Izakaya in Seoul: Japanese pubs for sashimi and skewers
Seoul izakaya cost about ₩10,000 to ₩20,000 per person at Gyoten's counter in Sinsa and ₩20,000 to ₩40,000 at Pae in Cheongdam. Most open at 17:00 or 18:00; Ijinkan serves until 03:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
An izakaya is a Japanese-style pub where you order drinks first and share small plates through the evening. Seoul has a good spread of them, from one-counter rooms run by a single chef to chain yakitori bars that stay open until dawn. The places below differ most in what they cook, how late they run and what they ask of you at the table.
Before you go
- Book a few days ahead for almost all of these. Karinzi Lingane, Palgakdong, Fish House and Ppaere take bookings through Naver, and Fish House and Ichie use CatchTable. Palgakdong and Ichie are hard to get into, so book well in advance.
- Plan your drinks. Gyoten asks each guest to order alcohol and does not serve soju. Pae asks for one drink per person at seats away from the bar. Palgakdong and Fish House allow your own bottle for a ₩30,000 corkage fee.
- Check the closing time. Hibari stops at 22:50, Pae and Ichie at 23:30, Fish House at midnight, and Ppaere and Mister Gyoza run later. Sunday hours are not listed for Gyoten, Pae, Ppaere, Ichie and Hibari. Sunday is the shorter day at Karinzi Lingane, and Palgakdong closes at 23:00 on Sundays.
- Know who fits. Palgakdong does not admit children. Gyoten is one small counter and cannot seat a large party. Mister Gyoza lists groups as welcome, and Pae has a private room.
- Skewers and sashimi come as separate small plates, so order two or three at a time and add more as you go.
Eleven izakaya to try
In no particular order; none of them paid to be here. Prices and hours are from our data as of 2026-10-06.
Karinzi Lingane Snack Bar (Gwanghwamun) 카린지린가네스낵바 광화문점
A Japanese spot near Gwanghwamun that serves katsu and curry at lunch and turns into a relaxed izakaya at night. Retro Japanese posters and city-pop music set the mood, and the evening menu centers on oden hot pot, an anchovy-oil pasta and seasoned popcorn.
What to order: Odenmori (오뎅모리), Calmond pasta (칼몬드파스타), Ringane popcorn (린가네팝콘), Katsu sando (카츠산도)
Good to know: Open until 01:00 Monday to Friday; Sunday hours are 16:00 to 23:00.
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 11 am–1 am · Sun 4 pm–11 pm (Sat: not listed)
- Booking
- Naver booking
Palgakdong 팔각동
A compact izakaya where the seats face the chef's open kitchen. In the evening you work through a sake list with sashimi and grilled small plates. At lunch the same room runs a different menu of home-style dishes with Chinese influences.
What to order: Aged sashimi set (숙성회), Ankimo ponzu, Grilled oysters (석화구이), Clam sake-steam (바지락술찜)
Good to know: Book well in advance. No children, and corkage is ₩30,000.
- Hours
- Tue–Fri 5 pm–midnight · Sat 4 pm–midnight · Sun 4 pm–11 pm (Mon: not listed)
- Booking
- Naver booking
Fish House 물고기집
A Japanese izakaya that puts dry-aged sashimi at the center of the menu. Tall glass walls look out over the Gyeongui Line Forest Path, and the feel is a calm date-night room, not a noisy pub. There is outdoor seating.
What to order: Dry-aged sashimi moriawase (건식 숙성 사시미 모리아와세), Torched mackerel sushi roll (고등어봉초밥), Clam butter stew (조개버터술찜)
Good to know: Open 17:00 to 24:00 every day. Reserve on CatchTable; corkage is ₩30,000.
- Hours
- Daily 5 pm–midnight
- Booking
- Takes reservations · Naver booking · CatchTable
Ijinkan 이진칸
An Itaewon izakaya with a chef from Japan in the kitchen. The room is dressed like an old Meiji-era Western mansion, with chandeliers and lattice windows that face the sunset and the night skyline. Highballs sit alongside sashimi platters, herring bozushi, futomaki and sukiyaki.
