood tones and soft lighting, so instead of a bright, flashy feel, it's a bit dim and atmospheric!! Personally I think it's a great spot for round two — chatting over drinks — more than a first-course meal.

What are Sangkai's signature menu items?

The menu is bigger than you'd expect. True to izakaya form, there's sashimi to start —

• Special assorted sashimi ₩69,000
• Flounder sashimi ₩48,000
• Seasonal sashimi ₩48,000
• Red seabream sashimi ₩48,000
• Raw salmon sashimi ₩35,000
• Raw salmon & beef tataki ₩35,000

There's quite a variety of raw fish options.

• Sangkai yurinji ₩18,500
• Spicy yurinji ₩19,500
• Butter garlic karaage ₩18,500
• Boneless karaage ₩18,500
• Handmade assorted tempura ₩28,500
• Whole squid tempura ₩17,500
• Chili shrimp ₩19,500
• Shrimp fondue ₩25,500

There's also a wide range of skewers — chicken skin, heart, gizzard, chicken thigh, chicken wing, pork belly and more, all to pick from! And you can't skip the soups and hotpots when drinking, right?

• Motsunabe ₩30,000
• Sukiyaki ₩35,000
• Kansai-style oden soup ₩19,500
• Nagasaki jjamppong soup ₩19,500
• Spicy tantan nabe ₩30,000
• Whole squid seafood jjamppong soup ₩23,000
• Spicy brisket jjamppong soup ₩22,000

Beyond that there's a ton more — pollock roe cheese potatoes, flounder aged-kimchi platter, clam sake steam, seafood yaki udon and more. Being able to order sashimi, fried dishes, soup, and skewers all in one place is one of this restaurant's biggest strengths!

Sangkai yurinji, 18,500 won: how was it as a late-night dish?

We'd already had a full first round, so we decided to keep it really simple this time. We ordered exactly this: doguri sake + beer + Sangkai yurinji!

It's currently priced at ₩18,500, and comes with Sangkai's special sauce. The style is classic yurinji — crispy fried chicken with a tangy, spicy sauce. It paired really well as a beer snack, no complaints there!

One thing about yurinji: if it soaks up too much sauce, the batter goes soggy fast. Here they serve the sauce on the side, so you can dip as little or as much as you like depending on whether you're a soak-it or dip-it person! It was a great pick for when you just want one snack with a casual second-round drink like we did.

The complimentary octopus starter was better than expected

Sangkai seems to put real care into their basic side dishes too! We got a tangy octopus-and-vegetable banchan that was great for waking up the palate before the main snack arrived! You don't usually expect much from the basic sides at an izakaya like this, but when they pay attention to the small details, it definitely leaves a good first impression.

The tableware and water glasses were nicely set out, and ordering was easy through the tablet at the table, so adding more was no hassle!

Four things that worked at Sangkai Bangi Branch

1. Plenty of room across two floors

Sangkai Bangi Branch uses two floors, so it's larger than a typical small izakaya. A plus is the range of seating options, from 2-person dates to group gatherings. Worth considering if you're looking for a group spot among Bangi-dong izakayas.

2. A genuinely long menu

Whether someone wants sashimi, fried food, skewers, or soup — different tastes can all be satisfied in one place! The range from sashimi to skewers, fried dishes, nabe, and rice dishes really stands out.

3. Not too casual an atmosphere

With soft lighting and varied seating, it feels more polished and put-together than a plain street tent bar. Works well for a date, a blind date, or drinks with friends!

4. Open until 5am

Hours are 16:00–05:00 the next day, so being able to use the space that late is a huge plus!!

Anything to be aware of at Sangkai Bangi Branch?

The menu is so big you might get decision paralysis... Looking at the menu, there really are that many options. With sashimi, skewers, fried dishes, soups, and hotpots all on offer, first-timers might actually struggle to pick just one thing.

Final verdict on Sangkai Izakaya Bangi Branch

This time we made a short second-round visit and only had beer and yurinji, but looking at the full menu lineup, it seems like a place you could easily start your night at too. More than a spot you go to for one specific dish, it felt like "an izakaya where you pick the menu based on who you're with that day."

Go with friends who like skewers or fried food, order sashimi if someone in the group is into raw fish, or go for nabe or soup if you're planning to drink for a while! If you're looking for a second-round spot in Bangi-dong that isn't too small but also isn't intimidatingly formal, this fits the bill perfectly. And since it's right in the Bangi-dong food alley, there are plenty of places nearby for a first round too, making a first-round-then-Sangkai combo an easy plan.