Seongsu aged-sashimi izakaya for a quiet date: warm abalone at Tenba

❤️ Want to enjoy great Japanese food and a quiet chat in Seongsu? ❤️ Looking for a place with a lovely atmosphere instead of a noisy pub? ❤️ Here's a place that made me and my husband say "this place is really good" on our first proper date in a while.

Tenba, an izakaya hidden in an alley near Seongsu Station

Tenba is an izakaya hidden in an alley off Yeonmujang-gil, close to Seongsu Station. On a weekday evening I finally got a Seongsu date with my husband after a long time. Every time I go, Seongsu has so many foreign visitors! The streets are packed and the famous cafés have long lines out front.

Walking through those crowded streets, we found Tenba. Honestly, I think you should go before it gets even a little more famous. It's hidden inside the alley and the vibe was so good that we were excited even before going in.

The name Tenba and the two horses on the sign: what do they mean?

Tenba (天馬) means "heavenly horse" in Chinese characters, a horse that flies through the sky. The sign has two horses on it, and my husband and I laughed, "Why two horses?" It turns out the place is run by two owners of the same age, both born in the Year of the Horse. The name carries their wish to do their best and soar high like a flying horse. Hearing the story behind the name made me even more excited for the food.

The wooden exterior and black noren (Japanese door curtain) reminded me of a little izakaya in a Japanese back alley. The moment we lifted the curtain and stepped in,

Oh? This place has a really great vibe.

came out naturally.

How is the seating at Tenba? Bar seats for a date

Inside Tenba there are floor-to-ceiling window seats, table seats good for group gatherings, and bar seats with real izakaya feel. It was much bigger than I expected once we got inside. There are window seats, table seats for meeting friends, and above all the bar seats where you can really feel the izakaya spirit.

We booked ahead through Catch Table and sat at the bar, which was a really good choice. You can watch the chefs cook right in front of you. Watching the chefs' delicate hands made us look forward to the next dish.

The menu and basic setting were neatly laid out, and under each chair there was even a basket for your belongings. Little touches like that put me in a good mood before the meal even began. I could see why so many people look for a nice izakaya in Seongsu. The space itself at Tenba really gives off a great atmosphere.

Tenba's menu: an aged sashimi specialist with a sake list

Tenba specializes in aged sashimi, with assorted sashimi platters and signature dishes, plus plenty of sake, Japanese soju and highballs. The sakes listed by the chef himself especially caught my eye. If you like drinking, just reading the menu is quite fun. Since we'd come to an aged sashimi specialist, we ordered the aged sashimi platter for two without a second thought.

Even the starter, a seaweed salad, is special

The first starter that came out was a seaweed salad. Honestly I don't usually expect much from starters, but this had quite a deep flavor. It felt different from the seaweed salad I usually eat. It wasn't harsh, yet I kept reaching for more.

Tenba's aged sashimi platter for two: why the sashimi is so good

Tenba's aged sashimi platter comes with more than 10 kinds of seasonal sashimi piled on one plate. Wow... my husband and I gasped at the same time when we saw it. The colors looked so fresh.

We were told to eat the abalone first while it was warm, so that was our first bite. The second it hit my mouth I went "wow..." The richness of the abalone liver and its chewy texture were so good. Then came the aged sashimi. With every piece you could feel it had been aged well. They lightly warm the abalone in hot water and drizzle some kind of sauce over it, and the aroma alone was lovely.

The savory depth that comes from aging was there, yet it wasn't fishy at all, just clean. So I understand why people recommend Tenba when you look for tasty sashimi at a Seongsu izakaya. Flounder, salmon, tuna, even mackerel: each had its own charm, which made eating fun. It was a place where, for the first time in ages, I slowly savored the raw fish one piece at a time.

And one more touching moment. The owner gave us sushi as a service, and even that was so delicious! Thank you. 😊

Tenba's signature uni cream gim pasta: what does it taste like?

The uni cream gim pasta is Tenba's signature dish: a pasta with sea urchin roe cream sauce and the aroma of gim (roasted seaweed). Even now, while writing this post, I keep thinking about this dish. It felt like something you can only eat at Tenba. What my husband said after the first bite:

"Seriously, a sashimi place that's this good at pasta too? What are we supposed to do?"

That was exactly it.

The thick, rich sea urchin cream sauce soaks deep into the noodles, and the gim aroma adds a really deep flavor. It's not a heavy, punchy cream pasta; it wins on flavor. The more you ate, the more you kept savoring it. If I had to pick just one dish that stayed with me from that day, I'd choose the uni cream gim pasta without hesitation.

Why I recommend Tenba as a date spot in Seongsu

Tenba is an izakaya I'd recommend for dates: even in crowded Seongsu it's pleasantly calm and easy to talk in. With so many people in Seongsu these days, finding a quiet place isn't easy, right? But Tenba has a good atmosphere, great food quality, and it was easy to chat. So since this visit, it's the first place that comes to mind when I think of a nice izakaya in Seongsu.

• Great for a blind date
• Great for meeting friends
• Great as a first stop for a meal and a drink
• Great for a light second round too

Above all, what satisfied me most was feeling the care and skill in every single dish. Next time friends say let's meet in Seongsu, I'll recommend Tenba without hesitation. I think I'd get praised for taking them there! Hahaha. If you're looking for a Japanese restaurant with a nice atmosphere or an izakaya with great sashimi in Seongsu, definitely save Tenba. I'm planning to go back soon for the uni cream gim pasta. 😆