Izakaya by Gwangheungchang Station: truffle abalone pasta, Mulgogijip

Writing/photos/video by Yenny Select

Today I visited Mulgogijip, tucked right across from Sogang University inside the lush green Gyeongui Line Forest Trail.

It's a charming izakaya where you can enjoy a delicious dinner while gazing out at the quiet forest trail through the terrace windows.

The interior had a soft, very quiet atmosphere. Mostly couples on dates or office workers chatting after work — a perfect space to settle in and talk.

Mulgogijip location, opening hours and dog policy

• 26 Baekbeom-ro 10-gil, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Daily 5 PM to midnight
• Instagram lists Sundays as closed
• Closed for Chuseok (Sep 24–25, 2026)
• Dogs allowed if carried in a pet carrier

Where to park: Sinsu off-street public parking lot

Mulgogijip has no dedicated parking lot. I parked at the nearby Sinsu public parking lot and walked over.

Even during dinner hours the lot was already full. I had to circle the area once before finally finding an open spot — lucky timing. Parking is pretty tight, so I'd recommend taking public transit if you can.

Nearby public parking — Sinsu public parking lot, open 24 hours, ₩200 per 5 minutes

QR code ordering and the Mulgogijip menu

At Mulgogijip you order easily via the QR code on the table. Point your phone camera at it, tap the link, and a clean, easy-to-read menu pops up.

I'll attach the detailed menu photos at the bottom of the post. If you need it, everything — including all the drinks — is there, so take a good look before you go.

A wide menu and a generous table setting

This place has everything from sashimi to grilled mackerel gunkan sushi to futomaki (thick sushi roll) — a solid range of dishes.

There are plenty of varied seafood-based side dishes, so it's genuinely fun to pick and choose.

What I ordered

• Recommended sashimi (wild mackerel) ₩49,000
• Futomaki ₩20,000
• Truffle abalone innards cream pasta ₩24,000

When you sit down, the basic side dish that comes first is seasoned seaweed stem — not tough at all, with a creamy texture that was great for waking up the appetite.

Wild-caught raw mackerel sashimi, 49,000 won

The recommended sashimi I'd been looking forward to — wild mackerel — came out first! It's served with rice, radish sprouts, fresh wasabi, seaweed, and soy sauce so you can wrap it up together. Put rice on the seaweed, add a thick slice of raw mackerel with a touch of wasabi, top with radish sprouts, and pop it all in one bite — perfectly done in one go.

Freshness spread through my whole mouth. The mackerel must have been aged really well, because there wasn't even a hint of the usual fishy smell — I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Thick and creamy truffle abalone innards pasta, 24,000 won

For the truffle abalone innards cream pasta (₩24,000), I tasted the plump abalone by itself first to get the pure flavor.

Chewy and really tasty. After that I ate it with the pasta noodles — since I was eating alongside other dishes it had cooled off some by the time I got to it, but the noodles kept getting thicker and richer with the sauce, giving it a deeper flavor. Delicious all the way through.

It's a different style from typical Italian pasta, but a compelling one. The noodles weren't overcooked or too firm — just the right doneness. Honestly a hidden gem for pasta!

Futomaki at 20,000 won: better than expected

I didn't expect much from the futomaki, but the filling was generous and filling — I enjoyed it a lot.

My friend said it was so good they ate three pieces.

The filling depends on the day's fish, so it can vary each time. On the day I visited, it seemed to be salmon and tuna.

Ebisu draft beer poured just right

There's another thing that makes Mulgogijip great. You can get Ebisu draft beer with a creamy, smooth finish that's just perfect!!

Personally I love Guinness draft for how creamy and low in carbonation it is, and this had exactly that feel — the beer's own flavor and smoothness were spot on.

Dinner plus a forest trail walk: a romantic date course in Mapo

Mulgogijip is such a great spot to eat well and then head straight into a walk with a partner or friend.

After filling up, you step out of the restaurant and the forest trail is right there — I really loved how naturally it completes a date course haha. Now that it's early fall, the breeze at night was cool enough to feel a bit chilly. Everyone bring a cardigan!! It was a happy time to escape the busy daily grind and heal a little while feeling nature in the middle of the city.

After a leisurely stroll along the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail in the cool breeze, why not try good food and a drink with atmosphere at Mulgogijip today?

Mulgogijip full menu and prices