# Seongsu izakaya bar seats and aged sashimi: Tenba - By Seorin (https://superchart.com/en/@evening-waypoints/) - Written Sep 11, 2026 - Local places › Bars › Seongdong, Seoul - Sponsored: This post was written with support for a visit to the restaurant. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@evening-waypoints/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@evening-waypoints/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/index.md) ## In short Tenba is a quiet izakaya in Seongsu, Seongdong, Seoul. After shopping, I watched the chef prepare sashimi from the bar while having aged sashimi, shime saba bo-zushi, and whisky. Verdict: Tenba is a lovely place to end a Seongsu day with fish and a drink. ## Good to know - **Address**: 1F Tenba, 41-22 Yeonmujang-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea - **Assorted aged sashimi**: ₩48,000 for 2 people; available from 2 orders; described as using more than 10 seasonal fish varieties - **Shime saba bo-zushi**: ₩18,500 - **Whisky**: ₩14,000 per glass *as written by the visitor on Sep 11, 2026* After shopping my heart out in Seongsu (20,000 steps!!), I wanted to keep this happy mood going a little longer. It was one of those days when going straight home after just a meal felt like a shame, but I also didn't want a super rowdy drinking spot. So I decided to properly wrap up the evening somewhere with a little more atmosphere. That place was Tenba (텐바), a Seongsu izakaya. ![Visiting Tenba, a Seongsu izakaya](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi-01-e39ak-900.webp) It is fairly well known for its sashimi and shime saba bo-zushi, so I had been curious about it for a while. Looking through other reviews too, people seemed very satisfied with the aged sashimi and pressed mackerel sushi. ![Tenba sashimi and shime saba bo-zushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi-02-jfzor-900.webp) ## Tenba, tucked away in a Seongsu side street Tenba is not right on the main road; it sits farther inside a small alley. ![Tenba's location inside a Seongsu alley](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi-03-1usaw-900.webp) I found the entrance a little more confusing than I expected, too, but if you go in to the right in the photo, Tenba is at a slightly raised, almost halfway-up-to-the-second-floor spot. ![Directions to Tenba's entrance](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi-04-10y2v-900.webp) Just push open the black door on the left. If it is your first time like me, don't circle the area for no reason—just look for the black door, haha. ![Tenba's black entrance door](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi-05-47znv-900.webp) ## Quiet, but not intimidating When I opened the door, the restaurant was not as large as I had expected. But I actually liked that. The space was compact without feeling packed or stuffy, and it had an overall cozy, softly lit feel. ![Tenba's compact, cozy interior](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi-06-qts45-900.webp) It is on the quiet side, but not completely silent. You can gently hear people chatting over good food, yet it is not so crowded that other conversations become distracting. It was exactly the atmosphere I wanted that day. ![Tenba's softly lit atmosphere](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi-07-1989s-900.webp) > Quiet, but not intimidating ![Tenba's quiet dining atmosphere](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi-08-1bfqa-900.webp) It felt like a nice setting both for talking over a date and for catching up with a friend over a drink. ![A Tenba table by the large window](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi-09-dq3kl-900.webp) Looking at the other tables, there were seats in front of a large picture window too. With the wide-open view outside, you could eat while looking out at the Seongsu alley scene, so I thought those seats would be quite nice as well. We sat at the bar, and in the end I was very happy with those seats too. First, the chairs were more comfortable than expected, and they were not extremely high bar stools, so sitting down and getting up was easy. There was also space beneath the chairs for belongings, which was quietly convenient since I did not have to put my bag or things on the floor. More than anything, being able to watch the food being made right in front of you makes the bar seats part of the fun at Tenba. ## Watching sashimi preparation from the bar - Assorted aged sashimi for 2: ₩48,000 - Shime saba bo-zushi: ₩18,500 - One glass of whisky: ₩14,000 That is what we ordered. The assorted aged sashimi is available from two orders and is described as using more than 10 kinds of seasonal fish. Shime saba bo-zushi is, simply put, pressed sushi made with vinegared mackerel. Once our order came in, the chef immediately washed his hands, carefully wiped down the cutting board with a clean cloth, and began bringing out the neatly prepared ingredients. The sashimi-prep process itself was quite impressive too. Each