Gangnam izakaya for sashimi near Sinnonhyeon: Goko

A recommended izakaya near Sinnonhyeon Station: Goko, a great bar for delicious sashimi (Japanese-style sliced raw fish).

As someone who loves raw fish, I visited Izakaya Goko in Gangnam with a friend again today. These days, enjoying it at an izakaya feels tastier and a little more upscale than seeking out a raw-fish restaurant, so I find myself going often! ✨ It was about a 3-minute walk from Sinnonhyeon Station, so it was very easy to get to, and Gangnam Station was also close—about an 8-minute walk away.

• Location: 2F, Banseok Building, 21 Bongeunsa-ro 2-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
• Mon–Fri 17:00–02:00 / last order 00:00
• Sat–Sun 16:30–02:00 / last order 00:00
• Free corkage available; no-kids zone
• Parking: nearby paid parking is recommended

Goko's spacious, comfortable interior

The restaurant was quite spacious and comfortable. We came early, so the tables were empty, but within about 20 minutes it was full of customers. Even with so many tables, it filled up completely, which made me think it must usually be a popular spot 👍

Sashimi and Japanese dishes

Goko had a range of Japanese dishes, including pasta, udon, sukiyaki, and nabe (Japanese hot pot) 👏 There were so many tempting raw-fish dishes, so we ordered the Daegwangeo Shio Samhap (₩35,000) and Goko Sashimi for Two (₩45,000).

Daegwangeo Shio Samhap and Goko Sashimi

While we were chatting, the food suddenly arrived—and the presentation was no joke, as expected... right? 🫢

Daegwangeo Shio Samhap with aged kimchi

First up, the Daegwangeo Shio Samhap! It came with flounder, salmon, and gimbap (seaweed rice rolls), along with muk-eunji (aged kimchi), ginger, and wasabi to eat with them.

The flounder was sliced thin and long, and it looked so pretty topped with scallions. It was pleasantly chewy and well aged, not soft or mushy but nicely springy 🤤

Flounder sashimi is, of course, one of the things that goes so wonderfully with muk-eunji.

Having salmon alongside it added a rich, nutty flavor, making it even more enjoyable.

The gimbap, flounder, muk-eunji, and wasabi worked so well together. I was hungry, so it was also perfect for a filling meal! 🫶

The salmon was well aged too, with a savory depth, and it melted in my mouth.

Goko Sashimi for enjoying many varieties at once

Next came the Goko Sashimi. It was a selection that let us enjoy several kinds at once: sweet shrimp, yellowtail, tuna, salmon, aburi Spanish mackerel, flounder, abalone, and more.

Everything was fresh with absolutely no fishiness, so we really enjoyed it properly. The yellowtail's texture and flavor were both so good too. 🥹

The tuna akami, or lean red-meat portion, had a wonderfully noticeable acidity and simply melted away in my mouth. It was a flavor that did not make me miss fatty belly at all! 😚

I was curious because the menu had aburi Spanish mackerel. The Spanish mackerel sashimi had been seared with a torch, giving it a texture somewhere between tuna and white fish, plus a rich, nutty taste. My friend especially loved it!

The abalone was much better than I expected. It was topped with innards sauce and cooked just enough, so it was moist and bouncy. I liked it even more because it arrived warm. 🤤

This fish was also outstandingly rich and nutty!

I ate the tuna with salt and wasabi, and I recommend trying it this way. Maybe because the fish was so good, it was seriously excellent!

The sweet shrimp was also absolutely amazing... bouncy, sweet, and gone as it melted away. There were so many pieces of sashimi disappearing in my mouth today. 💕

At first, I saw the jelly and wondered what flavor it could be. It turned out to be soy sauce made into jelly! Paired with the bouncy flounder sashimi, the soft jelly with its just-salty-enough flavor was a great match.

If you want sashimi near Sinnonhyeon Station

Today, I visited Izakaya Goko near Sinnonhyeon Station with a friend! 🥰 The atmosphere was lovely, of course, and I definitely recommend it if you want Japanese food or seriously good raw fish!