Songdo sushi restaurant: 13-piece premium set + salmon, Sushi Doku

Today's place is one where I understood right away, after eating there myself, why so many people come ❗️ Let me introduce "Sushi Doku The Songdo" (스시도쿠 더송도), famous for 100% aged live sushi 😊

Sushi Doku The Songdo reservations, hours and wait times

Sushi Doku The Songdo is open daily 11:00-21:00, and Naver reservations are only available for parties of 6 or more ❗️ I went as a walk-in.

They say they open as normal with no days off unless something special comes up. I visited around 11:30 on a weekday, and there was a wait 😮😮😮

How to get to Sushi Doku The Songdo and where to park

Sushi Doku The Songdo is 68 m from Exit 2 of Tekeunopakeu Station, on the 2nd floor of Onesta Mall (157 Songdogukje-daero, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, South Korea).

• From Songdo Hyundai Premium Outlet (Songhyeona): leave through the main gate and walk straight toward Triple Street for 5 minutes, pass Triple Street and turn right, then walk 2 minutes to reach Onesta Mall. Sushi Doku is on the 2nd floor.
• From Triple Street: follow the path between Building B and Building C, cross the crosswalk and walk 3 minutes, and you'll see Onesta Mall. Take the elevator or stairs up to the 2nd floor.

Parking is possible too. If you park at Onesta Mall and eat at Sushi Doku, you get a 2-hour free parking ticket, so come without worry. After that it's ₩500 per 10 minutes, up to ₩20,000.

Is Sushi Doku The Songdo good for eating alone?

The interior of Sushi Doku The Songdo was really simple and clean, and the tables are spaced generously for the size of the restaurant, so I could eat in a relaxed atmosphere. Perfect for solo dining too!

What I ordered at Sushi Doku The Songdo

• Premium Sushi Set (특품스시정식) (₩35,900)
• Salmon, 5 pieces (₩11,900)
• Chilsung Cider Zero (₩2,000)
• Iced omija tea (₩2,000)

What comes with the Premium Sushi Set?

The Premium Sushi Set at Sushi Doku The Songdo comes with truffle chawanmushi (Japanese steamed egg custard), 2 pieces of karaage (Japanese fried chicken), 1 piece of shrimp tempura and half-size udon. The set was clean and generous, and the table setting was thoughtful too 💡

• Truffle chawanmushi: A Japanese steamed egg custard that kicks off the meal. The truffle aroma spreads softly, and it was really clean and a great way to whet the appetite before eating.
• Hearty sides: The 2 pieces of karaage and 1 piece of shrimp tempura that come with the set were crispy and excellent in quality, and the half-size udon served alongside was more satisfying than a mere side dish.

The 13-piece Premium Sushi Set: what's included and how it tastes

The Premium Sushi Set at Sushi Doku The Songdo has 13 pieces, and it was a spread without a single throwaway 🍣

When you order a sushi set, sometimes you get the feeling that a piece or two is just filler to fill the spot, but Sushi Doku wasn't like that at all. True to the principle of using the day's designated ingredients on the same day, everything was reeeally fresh ❗️

Sushi lineup: hon-gesal (snow crab), eel, flounder, salmon, red sea bream, hanahotate (scallop), northern pink shrimp + uni (sea urchin), ika (squid), akami (lean tuna), premium red shrimp, sea bass and ankimo (monkfish liver), 13 pieces in total.

I could enjoy a variety of high-end handmade sushi and ingredient combinations that are hard to come by usually, all in one meal, and the whole time I was eating I felt the money was well spent.

Is adding a 5-piece salmon sushi order worth it?

The 5-piece salmon à la carte order (₩11,900) at Sushi Doku The Songdo is a strong recommendation for salmon lovers! Even as a single item, it's served with soup and salad 🐟

• Overwhelming length: The salmon on top is long and generous, nearly twice the size of regular salmon sushi, so the texture was really satisfying.
• À la carte that feels like a set: I only added 5 pieces of salmon, but it doesn't come as just sushi on its own; soup and salad are neatly served with it. If a full set feels like too much, ordering just the à la carte is still a great meal.

Fresh wasabi and brush-on soy sauce

Sushi Doku The Songdo has great attention to detail, down to fresh wasabi and a special soy sauce you brush on 🎨

A place that really knows its food doesn't miss even one small element.

• Fresh wasabi: Not harsh or crude, but a mild, soft wasabi aroma that firmly supports the umami of the fish. It left an impression.
• Brush-on soy sauce: A brush is provided by default, so it's fun to swipe soy sauce over the sushi. Unlike ordinary ready-made soy sauce, it has a subtle sweetness that lifts the flavor of the sushi even more.

Dani's verdict: would I return to Sushi Doku The Songdo?

• Recommended menu: If you want premium ingredients and a generous lineup, I strongly recommend the Premium Sushi Set. If you want something more relaxed, the Myeongpum (premium) Sushi Set or the Bonpum (standard) Sushi Set are good choices too.
• Return visit: 100%! It was a spread where every piece was filled in solidly with no wasted ingredients, so I definitely want to come back.

There can be a wait even at weekday lunch, so I recommend arriving right at opening time if you can.