Cheongju date-night omakase bar, September steamed shrimp: Sinbakkase

I went to a fusion omakase bar called Sinbakkase, located at 100 Jinjae-ro, 2F, Unit 202, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk! I'd heard it was great for dates, so we went together!

It's a newly opened fusion omakase bar in Cheongju that's been getting a lot of buzz around us! I'd been checking my schedule for a while just waiting for the right day to visit!

Weekday evening at Sinbakkase: wait time and seating

We went to Sinbakkase early on a weekday evening, so we got in with no wait at all! I love seafood, and I'd heard they serve a wide variety of sashimi and seafood, so I went in with high expectations!

The moment we walked in, all the staff greeted us with bright smiles, and after checking our party size, they showed us to the best available table!

What comes in Sinbakkase's omakase course for two

We ordered the omakase for two, and the dishes came out one after another in this order!

• Abalone gejang (crab intestine-style) soup
• Katsuo goma salad
• Monkfish jirigang (clear soup)
• Seasonal steamed & grilled seafood
• Seasonal aged sashimi
• Sushi
• Seasonal seafood
• Beef dish
• Chicken dish
• Hongcho ade to finish

Abalone innards soup and bonito sesame salad

The very first dish, abalone gejang soup, had a nutty yet clean flavor that was perfect for waking up the appetite!

Next came the katsuo goma salad, which had a refreshing taste that was better enjoyed a bit at a time between other dishes as a palate cleanser rather than finished all at once!

Monkfish jiritang: clear soup made with fresh monkfish

Next up was the monkfish jirigang. Since it's made with fresh raw monkfish, they recommended letting it boil about 5 more minutes once it starts bubbling. They said we could add more broth if needed, but it was so generous a portion we didn't need to!

The milky-white broth of the monkfish jirigang had deep flavor and was seasoned just right, so we kept ladling it into our soup bowls and going back and forth with the other dishes!

September seasonal steamed shrimp, cockles and scallops

Since September is shrimp season, they served shrimp steamed together with cockles and scallops! It didn't feel pre-cooked at all — more like it was made fresh right when we ordered, and it looked incredibly fresh. When I peeled the shell, the meat was plump and full, with a bouncy, chewy texture and a lovely sweet shrimp flavor that genuinely made my eyes widen for a second! Absolutely the best.

Abalone sashimi, aged flounder and sea bream, and make-your-own sushi

Next came abalone sashimi along with aged flounder and sea bream. The flounder even came with the fin section, so we got to enjoy a range of textures,

and since the sushi rice was served separately, we got to have fun making our own sushi too — a nice bonus!

Beef yukjeon and grilled chicken neck with scallions

The next dishes were beef yukjeon (pan-fried beef) and chicken neck-and-scallion skewers. Starting with seafood and moving into meat made the meal more filling than I expected, and getting to experience such varied flavors of fusion Japanese cuisine meant we enjoyed every course from start to finish!

Hongcho ade to finish: you have to ask for it

After all the dishes were served, you can request the hongcho ade that's offered after the meal — it doesn't come automatically, it's only served when you ask for it once you're done eating, whenever you're ready! After taking our time enjoying all the food, we asked for the hongcho ade, and a pretty glass with floating ice arrived to cap off the meal beautifully!

Does Sinbakkase work for team dinners and client meals too?

We went as a date, but the dishes were so varied, fresh, and delicious that it would work just as well for a group dinner or a night out with friends! They have soju and beer of course, but also a good lineup of sake that pairs well, making it a great spot to have a drink alongside the meal!

Sinbakkase omakase price: 29,900 won per person

Sinbakkase, known as a Japanese restaurant in the Bokdae-dong area of Cheongju, isn't one of those pricey omakase places charging ₩100,000-200,000 a person — but being able to enjoy such a genuinely impressive omakase for ₩29,900 felt refreshing, and the care put into every dish came through clearly, so we're planning to come back often!

If you're in Cheongju, definitely give it a visit, and it's also a solid choice for hosting friends, acquaintances, or business contacts from out of town! I highly recommend Cheongju's fusion omakase bar, Sinbakkase!