What to order: Aged sashimi platter (사시미 모리아와세), Herring bozushi, seasonal (청어 보우즈시), Sukiyaki (스키야키), Suntory highball (산토리 하이볼)
Good to know: Open until 03:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. Prices run above the usual Itaewon izakaya range.
- Hours
- Mon–Thu 6 pm–midnight · Fri–Sat 5:30 pm–3 am · Sun 6 pm–midnight
Gyoten 교텐
A tiny one-counter izakaya in Sinsa, where you watch the chef cook homey Japanese plates right in front of you. The menu shifts with the ingredients. Expect about ₩10,000 to ₩20,000 per person.
What to order: Uni sashimi (우니 사시미), Sweet shrimp carpaccio (아마에비 카르파쵸), Menchikatsu (멘치카츠), Cured mackerel sashimi (시메사바)
Good to know: Counter only, with no tables or private room. Each guest must order alcohol, and soju is not served. There is no rice or meal menu.
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 5 pm–midnight (Sat, Sun: not listed)
Yakitori Hibari 히바리
A yakitori and highball izakaya with counter, floor and table seating, where most of the staff speak Japanese. The mixed skewer plate changes daily and can include chicken heart and gizzard.
What to order: Assorted skewers (모듬꼬치), Chicken heart skewer (염통), Tamagoyaki with mentaiko (계란말이), Butabara donburi (부타바라 돈부리)
Good to know: Listed hours run 11:20 to 22:50 on weekdays, so this is the earliest close on this list.
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 11:20 am–10:50 pm (Sat, Sun: not listed)
Pae 파에
A Cheongdam-dong dining bar and izakaya built around charcoal-grilled skewers and sashimi, plus Japanese-leaning fusion plates such as a sashimi burger and abalone ragu pasta. It pours sake, wine and beer. Expect about ₩20,000 to ₩40,000 per person.
What to order: Kunse Burger (쿤세버거), Ankimo Pâté Monaka (안키모 파테 모나카), Abalone Ragu Pasta (전복 라구 생면 파스타), Seasonal Pressed Mackerel Sushi (제철 보우즈시)
Good to know: Seats away from the bar require one drink per person. A private room is available. Open 17:00 to 23:30, Monday to Saturday.
- Hours
- Mon–Sat 5 pm–11:30 pm (Sun: not listed)
Ppaere 빼레
A Japanese-style izakaya in the Hapjeong and Sangsu alleys of Mapo. It cooks daily-changing sashimi, aged raw fish and skewers, and works as a quiet spot for two rather than a loud group pub. It keeps late hours, open until 02:00 Monday to Saturday.
What to order: Daily sashimi (오늘의 사시미), Aged sashimi (숙성회), Grilled abalone with innard sauce, Yakitori skewers
Good to know: Booking is available through Naver.
- Hours
- Mon–Sat 6 pm–2 am (Sun: not listed)
- Booking
- Naver booking
Ichie 이치에
An old hand among Gangnam izakaya, known for aged sashimi platters and classic bar food. Its standing signature is a Fukuoka-style mackerel fried rice with shiso and umeboshi. Bills run from about ₩10,000 to ₩60,000 per person.
What to order: Sashimi moriawase, Fukuoka-style mackerel fried rice, Potato salad (gamja sarada), Menchi katsu
Good to know: Reserve well in advance on CatchTable. Open 18:00 to 23:30, Monday to Saturday.
- Price
- ₩10,000–₩60,000 per person
- Hours
- Mon–Sat 6 pm–11:30 pm (Sun: not listed)
- Booking
- Reservation needed · CatchTable
Torikichi (Oksu Station) 토리키치 옥수역점
A basement chain izakaya for yakitori and kushikatsu. The skewers are cooked to order on heated plates at the table, and the drinks menu includes a wide happy-hour list. Listed hours run from 12:00 to 05:00 every day.
Good to know: The flagship set is ₩39,000.