time the fish changed, he wiped his hands, and he kept cleaning the knife and cutting board as he worked. It did not feel like he was simply slicing everything quickly and serving it; every piece was prepared very neatly. I especially noticed how he tidied up as he went so the aromas and flavors of the different fish would not mingle. ![Sashimi preparation in front of the bar seats](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi-10-1r36f-900.webp) Sitting at the bar made it even more fun because the whole process was right in front of me. The sashimi did not end at simply, “The food has arrived”; even the preparation felt like a small performance. ![Watching sashimi preparation from the bar table](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi-11-q5jke-900.webp) ## Assorted aged sashimi and shime saba bo-zushi And then the assorted aged sashimi finally arrived. After a brief explanation of the menu, preparation began for the next dish, shime saba bo-zushi (pressed mackerel sushi). After making the pressed sushi topped with mackerel, the chef lightly seared the surface with a torch. With the flame going right in front of me, the rich aroma of the mackerel rose up in an instant. ![Torch-searing pressed mackerel sushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi-12-1i4co-900.webp) The outside had a light smoky char while the fresh tang of the vinegared mackerel remained inside, so I had really been curious about that combination. I was especially worried that the mackerel might be too fishy, but Tenba's shime saba bo-zushi was repeatedly described in reviews as delicious without any fishiness. Once I tried it myself, I understood why it is so often mentioned as one of Tenba's signature dishes. ![Tenba shime saba bo-zushi and aged sashimi](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi-13-3ypdb-1200.webp) ![Tenba's assorted aged sashimi selection](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi-14-15xwx-900.webp) This little abalone one was the tastiest of all. The chef told us to eat this one first while it was still warm as soon as it came out. From the first bite, it was salty and absolutely bursting with umami—exactly my style—and it was the best part of the whole assortment. ![An abalone piece in the aged sashimi assortment](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi-15-1to8o-900.webp) The texture was fantastic, and the distinctive umami of aged sashimi came through gently. ![The texture of a piece of aged sashimi](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi-16-cvpeh-900.webp) All the fish had a rich fattiness, with a bouncy, pleasantly chewy texture. ![Rich, chewy aged sashimi](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi-17-17k29-900.webp) ![Aged sashimi with gim and uni](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi-18-1ku8p-900.webp) Wrapped in gim (roasted seaweed), topped with uni (sea urchin), and so on~ I have been trying to cut down on drinking lately, so I went in saying, “Today, just food!” But... seeing the food in this atmosphere, I ended up ordering a glass of whisky. Hahahaha 😌 ![A glass of whisky ordered at Tenba](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi-19-d8fyb-900.webp) ![Izakaya dishes enjoyed with whisky](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi-20-z0ipw-900.webp) At first you get the acidity and smoky flavor, and the more you chew, the rich nuttiness and umami of the mackerel come through. They said to eat the lime tucked between the layers if it tasted too salty, but I just bit straight into the lime, haha. ![Pressed mackerel sushi with lime](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi-21-1tzoj-900.webp) ![Eating shime saba bo-zushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi-22-1fw1e-900.webp) ## A great place to end the day after Seongsu shopping If you want to shop in Seongsu, eat something delicious, and end the day somewhere with a great atmosphere, Tenba was a very good choice. It is especially suited to days when you want aged sashimi and drinks in a calmer, more refined setting than a typical lively izakaya. Personally, I also really enjoyed sitting at the bar and watching the chef prepare the sashimi. It was not just about eating; I could watch the process from preparation through plating, which made me even happier with the bar seats that day. ![An evening finished at Tenba in Seongsu](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi-23-12e02-900.webp) That day, after shopping my heart out in Seongsu, I wanted to carry that good mood right through dinner. Tenba gave it a pretty proper finish. ## Where it is - Tenba (텐바) - 1F Tenba, 41-22 Yeonmujang-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 성동구 연무장길 41-22 1층 텐바 - 37.5433674, 127.0542183 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%ED%85%90%EB%B0%94/@37.5433674,127.0542183,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@evening-waypoints/seongsu-temba-bar-sashimi/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt