# Mapo restaurant for a kaisendon date dinner: Makise Hapjeong - By Yejin (https://superchart.com/en/@coffee-dinner-gap/) - Written Sep 13, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Mapo, Seoul - Sponsored: This post was written after receiving a complimentary visit from the restaurant. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@coffee-dinner-gap/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@coffee-dinner-gap/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/index.md) ## In short Makise Hapjeong is a Japanese restaurant in Mapo, Seoul, serving kaisendon near Hapjeong Station and Mangwon Hangang Park. After a walk with my wife, we used Naver Reservation to walk straight in for two bowls, with the vinegared mackerel and ankimo standing out most. Verdict: a highly recommended weekend date dinner for sushi-style sashimi. ## Good to know - **Address**: B01, basement level, 44 Poeun-ro 2na-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울 마포구 포은로2나길 44 지층 b01호) - **Order**: 2 kaisendon bowls - **Ordering**: Table kiosk - **Reservation**: Entered without waiting after a Naver Reservation - **Seating**: Bar seating and regular tables *as written by the visitor on Sep 13, 2026* ![Makise Hapjeong signature kaisendon](https://img.superchart.com/images/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise-01-942eh-1200.webp) ## Hapjeong kaisendon after a walk in Mangwon Hangang Park For a weekend evening out—to shake off a week's worth of fatigue and get a change of pace—I went on an outing to Mangwon Hangang Park with my wife. ![Outing scenery at Mangwon Hangang Park](https://img.superchart.com/images/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise-02-h9bvm-900.webp) We leisurely had coffee in the river breeze for over an hour, ![Walking at Mangwon Hangang Park](https://img.superchart.com/images/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise-03-14eqx-900.webp) and after enjoying our walk, we gradually got hungry and were really craving fresh seafood. We left the park and walked slowly, taking in the feel of Hapjeong-dong's backstreets, before arriving at Makise Hapjeong (마키세 합정), a sushi specialty restaurant renowned around Hongdae and Hapjeong for high-quality, omakase-level rice bowls. ![Makise Hapjeong exterior](https://img.superchart.com/images/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise-04-12bwi-900.webp) ![Makise Hapjeong entrance in a Hapjeong alley](https://img.superchart.com/images/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise-05-8odm2-900.webp) It was an easy walk from Mangwon Hangang Park, making it just right for a post-walk date. I had heard this was a popular spot with long waits during weekend dinner peak hours, so we made a Naver Reservation before coming and could enter immediately without waiting, which was incredibly convenient. It is also close to Exit 8 of Hapjeong Station, tucked into the Poeun-ro 2na-gil alley leading toward the Han River, so access was excellent. The cozy exterior, brightly lit with warm yellow lighting half a flight down from the first floor of a red-brick building, caught my eye. Even from outside, it had the distinct mood of a late-night restaurant hidden deep in a Japanese alley, and the round sign and freestanding signboard worked together beautifully to catch passersby's attention. On the chalkboard in front of the entrance was a detailed explanation of sushi made by placing rice, wasabi, and sashimi on a spoon yourself, along with today's recommended sashimi lineup. Flounder, sea bass, salmon, herring, yellowtail, Spanish mackerel, tuna, spear squid, sweet shrimp, uni (sea urchin), horse mackerel, egg, salmon roe, monkfish liver (ankimo), and mackerel were all listed—a top-tier seafood selection tailored to that day's fish-market conditions—so my anticipation was already soaring before we went in. ![Today's recommended sashimi guide](https://img.superchart.com/images/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise-06-nxwu6-900.webp) A walk-in waiting list and menu were also neatly set out beside the entrance. ![Walk-in waiting list and menu](https://img.superchart.com/images/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise-07-zxyf3-900.webp) ![Makise Hapjeong menu](https://img.superchart.com/images/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise-08-17nao-900.webp) ## Bar seating, regular tables, and kiosk ordering Inside, the interior was cozy yet polished, with bar seats and comfortable regular tables arranged harmoniously. It looked great for everything from dining alone to dates and small gatherings. A friendly staff member greeted us warmly, showed us to our reserved table, and we ordered through the kiosk at the table. ![Tables inside Makise Hapjeong](https://img.superchart.com/images/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise-09-e55ok-900.webp) ![Bar seating at Makise Hapjeong](https://img.superchart.com/images/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise-10-138tn-900.webp) ![Table kiosk ordering guide](https://img.superchart.com/images/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise-11-djadh-900.webp) ![Interior atmosphere at Makise Hapjeong](https://img.superchart.com/images/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise-12-1bc28-900.webp) We ordered two