Dongseong-ro izakaya in Daegu: yakitori and clams at Naiba Hutto

It had been a while since I had a proper jabu-time (late-night hangout) with friends — good food and a drink together. This was a place I'd always wanted to try when passing by, one where I thought 'this looks seriously Japanese!' So off we went to Naiba Hutto, an izakaya in Dongseong-ro, Daegu.

It's near Gongpyeong Intersection, so it's an easy walk from Dongseong-ro after a night out, and the moment you step inside you feel like you've landed in Japan — a great pick if you're after a bar with a different vibe.

Where is Naiba Hutto, and what are its hours and booking rules?

• Naiba Hutto, izakaya in Dongseong-ro, Daegu
• 634 Gukchebosang-ro, 1st floor, Jung-gu, Daegu, South Korea
• 18:00–01:30 (last order 00:30), closed September 25
• Reservations Sunday–Thursday only; Friday/Saturday only at 6:00 or 6:30 PM!

※ Hours and menu prices may change, so please check before you visit.

Inside Naiba Hutto: a Japanese yatai mood from the doorway

Naiba Hutto, the izakaya in Dongseong-ro, felt like an old-school Japanese tavern from the outside alone. My friends who came along couldn't stop complimenting the vibe :)

Unlike Gyodong, it wasn't overly crowded, and having outdoor tables made the atmosphere even better. Once you step inside, the space really captures that Japanese yatai (street stall) feel, so it's fun just to look around. Bar seats and tables are clustered close together, making it a great spot for conversation.

With Japanese-style knickknacks and posters covering the walls, you end up wandering around and taking it all in before you even order a drink. Seating ranges from the bar to tables for 2 to 5 people! If you come a bit later, there might be a wait.

What's on the menu at Naiba Hutto? Yakitori comes first

What caught my eye most on Naiba Hutto's menu was, of course, the yakitori. Charcoal-grilled skewers are the star here, so it's fun picking a variety to try. There's also a wide range of drinks, and I love that there's a non-alcoholic highball for people who don't drink :)

Drinks at Naiba Hutto, from highballs to sake and non-alcoholic yuzu

What's a good snack without a good drink, right? Haha. Naiba Hutto has sake, shochu, highballs, whiskey, beer, and soju among other options. It seems especially well-suited to people who want to pair Japanese-style bar snacks with highballs or sake.

We started with highballs before the food arrived — grapefruit highball, yuzu highball, Suntory highball, draft beer, and a non-alcoholic yuzu highball. It was great being able to order to everyone's taste! Every single one was delicious.

Five charcoal-grilled yakitori skewers for 14,500 won: which cuts you get

The charcoal-grilled yakitori comes as 5 types for ₩14,500 or 7 types for ₩20,500 (chicken thigh, skin, drumstick, chicken neck, chicken knee cartilage / plus chicken wing and heart for the 7-type set). Yakitori grilled fresh to order is, of course, best eaten hot.

The yakitori felt like sampling special cuts of chicken. There's a gentle charcoal aroma, and since each skewer is a different cut, it was fun tasting one at a time. A fork that pulls all the pieces off the skewer at once let us eat everything cleanly, one bite at a time!

Clams steamed in sake, grilled rice cake sticks and yakisoba

Naiba Hutto, the izakaya in Dongseong-ro, has a varied menu at fairly reasonable prices, so it's easy to order a bunch of dishes to share! Being able to order yakitori one skewer at a time was also great. We added a clam hot pot (₩13,000), grilled rice cake (₩4,000), and yakisoba (₩12,000)!

It's been getting a little chilly at night lately, and the rich, hot broth of the clam hot pot really hit the spot — glad we ordered it! The grilled rice cake came with mayo and honey on the side, and the seasoning on the yakisoba was so good we finished it in no time :) (Naiba Hutto was supposed to be our second stop, but we ate like it was our first, haha.)

Is Naiba Hutto worth it? Best nights to go

Naiba Hutto, the izakaya in Dongseong-ro, is thoughtful right down to the finishing touches. It suits a date, drinks with friends, or a low-key catch-up with people you haven't seen in a while!

Next time I'd love to try more of the menu beyond yakitori. :) (I was disappointed I didn't get to try the mentaiko pasta.....) If you're looking for a good-atmosphere izakaya in Dongseong-ro, Daegu, definitely check out Naiba Hutto.