Hannam-dong seafood restaurant with ₩5,000 salt gimbap: TATSU SUSAN

I stopped by TATSU SUSAN, a seafood restaurant near my place in Hannam-dong that's also known as a great date spot with a nice atmosphere. I sat at the bar table, where the open kitchen lets you see straight into the prep area, and enjoyed an assorted seafood platter along with salt gimbap (seaweed rice roll). Being able to watch the cooking process firsthand really boosted my sense of trust, and between the freshness of the ingredients and the tidy, polished vibe, I could immediately see why it's also popular for small get-togethers in the neighborhood. From the spotless open kitchen to an honest rundown of how each dish tasted, let me walk you through the whole experience!

Where is TATSU SUSAN in Hannam-dong?

TATSU SUSAN is on the 2nd floor of a building at 21 Daesagwan-ro 31-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. There's an aquarium right at the entrance, so you get that seafood-restaurant feeling the moment you walk up.

Why the open-kitchen bar table builds trust

The bar table at TATSU SUSAN faces a fully open kitchen, so you get a clear view straight into the back. The moment I sat down, I could watch the chef prepping ingredients and slicing sashimi right in front of me.

As soon as I walked in I was shown to the bar table seat, and it turned out to be a completely open-kitchen setup where you can see straight into the back. Watching the chef carefully prepping ingredients and slicing sashimi right there in front of me really boosted my confidence in the hygiene and freshness.

The atmosphere is upscale yet lively, and the lighting isn't too harsh, which makes it a great spot for a Hannam-dong date or a small get-together. If you're heading there, I'd really recommend requesting the bar table over a regular table when you reserve — watching the prep work is genuinely part of the fun.

What's on the menu: seasonal seafood platters and aged sashimi

The menu at TATSU SUSAN covers everything from single seafood items to aged sashimi, soups, and grilled dishes. The recommended aged sashimi platter runs around ₩40,000 per person (₩70,000 for two), and the seasonal seafood platter looked well put together too.

Since we wanted to try a variety of seafood, we ordered the assorted seafood platter and added the salt gimbap (₩5,000) as a side, since it's known to be popular. If you're a little hungry, ordering the salt gimbap right from the start like I did keeps the meal flowing nicely without any gaps.

How does the assorted seafood platter taste?

As soon as our assorted seafood platter arrived, its generous, tidy presentation immediately caught our eyes. The clean plating made it impossible not to take photos.

The freshly prepped seafood was chewy and sweet across the board, with no fishy taste at all. I really got to enjoy that pure ocean flavor. Having watched it all being prepared so cleanly in the kitchen made the freshness feel that much deeper. Crispy fried shrimp and crunchy potato salad added variety in texture along the way,

making it the perfect premium side dish to pair with something cool and refreshing to drink.

Salt gimbap with seafood: how well do they pair?

TATSU SUSAN's salt gimbap is just a ₩5,000 side, but it was the best pairing of the day with the seafood platter. After a while of eating seafood, I started craving a bit of savory carb, and the salt gimbap I'd added filled that gap perfectly.

It looks like a simple gimbap, but the fragrant sesame oil and salty seasoning hit the balance just right, and I kept reaching for more.

Placing a piece of fresh seafood on top of the gimbap and eating them together turned out to be a combo even better than expected. If you visit, I'd definitely recommend ordering the salt gimbap alongside your meal.

Is TATSU SUSAN worth a visit?

Thanks to the spotless open-kitchen bar table where you can see everything happening in the kitchen, I got to enjoy high-quality seafood with real peace of mind at TATSU SUSAN.

A Hannam-dong seafood restaurant with a generous assorted seafood platter and that addictive salty salt gimbap combo — I'd happily recommend it for a date in a clean, upscale setting, or for anyone looking for a seafood restaurant in Hannam-dong they can trust.