Noryangjin Japanese restaurant dinner: sukiyaki futomaki at Chome

On a weekend evening, my boyfriend and I went to Chome (초메) in Noryangjin because we were craving a warm broth. If you're looking for sukiyaki in Noryangjin, the evening-only futomaki set is definitely worth a look 🤍

It was a set with sukiyaki, futomaki, and one alcoholic drink for ₩35,500. We chose it because the price and lineup looked good at first, but after eating, it was the flavor that stayed with me even more 😊

A Japanese-style restaurant tucked into a Noryangjin alley

Chome is about a 5–8 minute walk from Noryangjin Station. It sits deeper inside the food alley, so it was easy enough to reach for dinner nearby. We visited on a weekend evening and luckily walked straight in without waiting.

From the outside, it was styled like a little restaurant in a Japanese alley, and I already loved the atmosphere before we even stepped in. Inside, there were Japanese posters and character decorations, with cute touches throughout. It didn't feel overly themed—more like a relaxed Japanese ramen shop. It was nice for chatting over a meal with my boyfriend, and the owner was so kind that we felt good from the moment we entered, haha. If you're looking for a Noryangjin date spot, it seems like an easy place to visit without breaking the bank ⸜(๑´͈ᵕ`͈)⸝

Chome hours and visit information

Chome is open daily from 11 AM to 9 PM. According to its official Instagram, last order is at 8:15 PM. There is no separate break time, so it seemed convenient even for an in-between visit. If you're going late, though, it would be best to check last order once more. There is no dedicated parking, so public transit will probably be more convenient.

An evening-only sukiyaki find at a ramen shop

Chome in Noryangjin has lots of ramen reviews, so I originally planned to have ramen too. There were plenty of choices, including Chome ramen, spicy ramen, Goku ramen, tsukemen, mazesoba, and curry. But as I looked through the menu slowly, I spotted the evening-only sukiyaki on the right-hand side.

The sukiyaki set for two was ₩29,000, while the futomaki set was ₩35,500. The futomaki set comes with sukiyaki, futomaki (thick sushi roll), and one alcoholic drink of your choice. Since the difference from the sukiyaki set was only ₩6,500, we chose the futomaki set without hesitation. We picked a plum highball for our drink.

A meal for two with a main dish, futomaki, and a drink for ₩35,500! I liked it from the moment I saw the menu, but I was even more satisfied once the food arrived.

Sukiyaki that was far more generous than it looked

As soon as the sukiyaki arrived, I was surprised first by how generous it was. The pot was filled with 200 g of meat, bean sprouts, napa cabbage, bok choy, and plenty of other vegetables. There were also enoki and king oyster mushrooms, scallions, tofu, shirataki noodles, fish balls, and kabocha squash.

Since it was reasonably priced, I expected the meat and vegetable portions to be ordinary. But when it arrived, it was packed with ingredients and was not lacking at all for two people. With so many vegetables, it was fun to choose what to eat, and they cooked beautifully with the meat. Once the sukiyaki began bubbling away, the vegetables' sweetness naturally soaked into the broth. It looked so warm and abundant that I felt we'd made a really great weekend dinner choice (´ ▽ ` )

A light broth with clear umami

What I loved most about Chome's sukiyaki was the broth. The soy sauce and sweetness didn't hit too strongly; it was light and smooth overall. But it wasn't bland or boring at all 😋 It wasn't overpowering, yet the umami was so clear that I kept scooping up more broth as I ate. As the meat and vegetables cooked together, the broth became richer and richer.

Strongly salty or sweet sukiyaki can become tiring quickly, right!! Chome's seasoning wasn't heavy, so we could eat comfortably to the very end. Personally, I preferred this style, which brings out umami lightly, over a bolder flavor.

Big, generously filled futomaki

The futomaki that came with the set was even tastier than I expected. Each piece was quite large and packed full without any empty gaps. We could have aged salmon, fried shrimp, egg, and several other ingredients all in one bite. The crisp texture of the fried shrimp came through amid the soft salmon, too. Even with so many ingredients, none of the flavors felt separate; everything came together harmoniously.

Having a piece of futomaki between spoonfuls of sukiyaki broth kept the meal from feeling one-note, which I loved. Each piece was large enough to be filling on its own, so together with the sukiyaki, it was a substantial amount of food. I saw lots of reviews ordering ramen with futomaki, but I really want to recommend pairing it with sukiyaki too ( ˶ˆᗜˆ˵ )

A plum highball that paired beautifully with the food

For the drink included in the set, we chose a plum highball. Its distinct sweet, refreshing plum flavor paired nicely with the warm sukiyaki. The alcohol aroma wasn't too strong, so it was an easy, light drink.

With set menus, one part of the lineup can often feel ordinary. But this time, the sukiyaki, futomaki, and even the plum highball were all delicious, which made me so happy. The main dish, side, and drink all worked really well together, haha. It was perfect for when two people want to have dinner with a drink.

We were too full to eat the free finishing noodles ㅠㅜ

After finishing the sukiyaki, you can add free noodles to the remaining broth for a satisfying finish. We naturally thought we'd have them too at first, but the sukiyaki and futomaki alone had already made us so full ㅠㅠ In the end, we couldn't add the free finishing noodles 🥺

We gave them up even though they were free, so there was truly no need to worry about the portion being too small. The sukiyaki ingredients were generous, and every futomaki piece was big, so the two of us were completely stuffed. If you really want to try the noodles, it might be wise to pace yourself from the beginning.

We only had ice cream at the end. Even though we were full, the cool, sweet ice cream still somehow fit, haha. Finishing a warm sukiyaki meal with a cold dessert felt refreshing.

A few things to know before visiting

We got in without waiting on a weekend evening, but it isn't a restaurant with a huge number of seats. There may be a wait depending on the time, so keep that in mind during busy dinner hours. The lack of dedicated parking could also be a little inconvenient if you're driving!

Still, it is within walking distance of Noryangjin Station, so there was no major inconvenience if you're visiting by public transit like we did. And if I had to pick one tiny disappointment, it would only be that we were too full to eat the free noodles, haha. Next time, I want to manage our portions from the start and absolutely try noodles in that sukiyaki broth.

Chome, memorable for its Noryangjin sukiyaki

I visited Chome in Noryangjin knowing it as a ramen shop, but it was the sukiyaki that left the stronger impression on me. The light yet umami-rich broth was full of meat and vegetables! The big, well-filled futomaki and refreshing plum highball were delicious too. There was enough food to fill two people up, yet the entire set was only ₩35,500. We hadn't chosen it based on value alone, but I found myself looking at the price again when it was time to pay, haha.

The Japanese-style atmosphere and kind owner made the meal pleasant from beginning to end. I think it would be lovely for anyone looking for a Noryangjin date spot or a warm dinner for two. We enjoyed it so much that I found myself hoping Chome does well for a long, long time. The next time I'm craving sukiyaki, I want to come back and make sure I save room for those finishing noodles too ದ്ദി(˙ᗜ˙)