Starting from Vancouver, we loved going to Japanese Izakayas. It's hard to find something as good here in Seoul, but would love to know any if you have a favourite! Our go-to is this Muntaro in Itaewon. It has been consistently good over the years. There is a strip of a few Japanese izakaya's on the lower half of Itaewon (just down beside the Cheil building), but always end up coming back to this one.
They are known for their skewers, nagakaski jjambong and great cold asahi beer - on draft! Their deep fried oysters are great too.
Must Order: Their skewers - selection of 5 or 10. Most popular ones are 대파닭가슴살 (big green onion/chicken breast), 닭가슴살명란젓 (chicken breast with fish roe), 삼겹팽이벗엇 (bacon covered enoki mushrooms), 삼겹아스파라 (bacon covered asparagus), 삼겹호박 (bacon covered zucchini), 삼겹토마토 (bacon covered cherry tomatoes), 구은마늘 (grilled garlic)
The bacon wrapped tomatoes and quail eggs are good too.
삼겹팽이벗엇 (bacon covered enoki mushrooms) - my favourite one! Love how the enoki mushroom soak up the flavourful soy based sauce they give you on top of the cabbage. Sometime we just ask for more of this cabbage to munch on!
나가싸끼 짬뽕 (nag saki jjambbong - slightly spicy pork broth seafood soup with udon noodles and bean sprouts) here is SO good. If you're full, you can get it without the udon noodles that are in it.
Deep fried oysters in a light flaky batter. Was fried really well and the batter was perfectly crispy!
All of the above goes so well with an ice-cold Asahi draft beer.
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Food Menu (hard to read I know)
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Small but awesome place, down one block from the Cheil building amongst a few other izakayas.
What? Japanese tapas place specialising in bbq skewers - known for having fresh, non-frozen meats and ice-cold draft Asahi beer.
Who? Adults and people who may not mind their clothes maybe smelling like bbq smoke if you sit upstairs. The upstairs has bar/stool seating around the grill and a few tables. Downstairs has the same set-up but the open kitchen is in the back side. If you don't get a table, you may have to sit next to other customers at the table that goes around the middle so it can feel tight if you are used to your personal space.
When? Dinner and evening for drinking and eating. Open 5:30pm-3am.
Parking? No, but there is street and lot parking nearby.
Cards Accepted? Yes
Where? 서울 용산구 한남동 683-124. Seoul Yongsan-gu Hannam-dong 683-124
Call: 02-796-7232
Directions: Closest subway station - Itaewon, exit 3. Keep walking down towards lower Itaewon until you pass the Cheil building. Cross the intersection and it is 4-5 restaurants on your right hand side down. (Across the street from Cafe Bene).