Kaisendon spot near National Assembly Station: pre-show dinner, Ilpum

A pre-show dinner in Yeouido: why Ilpum Yeouido Branch

Ilpum Yeouido Branch is a kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) place I visited for dinner with my younger sister before a show in Yeouido. I love seafood, so I went looking for a good kaisendon spot in Yeouido, and this one turned out better than I expected.

The sashimi was fresh, and the restaurant felt upscale, so I was relaxed the whole meal. If you're hunting for a kaisendon spot, a sushi spot or a date-night spot in Yeouido, I'd recommend it at least once. It's quiet, so it also looked good for an important meeting or a meal with your parents.

Where is Ilpum Yeouido Branch, and what about parking?

Ilpum Yeouido Branch is an easy walk from National Assembly Station. Yeouido Park and Hangang Park are close, so you can stroll before or after eating, and it fit perfectly into a route before a show or exhibition.

Parking support is available too, so it's a convenient Yeouido restaurant if you drive.

Head down to the basement of Anwon Building and you land right at Ilpum. It was my first visit, but it wasn't hard to find, and the signage was clear.

You can feel the upscale mood from the exterior. The clean interior got me excited before I even went in.

Photos of the signature dishes are displayed at the entrance, so you can see what they serve before going in. If you like kaisendon and sushi, I bet you'd stop in your tracks while passing by.

Inside Ilpum Yeouido Branch and the seating

The restaurant was spacious and pleasant overall. The tables were spaced comfortably, so it was easy to talk, and it felt well kept. There are both counter seats and table seats, so it looked good for anything from a solo meal to a date or a family dinner.

It's an open kitchen, so at the counter you can watch the food being made. It was fun to see the chefs preparing everything with care.

How to order and what we ordered

You order with the QR code at each seat. There are many kinds of kaisendon and plenty of sushi, so the choice is wide. We ordered the kaisendon and the premium kaisendon.

Chawanmushi before the kaisendon

The first thing out after ordering was chawanmushi (savory steamed egg custard). It gently opened up my appetite before the main meal, which I liked.

It was so smooth from the very first spoonful. It kept that fluffy steamed-egg texture and was easy to eat.

Inside were clam meat and shrimp, which gave it a nice chew and a much deeper flavor. It was packed with more than I expected, so I was happy.

We ate chawanmushi while waiting for the kaisendon. Watching the open kitchen at work, the wait never felt boring.

Kaisendon vs. premium kaisendon: how they differed

The kaisendon finally arrived, and it looked great. It came with roasted seaweed so you can wrap bites to your taste, and the sashimi was thick overall, so the first impression was really good. You could feel the freshness even in the photo.

The premium kaisendon has a slightly richer seafood lineup than the basic one. If you want to enjoy a variety of seafood at once, I'd recommend ordering the premium.

First bite: the salmon

If you love salmon, the first bite has to be salmon. It was nicely thick with a good chew, fresh with no fishy taste. The rich flavor spreading softly in my mouth was satisfying.

Wrapped in roasted seaweed, and the seasoned rice

Wrapping a bite in the roasted seaweed that comes alongside is a treat too. The nutty flavor of the seaweed added another taste.

The rice was lightly seasoned too, and it went really well with the sashimi. It's not just the fish that's fresh; you can tell they cared about the rice, so I enjoyed it to the end.

My favorite combo: the smoked topping with wasabi

There was also a topping with a faint smoky aroma that left an impression. Adding a little wasabi brought out even more flavor, and personally this was my favorite combination.

Karaage cold udon in the middle of the meal

Partway through the meal, cold udon came out too. It's cold udon topped with karaage, and the chilled broth cleaned up my palate, so it paired well with the kaisendon.

Sweet shrimp, abalone and uni in the premium kaisendon

The sweet shrimp had been completely peeled, so it was really easy to eat. Nice sweetness and a soft texture, so I was happy.

The abalone was bigger than I expected, which made it fun to chew. It kept a springy texture, so I think seafood lovers will be satisfied.

The uni (sea urchin) wasn't fishy at all, just rich and nutty. Its softly melting texture raised my satisfaction with the premium kaisendon even more.

What's the dessert after the meal?

At Ilpum Yeouido Branch, dessert is served once you finish eating. It's a small dessert, but I liked that they cared right up to the end. The mango flavor spread gently, perfect for cleansing the palate.

I tried to scoop it prettily and failed, hahaha. The taste was the same anyway.

With the final dessert, the meal wrapped up really neatly. I liked how it flowed like a course.

Verdict: how was a pre-show kaisendon dinner in Yeouido?

If you're looking for a kaisendon or sushi spot in Yeouido, Ilpum Yeouido Branch was very satisfying. The sashimi quality was fresh, and the premium kaisendon was especially good for enjoying a variety of seafood at once.

The restaurant is roomy and quiet, a fit for dates as well as a meal with parents or an important meeting. Yeouido Park and Hangang Park are close, so it's good for a walk after eating, and it's a handy stop before a show or exhibition.

I liked it enough that next time I want to try the sushi menu. If you love kaisendon, I recommend visiting at least once.