- Hours
- Daily noon–5 am
Mister Gyoza (Sindang) 미스타교자 신당점
A budget-minded spot for Japanese-Chinese small plates: gyoza, yakisoba and Sichuan-style stir-fries, with Kirin draft beer and highballs at the bar. It suits a second round or a casual date better than a sit-down dinner, and groups are welcome.
What to order: Pan-fried gyoza (야끼교자), Signature yakisoba (명물야끼소바), Mala stir-fry (마라양볶음), Yuxiang eggplant (어향가지)
Good to know: Open 17:00 to 01:00 every day. The Sindang branch has tomato ramen, which the Itaewon branch does not.
- Hours
- Daily 5 pm–1 am
- Booking
- Naver booking
Matching the place to the night
For aged sashimi, look at Palgakdong, Ppaere, Ichie and Fish House. For skewers, Hibari, Torikichi and Pae are built around the grill. For a low bill and a late second round, Mister Gyoza is the easy one. For a room with a view of the sunset or a forest path, try Ijinkan or Fish House.
At a glance
| Place | Area | Izakaya | Izakaya checked | Price per person | Listed hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karinzi Lingane Snack Bar (Gwanghwamun) | Jongno | Yes | 2026-09-27 | Not listed | Mon-Fri 11:00-01:00, Sat holiday listing (2026-10-03), Sun 16:00-23:00 |
| Palgakdong | Songpa | Yes | 2026-04-09 | Not listed | Mon not confirmed, Tue-Fri 17:00-24:00, Sat 16:00-24:00, Sun 16:00-23:00 |
| Fish House | Mapo | Yes | 2025-10-19 | Not listed | Every day 17:00-24:00 |
| Ijinkan | Yongsan | Yes | 2026-09-21 | Not listed | Mon-Thu 18:00-24:00, Fri-Sat 17:30-03:00, Sun 18:00-24:00 |
| Gyoten | Gangnam | Yes | 2026-09-21 | Not listed | Mon-Fri 17:00-24:00, Sat holiday listing (2026-10-03), Sun not confirmed |
| Yakitori Hibari | Jung | Yes | 2026-09-27 | Not listed | Mon-Fri 11:20-22:50, Sat holiday listing (2026-10-03), Sun not confirmed |
| Pae | Gangnam | Yes | 2026-08-27 | Not listed | Mon-Sat 17:00-23:30, Sun not confirmed |
| Ppaere | Mapo | Yes | 2026-07-02 | Not listed | Mon-Sat 18:00-02:00, Sun not confirmed |
| Ichie | Gangnam | Yes | 2026-09-25 | ₩10,000 to ₩60,000 | Mon-Sat 18:00-23:30, Sun not confirmed |
| Torikichi (Oksu Station) | Seongdong | Yes | 2026-09-25 | Not listed | Every day 12:00-05:00 |
| Mister Gyoza (Sindang) | Jung | Yes | 2026-09-24 | Not listed | Every day 17:00-01:00 |
From SeoulSearch place data as of 2026-10-06. "Not listed" and "Not confirmed" mean we have no measured value, not that the answer is no.
How we picked these
Every place here is a Japanese-style pub or izakaya, and we checked that listing and its opening hours. They cover sashimi counters, yakitori, fusion plates and budget bars across Jongno, Jung, Mapo, Gangnam, Itaewon, Songpa and Seongdong, so you can pick by what you want to eat.
Questions
Which izakaya in Seoul are open past midnight?
Ppaere is listed until 02:00 Monday to Saturday, Mister Gyoza until 01:00 daily, and Karinzi Lingane until 01:00 on weekdays. Ijinkan runs until 03:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, and Torikichi in Oksu is listed 12:00 to 05:00 every day.
Can I bring my own bottle to an izakaya in Seoul?
Palgakdong and Fish House allow it and charge ₩30,000 corkage. Ask first at any other place.
Which izakaya suits a group?
Mister Gyoza lists groups as welcome, and Pae has a private room. Gyoten is one small counter and cannot seat a large party.
Sources
- SeoulSearch place data (as of 2026-10-06)