Jongak Station bar with fried shrimp heads: Suksseong Susan

When a craving for sashimi hits in Jongak for dinner, there's no need to overthink it. The aged sashimi I had last time at Suksseong Susan Jongno Main Branch was seriously delicious! 😋

Right, a place that was good deserves a second visit!

This time I wasn't planning to stop at just sashimi. Let's tackle the grilled shrimp properly too! 🍤

Where is Suksseong Susan Jongno Main Branch, and what are the hours?

Suksseong Susan Jongno Main Branch is at 16 Samil-daero 19-gil, 3F, Jongno-gu, Seoul. It's easily accessible, about 285m from Exit 4 of Jongak Station.

• Address: 16 Samil-daero 19-gil, 3F, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Transit: about 285m from Exit 4 of Jongak Station
• Hours: Mon–Fri 11:00–24:00 / Sat–Sun 12:00–24:00
• Last order: 23:00

Inside Suksseong Susan: partitions and curtained tables

Walking into Suksseong Susan Jongno Main Branch, the first thing you notice is the clean tank and aging chamber, which really sets the mood of a proper aged-sashimi specialist.

The interior is a large space with 120 seats total, accommodating anywhere from 2 to 10+ people.

Once the food is served, the curtains that were tied up get pulled down. Thanks to that, you can enjoy your meal a bit more privately without worrying about people around you.

Since it's on the 3rd floor of the building, if you're lucky enough to get a window seat, you get a full view of the lively streets of Jongno.

Walking in, I was surprised to see the reservation list packed with names at the entrance. Even on a weekday there were that many reservations — popular places really are different. If you're planning to visit, I strongly recommend booking ahead.

What's on the menu at Suksseong Susan?

Looking at the menu, you'd wonder if this is really a sashimi restaurant — the variety is huge. The main dish is aged sashimi, but there's pasta, fried dishes, and soups too, so there's fun in choosing.

It's a good lineup for both sashimi lovers and people who aren't big on raw fish to enjoy together. That's probably why it also works well as a spot for work dinners or group gatherings.

Our order: small sashimi platter, salt-grilled shrimp, crab innard croquette

• Small assorted sashimi ₩6.9
• Salt-grilled shrimp for two ₩2.9
• Red snow crab innard croquette ₩1.9
• Soju

The basic banchan (side dishes) came out clean and simple: edamame, mustard leaf salad, and soft tofu. Good for whetting the appetite before the sashimi arrived.

First, fresh shrimp arrived laid on salt, and grilling began right at the table.

What comes on the small assorted sashimi platter (₩6.9)?

Then the small assorted sashimi arrived. Amberjack, bluefin tuna, spotted mackerel, raw shrimp, red seabream, salmon, and olive flounder were all piled generously on one plate — the visual alone was a statement.

The sashimi itself, aged for 24 hours at low temperature, was so fresh that eating it plain already filled my mouth with a nutty, chewy umami.

Dipping it lightly in soy sauce with a bit of wasabi was clean, and pairing the olive flounder with flying fish roe added a fun popping texture.

The gat-muchim (mustard leaf salad) blew me away. It had that distinctive sharp tang and salty umami that paired really well with the sashimi. The crunchy bite plus a subtle spiciness really brought out the mild sashimi flavor. It's a different kind of charm from eating it with white kimchi, and I kept reaching for it.

The fatty salmon, paired with radish sprouts and wasabi, was refreshing without being greasy,

and the thick-cut spotted mackerel and bluefin tuna I wrapped in seaweed with ankimo (monkfish liver). Chewy sashimi, crispy seaweed, and rich, nutty ankimo together made every bite genuinely fun. With so much variety, it was great being able to mix and match combinations to my own taste.

Salt-grilled shrimp ₩2.9 and the deep-fried shrimp heads

While I was slowly enjoying the sashimi piece by piece, the timer went off. The server came over, flipped the shrimp — now cooked to a beautiful orange-red — let them cook a little longer, and finally it was time to dig in.

A pile of golden-brown grilled shrimp was mouthwatering just to look at. Peeling off the shell revealed springy, plump flesh. Dipped in chili-vinegar sauce, one bite in — the texture was bouncy yet moist, with the shrimp's natural sweetness and salty umami fully alive.

Then the shrimp heads were taken away by the server and brought back fried crispy. The crunchy bite delivered a burst of rich, nutty shrimp-head flavor. It was so intensely savory that I put down my soju and started craving a cold beer instead.

Red snow crab innard croquette ₩1.9

And then, the red snow crab innard croquette I'd secretly been looking forward to.

The outside shattered crisply while the inside was moist and soft. One bite and the rich, creamy umami of red snow crab innards filled my mouth. Amid all the sashimi and shrimp, the crab innards' deep, creamy umami anchored the whole meal's flavor — honestly the best!

Is Suksseong Susan worth a trip to Jongak Station?

If you're near Jongak Station looking for a quiet meal or a spot for an important appointment, this Jongno restaurant, Suksseong Susan Jongno Main Branch, was a satisfying choice. Tasting a variety of seasonal fish and finishing with warm salt-grilled shrimp made for a filling, wonderful dinner where the conversation flowed easily.

With partitions and curtains at every table, it was also great for spending time privately. Whether it's a weekday lunch for Jongak office workers or a date or group gathering you're planning, I'd recommend giving it a visit. It's a place where I had a great meal and a genuinely good time. 😊