kaisendon (seafood sashimi rice bowls), Makise's signature menu item. Once seated, I noticed a helpful guide with cute illustrations explaining how to enjoy the kaisendon at its best. ![Guide to enjoying kaisendon](https://img.superchart.com/images/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise-13-13z9a-900.webp) ## How to eat kaisendon like sushi Rather than dissolving the wasabi in soy sauce, the method was to put wasabi and sashimi lightly dipped in soy sauce on top of the seasoned rice, then eat it in one bite like sushi. I was also impressed by the thoughtful tip to save soy-marinated or smoked sashimi until the latter half of the meal, as their seasoning and aroma can be stronger. Most touching of all was that after finishing, if you tell a staff member which sashimi you remember most, they give you one piece as complimentary sushi. I could really feel the owner's generous spirit and philosophy of wanting to offer guests the best dining experience. Soon, the star of the day—kaisendon—arrived beautifully presented on a neat Japanese-style tray with piping-hot miso soup. The moment my wife and I saw the dazzling seafood arranged without a gap across the ceramic bowl, we both exclaimed at once. ![Kaisendon and soup on a Japanese-style tray](https://img.superchart.com/images/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise-14-1exwt-900.webp) Vivid red tuna, glossy raw salmon, aburi salmon lightly seared with a torch, springy white fish including flounder and sea bream, rich monkfish liver, yellow rolled omelet, radish sprouts, and wasabi—it was like an artwork holding the whole sea in one bowl. ![Kaisendon topped with sashimi](https://img.superchart.com/images/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise-15-144p8-900.webp) The vinegared mackerel among the blue-backed fish toppings especially caught my eye. Following the guide, I gently scooped up a spoonful of perfectly seasoned rice, added a little wasabi, lightly dipped a thick piece of sashimi in soy sauce, placed it on top, and popped it into my mouth in one bite. ![A spoonful of kaisendon](https://img.superchart.com/images/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise-16-1hnbh-900.webp) ![A bite with sashimi and rice](https://img.superchart.com/images/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise-17-hjy25-900.webp) ![A piece of sashimi dipped in soy sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise-18-20t62-900.webp) The instant it hit my mouth, before I had even chewed it a few times, it melted away with no fishiness at all, while the sea's naturally sweet, savory flavor burst across my palate. The aging of every piece of sashimi was truly incredible, with an artful chewy yet springy texture. The temperature of the rice and balance of the seasoned vinegar were excellent too, with a finish that rivaled a dedicated sushi restaurant. ![Kaisendon sashimi selection](https://img.superchart.com/images/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise-19-6tlfr-900.webp) ![Kaisendon with vinegared mackerel](https://img.superchart.com/images/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise-20-ax4y6-900.webp) ## The vinegared mackerel and ankimo I remember most The vinegared mackerel that impressed me most had an exquisite balance of vinegar and salt, bringing the rich oiliness characteristic of blue-backed fish into perfect harmony with bright acidity. It had none of the unwanted smell or fishiness, yet its savory depth lingered all over my mouth the more I chewed, drawing admiration naturally. ![Vinegared mackerel sashimi](https://img.superchart.com/images/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise-21-14z42-900.webp) Wrapping the rich, nutty ankimo in seaweed with rice filled my mouth with spectacular flavor. The smoked sashimi and fresh raw fish each showed off their own appeal, and we kept exclaiming right through the final spoonful before cleaning our bowls completely. ![Finishing the kaisendon meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise-22-b5n7s-900.webp) ![Sashimi and seafood rice bowl](https://img.superchart.com/images/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise-23-1izw8-900.webp) The cozy, atmospheric space, the warmly attentive staff, and the overwhelming freshness and flavor that gave omakase nothing to envy—everything came together for a perfect weekend dinner. ![Weekend dinner at Makise Hapjeong](https://img.superchart.com/images/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise-24-7h7b2-900.webp) If you want an unforgettable rice bowl and sushi near Hapjeong Station, or are planning a lovely date with someone you love, I wholeheartedly and without hesitation recommend Makise Hapjeong, one of Seoul's standout kaisendon restaurants and a great choice for restaurants in Hongdae, Seoul. ## Where it is - Makise Hapjeong (마키세 합정) (마키세 합정) - B01, basement level, 44 Poeun-ro 2na-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울 마포구 포은로2나길 44 지층 b01호) - 서울특별시 마포구 포은로2나길 44 지층 b01호 - 37.550496, 126.909741 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EB%A7%88%ED%82%A4%EC%84%B8%20%ED%95%A9%EC%A0%95/@37.550496,126.909741,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@coffee-dinner-gap/hapjeong-kaisendon-date-makise/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt