Seoul Station Restaurant Guide:
Tetsuro, a Japanese Izakaya
Worth the Detour
Still searching for restaurants near Seoul Station
inside the KTX terminal?
You’re missing out.
The real dining scene has been
quietly growing in the block between
Seoul Station and Namyeong Station,
directly across from Four Points by Sheraton Seoul Station
— and one of the standout spots is
Tetsuro, a Japanese izakaya that
doubles as a proper lunch spot
by day and a buzzing neighbourhood bar by night.
Tetsuro Seoul Station
Essential Info
✔️Address: 361-2 Hangang-daero, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
✔️Getting There: 2-minute walk from
Exit 13 of Seoul Station (Lines 1 & 4,
Gyeongui-Jungang Line, GTX-A, KTX)
✔️ Hours: 11:00 AM – 1:00 AM (Closed Sundays)
✔️ Reservations: Korean reservation app CatchTable
🏨 Nearby Hotels: Four Points by Sheraton Seoul Station,
Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Namdaemun,
L’Escape Hotel
Tetsuro (鉄路) means “railway”
or “iron road” in Japanese —
a nod to the station
neighbourhood it calls home.
How to Get to Tetsuro
from Seoul Station Exit 13
Seoul Station is one of those stops
that almost every visitor to Korea
passes through at least once
whether you’re arriving from Incheon Airport
on the AREX, catching a KTX to Busan or Gyeongju,
or just using it as a transit hub.
On a nice day, it’s worth
stepping out of the main terminal
and walking over
about 10 minutes through the area
around the old station building.
Alternatively, head straight through
the underground passage to Exit 13
and you’re there in two minutes.
Tetsuro Menu: What to Order
The menu covers more
ground than you’d expect
from a neighbourhood izakaya
small bites, soups, fried dishes,
grilled items, and even pasta.
The drinks list is equally thorough:
Korean soju (yes, the green bottle),
beer, sake, highball, and whisky.
Lunch opens at 11:00 AM,
which makes this a genuinely
good option if you’re catching
an afternoon KTX —
the prices are reasonable
and the food comes out fast.
Potato Salad (8,000 KRW)
Don’t let the name fool you.
This isn’t an afterthought side dish
the staff mention it takes
an hour and a half to make,
and you can taste why.
The potatoes are cooked just right,
no bitterness, folded with mayonnaise
until the texture is somewhere
between smooth and chunky.
Simple, but one of those things
that disappears before you realise you’ve eaten it.
Chicken Neck Karaage (19,000 KRW)
Chicken neck (seseri) is a cut
that doesn’t get much attention
outside of Japan,
but it’s one of the better drinking snacks out there
firm, flavourful, and here,
battered thin and fried
until the edges just start to crisp.
The flavour lands somewhere
close to a less-sweet Kyochone fried chicken.
The real hook is the wasabi mayo
that comes alongside
it adds just enough heat
to make you reach for your drink.
Mizutaki — Fukuoka-Style
Chicken Hot Pot (27,000 KRW)
Mizutaki is a Fukuoka speciality:
chicken and vegetables simmered
in a clean, long-cooked broth.
Tetsuro’s version uses a stock
that’s been going for 24 hours,
with the fat skimmed off
so the result is light and clear
rather than rich.
A good option if you want
something warming without the heaviness of a Korean-style jjigae.
One more thing worth mentioning:
the pasta. It wasn’t on this visit’s order,
but it was the standout from a previous trip
the kind of dish that makes
you do a double-take
when you remember you’re in an izakaya,
not a pasta restaurant.
Worth ordering at least once.
How to Make
the Most of the Location
Tetsuro sits in a genuinely useful spot
if you’re planning a few stops in the area:
If you’re staying at
Four Points by Sheraton Seoul Station:
It’s directly across the street.
An easy option for a late breakfast after check-out,
or a drink before heading upstairs for the night.
If you’re going to Lotte Mart Seoul Station:
This is the branch that foreign visitors
tend to prioritise for Korean snacks,
instant noodles, and the Bottle Bunker
on the second floor
(a good spot for local wine and spirits to take back to the hotel).
The store peaks between 8–10 PM
if you have dinner at Tetsuro
and arrive around 11 PM,
the checkout queues are
noticeably shorter.
If you’re heading to Namsan or Myeongdong:
The Namsan Circular Bus stops
right in front of Seoul Station.
Rather than walking the whole mountain,
the practical move is to take the bus up,
get off at a viewpoint,
walk from there, and make your way back down.
Tetsuro makes a good pre-
or post-Namsan stop.
Tetsuro Atmosphere
and Seating (1F vs 2F)
The first thing you’ll notice is the
station master mannequin
standing guard at the entrance
a fitting touch for a bar
named after the railway.
The signboard above is written
entirely in Japanese,
and the overall look lands
somewhere between a vintage train station
and an old-school Tokyo alley bar.
The owner spent months tracking down
Japanese vintage items from
secondhand markets across the country
to fill the space —
the goal being to create
the most realistic version
of a Japanese drinking den possible,
offering what he described as a
“small, quick timeout to Japan”
for worn-out regulars. It shows.
Tetsuro occupies two floors:
- 1F — Open kitchen and
a long tachi (counter) bar
that runs the length of the room
lengthwise, in keeping with the railway theme.
If you want the full izakaya experience,
this is the seat to aim for. - 2F — Around 10 four-person tables,
plus a group section
behind the counter that
can seat 12 or more.
Note: the staircase up is fairly steep,
so watch your step.
The details on the second floor
are what make the space feel lived-in
rather than designed:
coat hooks on the walls, retro curtains,
tables in muted tones that
lean nostalgic without trying too hard.
Four-person table seating
on the second floor of Tetsuro,
Seoul Station restaurant
The cabinets are stacked with
Japanese magazines, manga,
cookbooks, and sake bottles,
alongside framed photos of the
actual railway station that inspired the name
most of them tracked down
deliberately by the owner.
One practical note on the bathrooms:
they’re indoors (convenient),
but the building is on the older side,
so don’t go in with high expectations.
Perfectly usable, just not pristine.
Nearby — Also Worth Knowing About
Daiso Seoul Station :
In the underground mall
just outside the station.
Larger and better-stocked than the
City Hall branch,
good for last-minute Korean souvenirs
and household items.
Lotte Mart Seoul Station:
The go-to stop for Korean snacks,
instant ramyeon, and local food
products to take home.
Second floor has Bottle Bunker
for wine and spirits.
Namsan Park & Namsan Cable Car :
The Namsan Circular Bus departs
from outside Seoul Station.
Take it up to a viewpoint,
then walk down at your own pace
a much better approach than the climb up
Is Tetsuro Worth It?
(Final Verdict)
Tetsuro isn’t trying to be
a destination restaurant.
It’s a neighbourhood izakaya
that happens to be done very well
honest food, fair prices,
genuinely friendly staff,
and a space that earns its atmosphere
rather than performing i
t. If you’re transiting through Seoul Station,
staying nearby, or just want a low-key drink
and a plate of karaage without crossing town,
this is a solid choice.
Want to discover more
great restaurants near
Seoul Station?
Check out our review of Sanbul Deungsim
a hidden local spot known for
some of the best grilled sirloin in the area
https://koreaandbeyond.com/myeongdong-hanwoo-bbq/