# Jongno Japanese restaurant for unagi don: Ilpum Gwanghwamun - By Haein (https://superchart.com/en/@beauty-visit-journal-2/) - Written Sep 10, 2026 - Updated Sep 13, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Jongno, Seoul - Sponsored: This post was written with support from the restaurant. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@beauty-visit-journal-2/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@beauty-visit-journal-2/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/index.md) ## In short Ilpum Gwanghwamun is a Japanese restaurant in Jongno, Seoul, between Gwanghwamun and Jonggak stations. I tried its ₩40,000 unagi don topped with a whole eel, plus thick-cut nigiri and gunkan sushi. Verdict: a satisfying pick for a proper eel-and-sushi meal. ## Good to know - **Location**: Unit 223, B2, Le Meilleur Jongno Town, 19 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul - **Hours**: Mon–Sat 11:00–21:30; break 15:00–17:30; closed Sundays - **Last order**: Lunch 14:00 / dinner 20:00 - **Parking**: Up to 2 hours free at Le Meilleur Jongno Town; cannot be combined with other discounts - **Unagi don**: ₩40,000 - **3-piece nigiri**: ₩7,000 - **3-piece gunkan sushi**: ₩13,000 - **Premium kaisendon**: ₩37,000 - **Reservations**: No deposit required; dining may be limited to 1 hour 30 minutes if another reservation or a wait follows *as written by the visitor on Sep 10, 2026* While looking for another good spot around Jonggak Station, I visited Ilpum Gwanghwamun in Le Meilleur Jongno Town this time. I usually love Japanese food and sushi, so I properly tried everything from unagi don topped with a whole eel to nigiri and gunkan sushi. ![Ilpum Gwanghwamun Japanese meal spread](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum-01-gapr2-1200.webp) ## Ilpum Gwanghwamun location and hours It is about a 3-minute walk from Exit 4 of Gwanghwamun Station and about a 5-minute walk from Exit 1 of Jonggak Station. Head down to B2, and you will find it opposite the escalator. ![Ilpum Gwanghwamun location in Le Meilleur Jongno Town](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum-02-1cyzr-900.webp) In the Jongno and Gwanghwamun area, parking is often the first thing to worry about when driving. Ilpum Gwanghwamun offers up to two hours of free parking at Le Meilleur Jongno Town. That said, it cannot be combined with other discounts, so keep that in mind if you are driving. It makes the visit a little easier for anyone looking for a good Gwanghwamun restaurant by car. ![Ilpum Gwanghwamun exterior](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum-03-1mtjw-825.webp) ## A neat, upscale restaurant atmosphere The interior had an overall neat, upscale Japanese-restaurant feel. ![Neat interior of Ilpum Gwanghwamun](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum-04-ge1ko-827.webp) The tidy interior made it comfortable to dine in, and it also had that calm atmosphere unique to sushi restaurants. I thought it would suit a Gwanghwamun date, an office-worker lunch, or a day when you want a meal with a little atmosphere :) ## From kaisendon to unagi don and sushi ![Ilpum Gwanghwamun menu](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum-05-1vzq1-808.webp) Ilpum is a place where you can enjoy a variety of Japanese dishes centered on kaisendon (seafood rice bowl), along with unagi don and sushi. One of its signature dishes, the premium kaisendon, is ₩37,000. ![Premium kaisendon menu information](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum-06-qmyyx-876.webp) Among the many options, I ordered a little differently this time, focusing on eel rice bowl and sushi. ![Country-of-origin information board in the restaurant](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum-07-7xcrq-884.webp) You can also check the country-of-origin information board in the restaurant! ## The eel rice bowl and sushi I ordered ![Ordered unagi don and sushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum-08-1yn40-837.webp) ![Ordered unagi don and sushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum-09-1rbqe-817.webp) - Unagi don ₩40,000 - 3-piece nigiri ₩7,000 - 3-piece gunkan sushi ₩13,000 ![Unagi don and sushi meal spread](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum-10-j2rm0-900.webp) ![Unagi don and sushi meal spread](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum-11-cdhep-900.webp) First, they brought out a basic clear soup and steamed egg custard with shrimp. ![Complimentary chicken