Banghak-dong Story

About

Cozy local pub near Banghak Station known for customizable grilled chicken skewers, hearty set platters, and outdoor seating.

Tucked along a quiet street near Banghak Station in Dobong District, Banghakdong Iyagi operates as a quintessential neighborhood hof where regulars treat the dining room like an extension of home. With five indoor four-top tables arranged in snug rows and three outdoor tables ready for fair-weather evenings, it carries the relaxed warmth of a longstanding local tavern. Here, friendly hospitality includes thoughtful touches, such as a sympathetic piece of candy handed out when the spice levels catch a guest off guard. Skewers anchor the sprawling menu of drinking fare, prepared directly to order without any off-putting odor. Diners typically gravitate toward the set combinations, which offer a generous, customizable spread. Chicken skewers (dak-kkochi) arrive tender and varied, available in clean salt-grilled styles alongside sauce-drenched variations like sweet-spicy barbecue, savory soy, melted cheese, and seasoned yangnyeom. For serious spice seekers, options like the fiery "tear-jerker" (nunmul jil-kkeum) pack intense, sharp heat that lingers long on the palate. Beyond chicken, the chewy, deeply savory grilled chicken hearts (yeomtong) stand out as a skewer highlight. A set order begins with cold draft beer paired with a simple shredded vegetable salad topped with cereal flakes, which add a distinctive, crunchy bite. Soon after, steaming bowls of eomuk-tang (fish cake soup) arrive with chewy, generously portioned fish cakes bobbing in warm broth, grounding the rich skewered meats. The expansive retro pub menu stretches far into comfort territory—dishes like fried dumplings (gun-mandu) come piled high, ideal for dipping straight into extra saucers of the kitchen's fiery skewer sauce, alongside late-night staples like spicy stir-fried webfoot octopus, golbaengi muchim, and ramyeon. Unpretentious and hearty, Banghakdong Iyagi provides an easygoing refuge for late-night draft pours and smoky bites off the grill.