Jongno sushi dinner with tuna belly and ankimo: Choe Uyeong Sushiya

For a weekend evening, my wife and I finally paid a visit to Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch (최우영스시야 종로점), which everyone's been saying is hot right now in Jongno.

We decided that after work, or on the weekend, we'd shake off the week's fatigue with a good dinner of neat sushi and fresh raw fish. We both found ourselves craving sushi that melts in your mouth and a hot, comforting broth, so we headed to this place near Jongak Station that's supposedly the hottest spot around these days.

Finding Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch near Jongak Station

Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch sits in the basement level of Tower8, near Exit 1 of Jongak Station. As soon as we arrived, a clever standing sign directing us down to the imposing Tower8 basement caught our eye right away.

The sign was big and clean, decorated with a cute little sushi-shaped model, so even as first-timers we found the place without any trouble, and the vibe of a great restaurant hit us the moment we started heading downstairs.

At the basement entrance, gorgeous opening-celebration wreaths stood next to a tidy menu board stand, and the sleek white-toned frame opened up wide, giving off the open, airy feel of walking into a high-end Japanese restaurant.

Unlike so many cramped restaurants, this place was neatly organized, with a great atmosphere — perfect for a nice date-night dinner.

A basement restaurant — won't it be hot? Nope, 18-degree air conditioning

Walking into Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch, the interior was really spacious and comfortable. Being underground, I half-expected poor ventilation or stuffy heat, but the air conditioning was blasting at a full 18 degrees Celsius — the place wasn't just cool, it was pure comfort.

It felt like the best possible setup for enjoying sushi without breaking a sweat, even on a hot day.

There were clean bar seats that looked perfect for solo dining, plus spacious, neatly arranged tables — great for an intimate date like ours, but also clearly suited for office dinners or any kind of group gathering.

76,500 won for two — here's what we ordered

We ordered through the tablet touchscreen installed at each table, and between the two of us, we spent a total of 76,500 won. As soon as we sat down, a friendly staff member greeted us warmly, and the menu laid out photos and prices intuitively enough to show which sushi and sashimi were freshest and tastiest right now — a huge help for us indecisive types.

• Special sushi 15pcs (chef's special selection) 19,000 won
• Tuna belly sashimi 100g 20,000 won
• Ankimo (monkfish liver) 100g 6,000 won
• Top-grade kaisendon 25,000 won
• Fried scallops 1,500 won
• Inari udon 5,000 won

After some deliberation, we went all in to enjoy a wide, hearty spread of Japanese food: the 15-piece chef's special sushi set, vivid red tuna belly sashimi, rich ankimo, a top-grade kaisendon topped with special ingredients like tuna and sea urchin roe, crispy fried scallops, and a warm bowl of inari udon.

A neatly placed bottle of Choe Uyeong Seafood's house-made soy sauce sat on the table, giving us an early taste of the chef's craftsmanship.

Finally, all our dishes arrived, plated gorgeously and generously on the marble-style table. The seafood looked so freshly prepared that its glossy sheen was visible to the eye, and the colors of the various sushi and sashimi came together beautifully — just looking at it made our mouths water. It was the kind of setting that really lives up to the phrase 'you eat with your eyes first.'

The 15-piece special sushi set and how it tasted

First up was the visually stunning special sushi (15pcs).

It came neatly arranged with a varied lineup: flounder, salmon, tuna, eel, egg, sweet shrimp, ankimo gunkan, and sea urchin roe gunkan.

I picked up a thick piece of sushi with my chopsticks, dipped it lightly in the house-made soy sauce, and took a bite. It melted in my mouth like cream ice cream, with absolutely no fishy taste, just deep, savory umami filling my mouth.

The quality of the ingredients was truly excellent — the chewy, springy texture of the fish was genuinely a work of art.

Tuna belly sashimi, ankimo, and top-grade kaisendon

Next, we tried the captivating, deep-red tuna belly sashimi.

Served on a pretty fan-shaped leaf plate with lemon and radish sprouts, the tuna belly's vivid red flesh was laced with rich, fatty streaks — the moment it hit our mouths, both cleanness and richness exploded at once.

The ankimo (monkfish liver) we added separately came on a shell-shaped plate that evoked the deep blue sea — its savory, rich flavor was incredible, and laid gently on top of sashimi or sushi, it was an absolutely perfect match.

The top-grade kaisendon, piled generously with seafood, also went wonderfully with the crispy seaweed served alongside, filling our mouths with a fresh ocean scent.

Fried scallops and inari udon

The freshly fried, golden scallops were the textbook definition of crispy outside, moist inside — even better dipped in the sweet house sauce.

Between bites, a spoonful of the warm, deep-flavored inari udon (fried tofu pouch udon) — with tempura crumbs, fried tofu, and crown daisy greens all infused into the broth — felt like it cleared straight down to my chest, wonderfully refreshing.

How we felt walking out as a couple

My wife, sitting with me, kept saying she'd realized all over again how sweet and delicious sushi and sashimi can really be, chopsticks never stopping.

Overall, the clean, modern atmosphere of the restaurant, the comfortably cool indoor temperature that never made us sweat, the staff's friendly and pleasant menu guidance, and above all the overwhelming quality and flavor that felt hard to believe for a spot right in the middle of Jongno — everything exceeded our expectations for a wonderful evening.

My wife and I ate until we were completely stuffed and finished the meal feeling happy and satisfied.

If you're near Jongak Station and want a can't-miss meal of perfect sushi and fresh kaisendon, I'd strongly recommend Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch, a leading name among Jongno's sushi restaurants.

Restaurant Info

• Name: Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch
• Location: 7 Jongno 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, B1 Tower8 (near Jongak Station Exit 1)
• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:30 (break time 15:00–17:30)
• Features: Premium sushi and kaisendon specialist, parking available in the Tower8 building, group-friendly