Gokoro Yakitori Izakaya

About

A Japanese-style yakitori izakaya near Sungshin Women’s University, with charcoal-grilled skewers, warm oden, and a cozy lantern-lit tavern atmosphere.

At 고코로 야키토리 이자카야, the evening is built around the slow pleasure of a skewer and a drink. The room’s dim lighting, Japanese-style ornaments and bottles give it the feel of a neighborhood izakaya; a counter and table seating make it suited to settling in for conversation, whether you come as a pair or on your own. It is more spacious than a tiny counter-only bar, according to one visitor, but still has the close, easygoing mood of a place where dinner can stretch into a second round. Start with the yakitori. The assorted skewers let you try different cuts in one sitting, with charcoal aroma coming through without overwhelming the meat. For a more specific favorite, order tsukune: a minced-meat skewer with savory seasoning, especially good dipped in its accompanying egg yolk. Flower pork-neck is another option in the skewer set, while butter-grilled scallop appears among the listed choices. These are drinking snacks with enough character to make choosing the next bite part of the fun. Round out the grill with donpeiyaki, a soft omelet layered with pork and topped generously with bonito flakes. Or bring in a bowl of oden: its warm broth and fish cakes offer a soothing pause between skewers and beer. Visitors also describe cabbage and potato chips arriving as starter snacks, with cabbage seasoned with pepper; additional portions may cost extra. Beer is an easy first pour, but sake suits the room particularly well. One account describes a chilled tokuri served in a bowl of ice, keeping the sake cool at the table. The appeal here is not a complicated dining ritual, but the pleasure of sharing a few different skewers, something warm to sip, and one more drink beneath the low light. For a Seongbuk evening that calls for Japanese-style pub food and unhurried conversation, 고코로 makes the grill the center of the night.