Jongno sushi date for two: face-sized inari udon, Choe Uyeong Sushiya

From sushi to sashimi, tempura and udon.

What is Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch like?

Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch (최우영스시야 종로점) is a sushi and sashimi restaurant at 7 Jongno 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, B1, Unit 104. It's open 11:00–21:30 (break time 15:00–17:00), and parking is available in the building. My boyfriend and I really love raw fish and sushi. So that day we wondered what to eat, and in the end it was sushi, haha.

This time we went to Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch.

The conclusion first: the portions were really generous for the price, and the sushi and sashimi quality was good too. If you're looking for sushi in Jongno, it's worth a visit!

We kept saying while eating, "This is really good value, isn't it?" haha

Is Choe Uyeong Sushiya good for takeout or eating alone?

At the entrance of Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch there was a separate kiosk for takeout orders. If you work nearby, you could order ahead at lunchtime and take it away.

Inside, it was roomier than I expected, with regular tables and quite a lot of bar seats too. Solo diners wouldn't feel awkward, so it looked good for office workers hunting for sushi near Jonggak Station.

If my office were near here, I'd probably come for lunch pretty often, haha.

What did two of us order?

We ordered four things: the special sushi set, assorted sashimi, assorted tempura and inari udon (udon with sweet fried tofu pouches). When we sat down, they first set out a small bowl of clear broth and a dish of wasabi. The table also had pickled scallions (rakkyo), pickled ginger and soy sauce, so you can help yourself to as much as you like.

We'd come all the way to Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch, so we said, let's try a bit of everything! and ordered the special sushi, assorted sashimi, assorted tempura and inari udon.

Looking back, we got a bit greedy for two people, haha. Still, if you're searching for sushi near Gwanghwamun and feel sushi alone isn't enough, adding udon or tempura seems like a good idea.

How was the special sushi set?

The special sushi set at Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch came with a nice variety rather than leaning on one kind of fish, so picking through the pieces one by one was fun. The food came out piece by piece, and the sushi looked amazing from the start, haha.

Above all, the seafood felt fresh overall, which I loved. We both love raw fish, so with every piece we were like, what's this one, what's that one, and happily dug in, haha.

When looking for sushi in Jongno, the condition of the fish is the first thing I check, and this day we both enjoyed it.

Assorted sashimi: portion size and freshness

The assorted sashimi at Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch came prettily arranged on a plate with several kinds of fish, and the portion was more generous than I expected. It looked so pretty that I took photos for ages, haha.

I tried one piece at a time, and the texture was good and fresh, so I was satisfied! Having sashimi together with sushi is a truly happy combination for people like us who love raw fish.

Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch has sashimi on the menu as well as sushi, so it seemed fine to visit with a group and share a bit of everything. If you're looking for somewhere near Gwanghwamun to eat sushi or sashimi together, it's worth a look!

Is the inari udon really bigger than your face?

The inari udon at Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch came in a seriously huge bowl. The moment we saw it, we both said, "Isn't this bigger than my face?" haha.

I don't think the photos show the size properly, but the bowl was truly big. We'd already eaten a lot of sushi and sashimi, so seeing the udon made my stomach suddenly feel packed, haha.

Still, the warm broth went well with everything, and if you want a hearty meal when you come for sushi near Jonggak Station, adding udon seems good.

Assorted tempura: what's included and how the shrimp tempura tasted

The assorted tempura at Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch included shrimp, scallop, sweet potato and rice cake tempura, among others. I'd thought of it as just a side, but when it arrived the portion was hefty too, haha.

My favorite of them was the shrimp tempura! The shrimp was plump and bouncy, and the batter was crispy, so I kept reaching for more, haha.

By this point my boyfriend said, "Thinking about the price, this is really good value," and I totally agreed. As a Jongno sushi restaurant, it wasn't just the sushi that was decent; the sashimi and tempura came in generous portions too, which made it even more satisfying.

Can two people finish four dishes?

No. When we ordered four dishes for two at Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch, the amount was so large that we ended up leaving a little behind, sob. We're not usually bad eaters, and it wasn't left because it tasted bad. We were hungry and got greedy and ordered way too much... haha.

Trying to finish sushi, sashimi, tempura and udon all together, our stomachs just couldn't take it. Still, the portions and quality were good for the price, so we both said we'd like to come back to Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch. For office workers nearby, it seems like a pretty good lunch when searching for sushi near Jonggak Station.

Final verdict on this Jonggak sushi spot

Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch is where the two of us, both fans of raw fish and sushi, left full. From the special sushi to the assorted sashimi, tempura and udon, every dish was generous, and the seafood was fresh, so we were satisfied.

Considering the price, the quality and portions were good, so it's a place I'd tell anyone looking for sushi in Jongno to remember, haha. Next time we'll be a little less greedy, haha, and try other dishes too. I think I'll think of it again on days when I want sushi near Gwanghwamun or a big, hearty meal!