Jongno sushi restaurant for a weekend lunch date: Choe Uyeong Sushiya

Gwanghwamun is a great spot for a Seoul date since you can hit Gwanghwamun Square, Gyeongbokgung Palace, and Cheonggyecheon Stream all in one go. This time I heard about a newly opened sushi restaurant not far from Gwanghwamun, so I went to check it out. It's Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch — less than 5 minutes by car from Gwanghwamun, so it's easy to swing by before or after a date, and I liked that you can try a variety of sushi at a more reasonable price than expected. If you love sushi, this is a Gwanghwamun restaurant worth keeping on your radar — here's my review.

Where is Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch, and what is it like inside?

Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch is located in a dining strip right near Jonggak Station, so it's not hard to find. The address is technically Jongno, but it's less than 5 minutes by car from Gwanghwamun, so it's an easy place to grab a meal while checking out things to do around Gwanghwamun.

It's connected to a nearby shopping center, so it's also convenient to stop by during a Jongno date — I went on a weekend.

Inside, there was a range of seating — solo-friendly seats, tables good for 2-4 people, and group seating options.

Since it's a new place, the overall vibe was clean and bright. It seemed like a good spot for a relaxed sushi meal on a date, or even lunch for nearby office workers.

The 16-piece top sushi set, kaisendon and the udon add-on

Looking at the menu, they don't just sell sushi — there's also kaisendon, sashimi, and udon, so there's plenty of variety to choose from based on your taste.

I ordered generously — the top sushi set, kaisendon, and udon, to try a range of dishes. The basic set is 12 pieces of sushi, and the top set is 16 pieces, so you can choose based on your appetite and preference, which is a nice touch.

First a warm soup arrives, and while you wait a bit, the food comes out quickly ><

The dishes came out not long after ordering. Seeing it all laid out together, it looked more generous and delicious than I expected. The sashimi on top was thick and hearty rather than the rice being the main focus, which made for a nice texture. Several kinds were arranged on a large plate, making it look plentiful too.

From familiar types like flounder, salmon, and tuna to eel and uni (sea urchin roe), I could try a wide variety of sushi all on one plate.

The kaisendon also had sashimi piled generously on rice, and it was pretty tasty wrapped in seaweed. I actually liked the kaisendon even more than the sushi — it seems like it would be perfect for a lunch order.

And you can't leave out udon when eating sushi. About halfway through the meal, I ordered udon as an add-on, and the portion was so large that one order would've been enough for two people to share as a side.

Is a weekend lunch here good for a Gwanghwamun-Jongno date?

If you're still hungry, you can just order more à la carte sushi or sashimi, so no worries there! It's a place that suits both lunch and dinner. Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch isn't so much a spot for a special occasion where you need to dress up the mood, but more a place to eat casually and without pressure while wandering around Gwanghwamun and Jongno on a weekend.

I spent a full weekend walking slowly from Gwanghwamun Square, past the sushi restaurant, all the way to Jongno. I'd expect weekday lunches to be busier with office workers nearby, but since it was the weekend, it was a bit quiet, which made for a comfortable meal.

Today I shared my review of Choe Uyeong Sushiya, a restaurant close to things to do around Gwanghwamun. If you're looking for a Gwanghwamun restaurant to visit for a casual weekend date, or a spot near things to do in Jongno to grab sushi, this newly opened Choe Uyeong Sushiya is worth checking out :)