Sushi lunch set near Sindang Station, Seoul: Bada Yakbang Sindang

Hipdang-dong — whoever came up with that nickname nailed it! I went to an izakaya famous for aged sashimi and all kinds of Japanese dishes in Sindang-dong, which really is packed with hip hotspots these days. This is Bada Yakbang Sindang Branch!

First impressions: the sign and the prescription-style menu

The entrance alone is so unique. I already thought the name Bada Yakbang ("Sea Pharmacy") was clever, but the sign itself was so distinctive and pretty too? I could feel the place's own vibe before even stepping in, and my heart was racing.

Instead of a menu, what sat out front was, of all things, a prescription slip! Haha. True to the pharmacy name, even the menu was adorable. Since it's a prescription, I figured I'd better eat well and get healthy! One more thing — Bada Yakbang Sindang Branch can get a wait, but you can join the waitlist through Catch Table, so I'd recommend booking ahead so you don't have to wait.

Ordering the lunch special: two assorted sushi platters and sides

This place is technically an izakaya, but it also has a solid lunch special menu beyond just dinner, so it was great to visit at midday. This time I ordered four different dishes in total!

• Assorted sushi) Chef's Choice special
• Assorted sushi) Sea-aged sushi
• Water parsley shrimp pancake
• Cucumber banging salad

Seating and the 2 PM lunch last order

After ordering, I looked around the place. There were seats for 2, 3, and 4 people, and the wood-and-metal interior felt distinctive. Oh, and a heads-up — lunch last order is 2:00 PM! We cut it pretty close, but the upside was the restaurant was quiet while we ate, which was actually nice.

Smashed cucumber salad, the dish reviewers kept recommending

So many reviews recommended the cucumber banging salad (오이탕탕이) that I knew I had to order it. True to its name — "tang-tang" means to bash it — the cucumbers are smashed into irregular shapes, which is fun on its own, and the cool, fresh cucumber flavor made it perfect to pair with the other dishes. An essential order!

Aah, and now today's main event — Bada Yakbang's two assorted sushi platters arrived!

More than sushi: a full table, especially the cold jeyuk

One of the best things about the lunch-set assorted sushi is that it's not just sushi — it comes as a full, hearty spread, like a proper set meal. From sushi to seaweed soup, the sides were substantial, but the one that really hit my taste buds was the cold jeyuk (chilled pork)!

I was curious what chilled meat would taste like, and it turned out the meat was moist, tender, and genuinely delicious. How did they make it this un-greasy? I was so curious, and the three slices disappeared in no time. This dish would be great sold on its own, but apparently it's not currently offered separately. Ugh, it was truly, truly amazing — please sell it separately!

Sea-aged sushi vs. Chef's Choice special: what's the difference?

If the side dish, cold jeyuk, is this good, imagine the main sushi. Enough said. The rice wasn't your typical vinegared rice — it had what seemed like seaweed or kelp mixed in, and even just the rice on its own had wonderful umami. On top of that, they layered on thick, beautifully aged sashimi that had aged just right and turned out so tender — what more is there to say, it was the best.

The sea-aged sushi was already great quality, but the Chef's Choice special was on another level entirely! It wasn't just the taste — the presentation was genuinely stunning.

The variety of sashimi was impressive too — salmon, Spanish mackerel, abalone, tuna, red seabream — and each piece was topped with a complementary ingredient that made it feel even more special. Perilla leaf pesto on the mackerel, sea urchin on the bluefin tuna, that kind of thing!

Water parsley and shrimp pancake, the best dish to drink with

Last up was the side dish I ordered: water parsley shrimp pancake (참나물새우전). It's a savory pancake pan-fried with fragrant water parsley and really plump shrimp, and it was genuinely the best drinking snack.

I didn't expect water parsley to be such a delicious ingredient — its distinctive aroma was really captivating, and this dish felt like it could get you tipsy if paired with makgeolli (rice wine).

Is the sushi lunch at Bada Yakbang Sindang worth it?

Bada Yakbang totally hit the mark on vibe and food in Hipdang-dong! Beyond the sushi, every single side dish was distinctive and delicious, and it left a real impression. Being able to enjoy such a hearty spread with the lunch set especially makes it great for treating guests! Next time, I'll have to come back in the evening and drink a lot!