Songdo sushi: late booking auto-cancelled, ankimo roll, Sushi Doku

Where is Sushi Doku The Songdo?

Sushi Doku The Songdo (스시도쿠 더송도) is a Japanese restaurant on the 2nd floor of Honesta Mall, directly connected to Tekeunopakeu Station and close to Songdo Hyundai Premium Outlet (nicknamed "Songhyeona"). I had finished a work errand and went to the outlet to meet a friend. The area is packed with restaurants, so every visit means a happy dilemma over what to eat.

That day I especially craved fresh Japanese food that melts in your mouth. I started searching for a proper Songdo restaurant, comparing lots of reviews and feeds with an eagle eye, and the place that landed on my radar was Sushi Doku The Songdo on the 2nd floor of Honesta Mall.

The reviews mostly said it has a line on weekdays and weekends alike, a must-wait restaurant. With so many places propped up by marketing these days, I was both a little doubtful ("would people really queue that much?") and curious. Determined to test real Songdo sushi, I booked right away and headed over.

What happens if you are late for your Sushi Doku The Songdo reservation?

I was told that once the reserved time passes, the booking is cancelled automatically and you have to register on the waitlist on site. I had booked 11am to enjoy a relaxed meal, but weekend traffic in Songdo made me a full 30 minutes late. I called the restaurant from the car and that was the answer I got. Up to then, I'll admit I naively figured the wait couldn't be that long.

But the moment I arrived, my jaw dropped. Just as the rumors said, lots of people were filling the waiting seats in front of the restaurant.

Even as number 1 in line, I waited nearly 30 minutes

At weekend lunch I registered as number 1 and still waited outside for almost 30 minutes. With the inside already full, it couldn't be helped. It was well past 12 o'clock when a friendly staff member finally showed me in.

The interior is modern, clean and pleasant. Light coming through the large windows made the space feel even classier, and the staff were brisk and kind. I sat down, read the menu carefully, and ordered without hesitation the signature premium sushi set (명품스시 특정식), said to be the most satisfying.

What comes in the premium sushi set?

The premium sushi set at Sushi Doku The Songdo starts with chawanmushi (Japanese steamed egg custard), salad and tempura, then moves to 10 pieces of sushi and finishes with eel sushi and udon. Soon after ordering, a gorgeous, neat spread began arriving course by course, and the set was better than I expected. First came the chawanmushi, a salad with fresh dressing, and golden, freshly fried tempura.

Then the main event, 10 pieces of top-quality sushi, arrived on a large ceramic plate. The moment I saw that sparkling sight, the fatigue from the 30-minute wait melted away.

Looking closer, besides the popular toppings, a cut of tuna with its rich, hearty flavor and sweet shrimp (danssaeu) that gets sweeter as you chew caught my eye.

The best pleasant shock: the ankimo (monkfish liver) roll

The most pleasantly shocking part of the set was the roll piled with ankimo (monkfish liver). Rich, creamy and nutty, it wrapped softly around the whole mouth, a high-level flavor that's hard to find even at upscale Japanese restaurants.

How was the sushi different from conveyor-belt sushi?

The sushi had a perfect balance of neta (the fish topping) thickness, shari (rice) temperature and the vinegar seasoning. I first soothed my stomach with the warm, soft chawanmushi, refreshed my palate with crispy tempura and a zesty salad, then started savoring the sushi piece by piece.

It was on another level from the standardized taste of ordinary conveyor-belt sushi places. It felt like the depth of a high-end omakase, as if a chef were looking after me personally.

In terms of gasimbi (satisfaction for the price), "amazing" slipped out on its own. While eating, I glanced at the next table, where a business dinner with foreign buyers was under way.

Seeing even picky foreign guests give thumbs up and keep exclaiming with every piece, I felt in my whole body why Sushi Doku The Songdo is a real Songdo favorite loved regardless of nationality.

I finished the meal neatly with the last courses: eel sushi with a sweet-salty sauce and udon with a hot, deep broth.

Is Sushi Doku The Songdo worth going back to?

I'd go back 200%. The modern, stylish space, the great access to the subway station and outlet, and above all the uncompromising, overwhelming taste: it hit all three. Throughout the meal, the freshness of the ingredients and the sincerity of the cooking came through, and I finished very satisfied.

It's not just a meal to fill up on but a place to fully enjoy fine dining, so next time I come shopping at Songhyeona, I'll definitely return with my wife.

If you want failure-free Japanese food and a true Songdo sushi restaurant, I strongly recommend visiting Sushi Doku The Songdo in Honesta Mall.

Sushi Doku The Songdo visit info

• Visit: October 2026
• Address: 2nd floor, Honesta Mall, 157 Songdogukje-daero, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, South Korea
• Hours: 11:00-21:00 (break time 15:00-17:00)
• Payment: cards accepted
• Signature menu: premium sushi set (명품스시 특정식)