Gangnam Japanese restaurant for a weekend lunch with Mom: Chisot

A Weekend Lunch in Yeoksam-dong with My Mom

On a Saturday afternoon, I looked for a neat Japanese restaurant in the city to spend some unhurried time with my beloved mom. Among the many buildings in Yeoksam-dong, Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch (치솟 역삼본점) was a wonderfully inviting place to enjoy a meal in a cozy, comfortable atmosphere—perfect for a date. Over delicious food, we shared the small happiness of making up for the time we do not often get to spend together in our busy everyday lives.

A warm, cozy spot for a date 🌸

As soon as we stepped inside, the clean, orderly interior caught my eye. With its quiet, warmly lit dining room, it was just right for sitting beside my mom, chatting comfortably, and enjoying our meal.

Because it is surrounded by offices, it is popular with nearby workers for weekday lunch. On weekends, though, we could enjoy our date at a much more relaxed pace. It is also conveniently located for anyone looking for a tidy Japanese restaurant near Centerfield or Josun Palace.

How Did We Enjoy the Hitsumabushi Set?

The deeply flavorful hitsumabushi set, made with such care 🍱

One of the main dishes my mom and I ordered that day was the hitsumabushi set, an authentic Nagoya-style grilled eel rice bowl. It came generously topped with eel that was crisp on the outside and moist within, and the presentation alone made us say wow. Its distinctive savory-sweet sauce gently soaked into each grain of rice, making it a flavor that anyone, young or old, could enjoy.

We had fun enjoying it in different ways: served simply into our bowls, with the accompanying garnishes, or as ochazuke (rice in green tea broth).

Sake-don Topped with Thick-Cut Salmon

Sake-don that fills your mouth with freshness 🍣

The sake-don (salmon rice bowl) we had alongside the hitsumabushi was another excellent choice that did not disappoint. The thick-cut salmon still showed its beautiful texture, so it looked fresh even before the first bite; once in my mouth, it was wonderfully soft and seemed to melt away. True to a great Gangnam rice-bowl restaurant, the pleasantly sticky rice and soy sauce seasoning were beautifully balanced, so we could enjoy every last spoonful without tiring of it.

Even my picky mom, who had been searching for good salmon, could not praise it enough.

A Space for Solo Meals and Gatherings Alike

A versatile charm, from solo meals to gatherings 🥢

The layout is well suited to quietly enjoying a meal, so it is also an excellent choice for dining alone in Yeoksam. The bar seating lets you catch a little glimpse of the cooking process, which adds a small bit of fun, and it is also nice for having a casual drink by yourself or visiting a cozy Yeoksam bar.

The interior is also pleasantly arranged, with all the right qualities for a gathering with people who matter to you, or for a Yeoksam company dinner.

Thanks to the thoughtfully prepared Japanese dishes, my weekend lunch date with Mom became an even more special, abundant memory. On our way out, she said again and again that she wanted to come back next time, so it was a perfect weekend meal for both of us. The comfort of the space, along with the food itself, gave us a precious memory that will stay with me for a long time. If you are putting together a list of Gangnam or Yeoksam-dong restaurants, visit with someone special and experience the deep flavors for yourself.