udon](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum-12-11jzj-900.webp) Chicken udon also comes as a basic side. ![Unagi don topped with a whole eel](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum-13-i9b8l-810.webp) ## Unagi don topped with a whole eel The unagi don was naturally the first thing that caught my eye. ![Unagi don topped with eel](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum-14-11ht9-900.webp) A whole eel sits generously on top, and its size really stood out as soon as it arrived. ![Generous whole eel on unagi don](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum-15-15dse-814.webp) More importantly, the eel was not the thin kind—it was quite thick, with a satisfying bite. ![Rice bowl topped with thick eel](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum-16-17gdn-799.webp) Personally, when the eel is too thin in an eel rice bowl, sometimes all I taste is the sauce. But Ilpum Gwanghwamun's unagi don felt like I was properly eating the eel itself, which I loved. ![A bite of eel unagi don](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum-17-8eztt-899.webp) Taking a big bite with the rice also made for a filling meal. ![Unagi don eaten with rice](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum-18-1a730-744.webp) If you have been looking for an eel rice bowl at a Japanese restaurant around Gwanghwamun, it is a solid choice for the main dish. ![Three kinds of salmon, flounder, and tuna nigiri](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum-19-1tvnv-802.webp) ## Three kinds of salmon, flounder, and tuna nigiri An eel rice bowl alone would have felt a little incomplete, so I ordered the 3-piece nigiri too haha. It comes with salmon, flounder, and tuna, making it a nice set for lightly trying several kinds. ![Three pieces of thick-cut fish nigiri](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum-20-1rqfh-788.webp) The fish was not thin; it was fairly thickly sliced, so the sushi had a definite texture. It was fresh without any fishiness. ![Three-piece nigiri sushi set](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum-21-1gqtn-824.webp) If you want to add a little sushi alongside one main dish, this is an easy option to pair with it. ![Three-piece uni and ankimo gunkan sushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum-22-k8brj-900.webp) ## Three-piece gunkan sushi for uni and ankimo lovers And then, the 3-piece gunkan sushi that I was personally looking forward to! ![Uni, ikura, ankimo, and flying-fish-roe gunkan sushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum-23-qgl80-900.webp) It includes uni and ikura gunkan, ankimo gunkan, and flying-fish-roe gunkan. I already love uni and ankimo, so the moment I saw the menu, I thought, I have to try this. ![Three-piece gunkan sushi set](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum-24-jt195-900.webp) Different from ordinary salmon or flounder sushi, it let me enjoy a richer, nuttier flavor, so it was one of my favorite dishes in this meal :) If you like uni or ankimo, it would be nice to order it alongside the nigiri and compare them. ## Things to check before reserving You can reserve Ilpum Gwanghwamun through Naver Place. Reservations can be made without a deposit, but if there is another reservation or people waiting, dining time may be limited to 1 hour and 30 minutes from your reservation time. There are also coupons provided through Naver reservations and corkage-related benefits, so it would be good to check once before booking. I visited while looking for a good restaurant near Jonggak Station, and I was satisfied because I could try so many Japanese dishes I like—from unagi don topped with a whole, generous eel to nigiri with thick slices of fish, plus uni and ankimo gunkan sushi that I love. I think it would be a great fit for a Jonggak Station lunch, a Gwanghwamun date, or anyone looking for a filling Japanese meal around Gwanghwamun. It is not a light-priced meal, but on a day when I want to properly focus on eel and sushi, I would like to come back and try other dishes too :) ## Where it is - Ilpum Gwanghwamun (일품 광화문점) - Unit 223, B2, 19 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 종로구 종로 19 지하2층 223호 일품 광화문점 - 37.5708344, 126.9798606 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%9D%BC%ED%92%88%20%EA%B4%91%ED%99%94%EB%AC%B8%EC%A0%90/@37.5708344,126.9798606,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@beauty-visit-journal-2/gwanghwamun-unagidong-ilpum/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt