Yeouido izakaya open till 1:30am: Robadayakki Sodam counter seats

A Japanese-feeling Yeouido bar that's a hotspot for the local office crowd — Robadayakki Sodam Yeouido Branch :)

Robadayakki Sodam Yeouido Branch: hours, parking and address

• Address / 17 Yeouidaebang-ro 65-gil, 1st floor, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul
• Hours / 17:00 – 01:30
• Last order / 12:30
• Parking / Available

How to walk from Saetgang Station to Robadayakki Sodam, plus parking

Directions to Robadayakki Sodam >>> By subway, it's a 10-minute walk from Yeouido Station Exit 5, or 5 minutes from Saetgang Station Exit 1. Pretty accessible location.

For parking, head along Yeouidaebang-ro toward the National Assembly and you can park at the Seorin Building lot. Sitting between Yeouido Station and Saetgang Station, it's easy for office workers to drop by, and good for a drink after work, a work dinner, or even a date.

Inside Robadayakki Sodam: an izakaya where you watch the charcoal grill

I was looking for a second-round Yeouido bar and ended up at this Yeouido izakaya, Robadayakki Sodam. Walking in, the warm lighting and wood-tone interior gave off that distinctive izakaya atmosphere. It really felt like I'd been transported to Japan.

Robatayaki (炉端焼き, ろばたやき) is Japanese for 'grilling by the hearth' — or a dish/restaurant style where fish, meat and vegetables are grilled at the edge of a charcoal fire.

Fish that looked destined for the grill were hanging in a storage case by the entrance, and in front of the grill was a colorful spread of fish, meat, and vegetables that really caught my eye.

What made the vibe especially memorable was that, true to the robatayaki style, you can watch the skewers being grilled right in the open.

Why you should reserve: only counter seats left on an early weekday evening

Robadayakki Sodam has counter seats, 4-top tables, and a private room — the room seats up to 4, and group seating goes up to 6. With everything from bar-style counter seats to tables, it works well no matter the size or purpose of your group.

When I visited, on an early weekday evening, the tables were already fully reserved and only 4 counter seats were left. It's already well known as a Yeouido Station bar with a loyal regular crowd, so I'd recommend booking ahead.

What's on the menu at Robadayakki Sodam

The menu ranges from assorted grilled skewers to aged sashimi, Kansai-style oden stew, grilled fish, fried items, and even jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) — plenty of fun choices for drinking snacks. The menu was more varied than I expected, the set menus were solid, and the prices were reasonable.

Ilpum Jinro soju prices were also on the cheaper side compared to other bars I've been to, so you could drink without worrying too much about the bill.

🎉 Various events

• Free ice cream for a Naver receipt review
• 10% off sake with a Naver Place coupon
• 1 free skewer with a Naver Place coupon

These little perks are worth grabbing when you visit!

What we ordered: assorted skewer platter and grilled Chilean sea bass

We ordered the assorted skewer platter (11 types, 13 pieces) for ₩24,000 and grilled Chilean sea bass for ₩29,000.

A fried egg came out as the complimentary starter. It was comforting and savory — quite good.

Assorted skewer platter, 11 types and 13 pieces for 24,000 won

As the signature dish of this Yeongdeungpo izakaya, you could see nearly every table order one.

It was fun to try a variety of skewers and pick through them one by one. They were seasoned savory and salty with great umami, the kind of flavor that keeps your hand reaching back — a great match for drinks.

Grilled Chilean sea bass for 29,000 won

Next up, Sodam's best grilled fish! Grilled Chilean sea bass for ₩29,000.

What can I say about grilled sea bass? It's an oily fish that can feel heavy if you eat too much, but I love oily fish and always order it when I'm at an izakaya. It was grilled just right — moist and tender inside with a deep, savory richness, so you could really taste what makes sea bass special.

Open every day until 1:30am, this Yeongdeungpo izakaya let us relax late into the night with good snacks and drinks.

Is Robadayakki Sodam worth it? Final verdict

If you're looking for a bar near Yeouido Station with a strongly Japanese atmosphere, Robadayakki Sodam is a solid choice. It's especially convenient from both Saetgang and Yeouido stations, making it good for a casual drink with coworkers after work, a moody date night, or a group dinner get-together.

If you're in Yeouido looking for somewhere to enjoy Japanese-style drinking snacks like skewers, sashimi, and oden stew, this place is worth checking out :)