Magok Station sashimi bowl and whole eel bowl lunch: Ilpum Magok

Why we chose Ilpum Magok for lunch near Magok Station

I heard there was a great kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) place called Ilpum in Magok, so I went not too long ago. Lately I'd been craving fresh sashimi for some reason I couldn't quite explain. A chewy, fresh slice of raw fish kept popping into my head and I just couldn't resist. So I went on a search frenzy for a place near me that really does kaisendon right. After digging around online, the place I found was here — Ilpum.

Inside Ilpum Magok: counter seats and table seating

Walking into Ilpum Magok, I was greeted by a neatly arranged space. There was a variety of seating, from counter tables great for eating alone to regular tables for groups. Honestly, every time I walked past this place, it was always packed, and I'd always wondered about it. 'Just how good must it be for it to be this full every single time?' I thought — and this visit was no exception.

As lunchtime approached, the tables filled up in no time and the place was completely full. On one wall I noticed a ton of autographs from celebrities you'd recognize just by name. It made sense why this place is so famous, and my expectations shot up before I'd even eaten a bite.

What comes with every meal: clear soup and chawanmushi

After we sat down and ordered, the basic sides came out first — a warm soup and soft, fluffy chawanmushi (steamed egg custard). Even before the main dish arrived, these basics were already incredibly delicious. The chawanmushi slid down soft like pudding, and the soup had a savory, deep flavor that warmed my stomach right up. I felt like I could finish a whole bowl of rice on these alone.

What we ordered: (special) sashimidong and whole-eel unagidong

This time I ordered the kaisendon I'd been craving so badly, and my mom, who came with me, ordered the eel rice bowl.

• (Special) Sashimidong
• Whole-eel Unagidong

Ah, I honestly don't even remember the last time I had kaisendon. I'd been so buried in childcare lately that I hadn't had any chance to enjoy this kind of neat, fresh Japanese food, so the moment I saw the visuals, I was genuinely moved.

Whole-eel unagidong: one entire grilled eel on rice

I checked out my mom's eel rice bowl first. My jaw dropped the second it arrived — an entire eel, whole, sitting on top, incredibly thick. I'd say I've eaten eel rice bowls at plenty of places over the years, but I've never seen an eel this thick and hearty. Ilpum really is the best! First, they move the eel to the side of the bowl and cut it into bite-sized pieces, then you lay it gently over the well-seasoned rice for a big first bite.

On top of the bowl sat a pretty, savory yellow rolled omelet. Being a classic Japanese-style tamagoyaki, it had that sweet, soft texture that was just perfect. The eel released a burst of rich juices, and the flavor was incredible. My mom, who's pretty picky, took one bite and her eyes went wide — she loved it. I felt proud inside for bringing her along.

(Special) sashimidong: how thick is the sashimi?

And then, finally, the main dish I'd been waiting and waiting for — the kaisendon (special) sashimidong — arrived. Colorful, fresh cuts of assorted sashimi covered the rice, edge to edge, with no gaps. The thickness of each piece was something else. I picked up one piece with my chopsticks and put it in my mouth — it was chewy at first, then melted away completely. People often say meat melts in your mouth, but honestly that phrase applies just as well to this sashimi.

Eating the sashimi on its own with a little wasabi was great, and wrapping it in the crispy seaweed that came alongside doubled the savory flavor. Piling seasoned rice and sashimi onto one spoon and eating it all in one bite was pure heaven. The sashimi was so fresh there wasn't a hint of fishy smell or taste.

The udon that comes alongside at Ilpum Magok

The udon served alongside deserves a mention too. The broth had a bit of a kick and the noodles were nice and springy, pairing really well with the kaisendon. Sipping the warm broth cleansed my palate perfectly.

Naver receipt review croquette and the dessert at the end

By the way, Ilpum was running a receipt review event. They said if you write a Naver receipt review, you get a savory croquette on the house, so I dutifully took part and got to enjoy a freshly fried croquette. The crispy coating held a soft, creamy filling inside, and the quality was impressive for something free. Maybe because it was complimentary, it somehow tasted even better.

After finishing the meal, they brought out a sweet dessert to round things off. That clean, sweet finish made for a truly complete meal. From the main dish to the sides and dessert, there wasn't a single thing missing — a genuinely satisfying meal.

I think I'll be back before long, whenever I'm craving fresh sashimi or a hearty eel rice bowl again. If you're near Magok and want to enjoy proper Japanese food, I definitely recommend stopping by Ilpum.