Gwanghwamun sushi spot with salted grilled salmon kama: Elephant Sushi

I finally visited Elephant Sushi, the place that's genuinely word-of-mouth famous among Gwanghwamun office workers! I heard it gets packed during peak hours, so I deliberately booked a reservation right when the break time ended and afternoon service resumed, and rushed over 🏃‍♀️💨

Where is Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun, and where do you park?

• 📍 Location: 178 Sejong-daero, B1 B109-5, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• ⏰ Hours: Daily 11:00 - 21:00 (break time 15:00 - 17:00)
• 🚘 Parking: 2 hours free at KT Gwanghwamun branch underground parking

The accessibility here is just amazing ✨

It's on the basement 1st floor of the KT Tower, directly connected to Gwanghwamun Station, so you can visit comfortably without an umbrella even on rainy or cold days!

The moment I saw this in photos, I thought, "ah, this place is the real deal for sushi."

I visited alone, but since I was starving, I wanted to finish everything including dessert in one go, so I ordered three menu items 😋

Three dishes ordered for a solo meal at Elephant Sushi

• Elephant Sushi B set (₩28,000)
• Grilled salmon kama with salt (limited quantity / ₩5,000)
• Tamago 4-piece (dessert-style egg omelet / ₩6,000)

Which seats suit solo diners at Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun?

The interior of Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is genuinely comfortable! I usually eat alone a lot, and sometimes a big table feels a bit burdensome, but besides the 4-person tables, there are plenty of roomy 2-person and bar (dachi) seats, so I could eat comfortably without feeling self-conscious.

They first set the table with a basic soup and salad.

Elephant Sushi B set, ₩28,000: 12 pieces with futomaki and cold soba

12 pieces of sushi that made me gasp the moment I saw them! A solid composition that even includes futomaki (thick seaweed roll).

Alternating a bite of the cold soba that comes with it and a bite of sushi... it's just an insane combo 🔥

What especially impressed me was the detail — they put green onion and wasabi on the rice, then placed the fish on top! Giving this kind of kick to white fish sushi, which can easily be bland, was amazing — fun texture, incredible umami...

And I loved that the soy-marinated shrimp sushi came with the tail removed. Easy to eat, soft, and totally satisfying!

Salted grilled salmon kama, ₩5,000: the limited menu item

It seems like the grilled kama (the part behind the gills) sells out and closes for the day once the daily quantity runs out. It's a limited menu item! You could choose salt-grilled red seabream or salmon, and there was also warm cod, which isn't kama but sold as miso-marinated. I wanted a rich, savory grilled fish so I ordered the grilled salmon kama with salt.

It comes out as two golden-brown grilled pieces, crispy and moist, and the portion is huge! I was worried salt-grilled might be too salty, but the seasoning was perfectly balanced. Rich and soft, I nearly fainted from how good it was... 🤤 If you like grilled fish, definitely order this if it's still available!!

Tamago 4-piece, ₩6,000: grilled egg for dessert

This just looked like castella sponge cake or cheesecake in texture, so I couldn't not order it 🧀 It doesn't feel like a simple egg dish — it's fluffy, moist, and sweet, basically a cake in disguise... 🤍

It tasted exactly as expected, so it was a great finishing dessert! (If you're eating all 4 pieces alone like me, it can feel a bit rich, so I'd recommend pairing it with a soda 👍)

And they have an ice cream menu here too! (Coming back next time just for this 💪)

Is Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun worth a return visit?

The restaurant was cool and clean, and the staff greeted everyone so well and served us with such thoughtful, kind attention that it felt truly comfortable and pleasant. If you're looking for refined Japanese cuisine or a can't-go-wrong sushi spot near Gwanghwamun, definitely visit Elephant Sushi! My verdict is a 200% return visit 🤤