Gangnam Japanese restaurant group table and salmon sake-don: Ilpum

Today I visited Ilpum Gangnam Branch, a kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) spot near Gangnam Station. Ilpum is a chain with branches in Gwanghwamun and Yeouido too, but I went to the Gangnam one.

Where is Ilpum Gangnam Branch, and what are its hours?

Ilpum Gangnam Branch is about a 3-minute walk from Exit 6 of Gangnam Station, so the location is really convenient. It's open Mon–Sat 11:00–21:30.

• Mon–Sat 11:00–21:30
• 15:00–17:30 break time
• 20:00 last order
• Lunch last order 14:00
• Closed Sundays
• Group seating, takeout, and delivery available

It's located on the basement level.

Bar seats for solo diners, group tables from 3 people

Inside Ilpum Gangnam Branch there are both bar seats and group tables. Group tables are available from 3 people, and I booked mine through Naver Reservation.

The bar seats are easy to sit at solo, and also great for two people eating face to face and chatting.

What is on the menu at Ilpum Gangnam Branch?

Check out the menu! It's great that there are photos, which makes picking easy. I recommend the kaisendon and the salmon sake-don!

From kaisendon to various types of sushi, plus drinks that pair well with seafood — it's all there. This was my first time trying kaisendon near Gangnam Station, and I liked how many rice bowl options there were, from salmon and yellowtail to chicken karaage.

You can order via QR code right at your table.

Side dishes and a water dispenser at every seat

Here's what comes as standard once you order. As soon as you sit down, you get steamed egg, miso soup, and baek-kimchi (white, non-spicy kimchi). Interestingly, there's a water purifier installed at every single seat. Regular water bottles can feel iffy hygiene-wise, but having a purifier at each seat meant I could drink with peace of mind. The steamed egg was pudding-like and soft, with shrimp inside for a savory kick — really tasty.

You could watch fresh ingredients being prepared right in front of you, which was reassuring from a hygiene standpoint.

What we ordered at Ilpum Gangnam Branch, and the prices

I ordered the basic kaisendon (₩26,000), salmon sake-don (₩26,000), and maguro sushi 3-piece set (₩8,000).

• Basic kaisendon ₩26,000
• Salmon sake-don ₩26,000
• Maguro sushi 3-piece set ₩8,000

Maguro sushi 3-piece set, 8,000 won

The maguro sushi set has three types: akami, zuke, and negitoro maki. The fish was soy-marinated but not too salty, with just enough seasoning to bring out umami, using fresh seafood — really delicious. Since it was made fresh to order, it tasted even better.

Salmon sake-don, 26,000 won

The salmon sake-don was packed with aged salmon and salmon roe, so I could enjoy salmon from start to finish. The salmon slices were thick and had no fishy smell, so it's the kind of dish that most people would enjoy the rich, fatty flavor of, no matter their preferences.

Basic kaisendon, 26,000 won

Can you see how fresh the sashimi in the kaisendon looks? It came with a wide variety of seafood — salmon, tuna, squid, scallop, sweet shrimp, sea urchin, salmon roe, and more. The thickly sliced sashimi came in at least two pieces per type, so it was very satisfying to eat. And the portion was genuinely huge, so I left completely full. The rice seasoning wasn't too salty either, just enough to add umami — really tasty.

Wrapping it in seaweed amplified the salty, savory flavor — so good.

Cold udon with karaage and mango pudding

While you're eating your kaisendon, they bring out cold udon. It comes topped with a piece of freshly fried, still-hot karaage that's full of juice — delicious. Since the karaage is warm right when it arrives, I'd recommend eating it first and then moving on to the udon. The udon itself was nice and cool, good for sipping like a broth as you eat.

For dessert, they gave us pudding topped with mango purée. Finishing off with a proper dessert made the whole meal feel complete.

Is Ilpum Gangnam Branch worth it for a team dinner?

Ilpum Gangnam Branch is great for an office lunch, and with its clean menu lineup and tidy interior, it also seems well suited to a small team dinner. The generous seafood portions don't seem likely to divide opinion much, and they balance well with the rice. Beyond the kaisendon itself, the steamed egg and udon that come alongside it are also solid quality, so I'd recommend this place as a kaisendon spot near Gangnam Station.