Jongak Station sushi restaurant where uni splits two sets: Choe Uyeong

When you're looking for lunch around Jongno, there are seriously so many sushi restaurants. This time I went to Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch (최우영스시야 종로점). The moment the sushi arrived, the thickness of the fish caught my eye first. Each piece was really thick and generous, and with tuna, tuna belly, uni, and eel all on the table, the whole spread looked gorgeous. I think this would be great for office workers around Jongak or Gwanghwamun looking for sushi at lunch.

Where is Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch? Basement level near Jongak Station

Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch is on the basement level at 7 Jongno 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul. It's easy to reach from Jongak Station, and with Cheonggyecheon Stream and Starfield nearby, the route works well for nearby office workers coming in for lunch.

The signature menu and prices are posted right outside the entrance so you can check before going in. It's a convenient spot between Jongno, Jongak, and Gwanghwamun for a lunch meetup, so it's worth remembering next time you're searching for Jongno office lunch or Jongak Station lunch.

• Address | 서울 종로구 종로5길 7 지하1층 104호
• Hours | Daily 11:00–21:30
• Break time | 15:00–17:00
• Last order | 21:00
• Takeout / group dining / parking available

Is Choe Uyeong Sushiya comfortable for solo diners?

Inside, Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch is brighter and cleaner than I expected. There are tables for groups as well as separate single seats for solo diners. Jongno has a lot of people eating alone at lunch, and this place looked easy to sit down at solo for sushi too — good news if you're looking for a solo dining spot in Jongno.

What we ordered at Choe Uyeong Sushiya: two sets plus sides

The sushi menu at Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch ranges quite a bit, from sets to individual pieces. Here's what we ordered that day.

• Premium set, 17 pieces — ₩33,000
• Top set, 16 pieces — ₩27,000
• Fried tofu udon — ₩5,000
• Sweet rice mochi tempura, 1 piece — ₩1,500
• Sweet potato tempura, 1 piece — ₩1,500
• Cider (soda) — ₩2,000

There are also individual sushi pieces so you can add just the types you like, but for a first visit I'd say a set with a variety of pieces at once is better.

The table setting at Choe Uyeong Sushiya

After ordering, soy sauce and pickled radish are already set on the table, and a light broth soup comes out too — just add to taste.

One 2,000-won cider, served with a cup of ice

I thought they'd just bring out the bottle, but they gave us a separate glass packed with ice. Might seem like a small thing, but it's a nice touch. Pouring it out cold made for a great palate cleanser between bites of sushi.

The full spread of both sushi sets

The full spread finally arrived! Putting the premium set and top set side by side made the whole table look stunning. The variety of colors and how packed the plates were meant I spent a good while taking photos before eating. Seeing favorites like tuna, tuna belly, uni, and eel all at once was a great way to start.

What's in the premium set: 17 pieces for 33,000 won

First up was the premium set (17 pieces, ₩33,000). The fish on Choe Uyeong Sushiya's sushi is noticeably thick at a glance. Each piece felt more like it was about the fish than the rice, it was that generous. The plate includes white fish, tuna, tuna belly, abalone, uni, eel, and even egg — a really wide variety in one set. I love this kind of composition where you get to pick and choose different types.

Tuna and tuna belly, my favorite pieces of the set

The tuna was thick too, but the tuna belly especially had visible marbling right away. This wasn't thinly sliced sushi — the fish itself was thick enough that you could really feel the texture when you bit into it. When the fish is too thin I find sushi a bit disappointing, but here every piece was thick enough to have a satisfying bite.

★My pick★ Uni and eel sushi at Choe Uyeong Sushiya

My favorite, uni sushi, was included too — going from the light white fish to a bite of rich, creamy uni completely changed the flavor and I loved it. There was eel sushi as well, adding a sweet touch in between. With tuna, tuna belly, uni, and eel — all my favorite types — in one set, the composition of the premium set really won me over.

What's in the top set: 16 pieces for 27,000 won

The top set is 16 pieces for ₩27,000. Since the premium set is 17 pieces, the piece count difference is just one. So rather than a huge gap, both plates felt sufficiently generous on their own. If you want to eat a variety of sushi types at once, the top set is plenty satisfying too.

Premium vs top set: uni sushi is the biggest difference

Putting the two side by side, the most noticeable difference was whether uni sushi was included. The premium set includes uni sushi, while the top set does not. So if you love uni and want a slightly wider variety, go with the premium set; if you don't need uni and want something a bit lighter, the top set works fine. Both had thick-cut fish, so the basic satisfaction level was strong either way.

★My pick★ Fried tofu udon for 5,000 won

This is a menu item I really recommend ordering alongside your sushi — fried tofu udon, ₩5,000. I was a little surprised by the portion when it arrived. For ₩5,000, the bowl itself was large and packed with fried tofu, plenty for two people to share.

But the real reason I recommend fried tofu udon: when you're eating sushi with richer pieces like tuna belly or uni, a sip of warm broth cuts through the richness perfectly. A bite of sushi, then a sip of udon broth — this combo worked way better than I expected. The portion is generous enough for several people to share one bowl, and I'd wholeheartedly recommend the fried tofu udon.

Fried mochi tempura and sweet potato tempura, 1,500 won each

After the sushi and udon, we finished with tempura. Sweet rice mochi tempura, 1 piece for ₩1,500, and sweet potato tempura, 1 piece for ₩1,500. The prices are low enough that adding one of each was easy.

The sweet rice mochi tempura, filled with mozzarella cheese, has a slightly chewy, rice-cake-like texture. Crispy outside, chewy inside — the texture contrast was fun. Since the cheese can harden once it cools, I'd recommend eating it right away while it's still warm.

But surprisingly, the sweet potato tempura was the real standout for me. It's not just a little sweet potato tucked inside — it's packed with genuinely sweet, soft sweet potato. Crispy outside and fluffy, sweet inside, it made for a great dessert-like finish after the sushi. I think I'll order the sweet potato tempura again next time.

Verdict | Thick-cut sushi near Jongak Station at Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch

• The spread looks gorgeous and generous from the start
• Fish is genuinely thick, giving a satisfying bite
• A wide variety with tuna, tuna belly, uni, and eel
• If you love uni, go for the premium set
• Fried tofu udon is generous and pairs really well with the sushi
• Eat the sweet rice mochi tempura while it's still warm
• Sweet potato tempura is sweet, soft, and a real standout

If you love thick, generous sushi, Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch is one you'll think back on. Next time I'd order the premium set again along with the fried tofu udon and sweet potato tempura.