Hongdae izakaya counter seats for solo drinking: Midosawa Sangsu

A great izakaya near Sangsu Station for solo drinking — here's my Midosawa review 😍

This place has such a good atmosphere and the side dishes were sooo, soooo good, so I really want to recommend it!! If you're looking for a good bar in Hongdae/Sangsu, a spot for solo drinking near Hapjeong, or a date course, stick around till the end!

Where is Midosawa Hongdae Sangsu Branch, and what are its hours?

Midosawa Hongdae Sangsu Branch is at 1F 103, Sangsu Doosan We've Apartment commercial building, 98 Dokmak-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul. It's 105m from Sangsu Station Exit 3, a 2-minute walk, so it's super close to the station.

• Hours: weekdays/weekends 17:30–24:00 (last order 24:00)
• Closed Sundays

Counter seats at Midosawa: easy for solo drinking, right in front of the chef

Midosawa has counter (dachi) seats, 2-person tables, and 4-person tables, and since I was alone I sat at the counter. The moment I walked in, I felt how quiet and cozy the atmosphere was.

I could watch the chef slice sashimi and grill dishes right in front of me, so even eating alone wasn't boring at all — actually, it felt immersive.

They even let me pick my own glass, which made me even happier!!

What's on the Midosawa menu, and what does it cost?

• Today's sashimi (for 2) ₩28,000
• Baekmiso sea bream sashimi salad ₩19,000
• Perilla oil buckwheat noodles with sea bream sashimi ₩26,000
• Tuna rare katsu ₩19,000
• Aged pork neck grill with shishito peppers ₩19,000
• Grilled gabrisal (pork jowl) with grilled green onion ₩19,000
• Tofu kimchi pork stir-fry ₩19,000
• Chicken karaage ₩14,000
• Fried squid ₩14,000
• Sea bream hot pot rice ₩19,000

I ordered today's sashimi (for 2) and the grilled gabrisal with grilled green onion. Today's drink: sake!!

How's the glass I picked myself, haha? Pretty, right! You can also get sake through the Naver event review, so keep that in mind~

Today's sashimi for 2 at 28,000 won: how does the aged fish taste?

Midosawa's today's sashimi (for 2) came out as one plate with a variety of cuts — flounder salad, tuna, abalone, and more. Maybe because it was aged, the texture was much chewier and the umami was much deeper ❤️

Especially the tuna eaten with the sesame sauce doubled the umami. So good!!!

The highlight: grilled gabrisal (pork jowl) with charred green onion, 19,000 won

The highlight of Midosawa was the grilled gabrisal with grilled green onion. The thick-cut gabrisal was juicy and moist, and the green onion was crisp, boosting the fragrant flavor even more.

I honestly would come back 100000% just for this one dish 😭 Dip it lightly in wasabi and the sharp kick pushes it over the top!!!

Is Midosawa better for solo drinking or for a date?

I sat alone listening to music and writing in my diary, and it felt so good ㅠㅠ The quiet vibe, the soft lighting, and even the neatly set dishware showed how much care went into everything, so it seemed like it would suit both a date course and a solo drinking spot.

• 2-minute walk from Sangsu Station Exit 3, super close to the station
• Counter, 2-person, and 4-person seats make solo dining comfortable
• The distinctive chewy texture and deep umami of aged sashimi
• The gabrisal and grilled green onion combo is insane
• Quiet, cozy atmosphere satisfies both solo drinking and dates
• 1000000% would visit again

For anyone looking for an izakaya near Sangsu Station, or a good spot to eat alone, I strongly recommend Midosawa. Definitely try the gabrisal and green onion grill — I think I'll be going back just for that 🥺