Gwanghwamun sushi, no-wait dinner sashimi for two: Elephant Sushi

Where is Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun?

Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun (코끼리초밥 광화문점) is on the first basement floor of KT Tower West, toward Exit 2 of Gwanghwamun Station in Jongno. If you come out of Exit 4 of City Hall Station, it's about 600m on foot. I'd been spending time around Gwanghwamun and came here for dinner~

Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun hours and break time

Opening hours are 11:00–21:00 every day! The break time is 15:00–17:00. There are so many good restaurants in the basement of KT Tower, and Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is the sushi spot that steadily gets lots of customers, they say~

Atmosphere and seating

It's not a building-within-a-building kind of layout. The restaurant sits in a slightly open underground space, so it doesn't feel stuffy and the mood is nice. The roomy, clean interior and the variety of seating types are its features.

Is there a wait? Visiting at dinner opening

We came right at dinner opening (when the 17:00 break time ends), and luckily got in with no wait! I heard that on weekends it gets really crowded and you may have to wait. It's also known as a go-to for families and date nights, so at busy times it's a good idea to reserve ahead through Catch Table.

Basic table setting and menu

After you order, the basic setting arrives: a savory miso soup and a black sesame salad. Every table has a tablet, so browsing and ordering the menu was easy. There are the Elephant A, B and C sets, plus kaisendon (sashimi rice bowl), hoedeopbap (raw fish rice bowl), tempura and other Japanese dishes to enjoy~

There's also rakkyo (pickled shallots) on one side of the table. I love having it with sushi or sashimi, and I was extra happy that you can take as much as you like. Also good to know: Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun takes groups, and offers takeout and delivery.

What we ordered: sashimi for two and the Elephant A set

• Assorted sashimi (for 2) ₩50,000
• Elephant A set (10 pieces + cold soba) ₩18,000

We ordered the assorted sashimi for two and the Elephant A set~ I don't know every kind of fish, but the sashimi was a generous, varied, upscale mix including tuna, salmon, sea bream, scallop, shrimp and abalone!

What's in the 10-piece Elephant A set

The Elephant A set has 10 pieces in total, from egg and fried tofu pouch (yubu) to soy-marinated shrimp, sea urchin, salmon, flounder, tuna, scallop and small squid! They say the sushi types can vary a little by season~

The A set comes with cold soba, and it seems to be cold soba in summer and udon in winter. For takeout the noodles could get soggy, so apparently a potato croquette goes out instead~ Good-quality sushi in a variety of combinations at a great price, so I was happy.

What kind of place is Elephant Sushi?

Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is a new-concept plate-sushi restaurant run by the head chef behind high-end brands like Sushi Shimizu, Sushi Umi and Dosan Sakaba Kawasemi, they say. It's not just a sushi place to fill your stomach; it was a great-value sushi spot where you get authentic sushi quality at a reasonable price~

According to the restaurant's description, all live fish is aged at low temperature in the authentic sushi way, with the salt amount and aging time varied by fish so you can eat it when moisture and firmness are just right. They aim to be one of Seoul's top three sushi spots, using fresh live fish delivered daily and top-quality ingredients to satisfy both gourmets and office workers!

The U.S. and Australian embassies are nearby too, and apparently foreigners hear about the place and come often! Besides sushi there are good Japanese dishes like kaisendon, poke and karaage, so it's a Gwanghwamun restaurant that works for both lunch and dinner.

Cold soba in the summer set and in-store events

This is the cold soba that comes with the Elephant A set on a hot summer day~ The portion is just right for cleansing the palate! At Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun, if you download the Kirin draft beer coupon and tap the save/notification button, you can use it in store, and if you join the Naver review event you get crispy, sweetly savory fried shrimp as a free extra.

Assorted sashimi for two at ₩50,000: how did it taste?

We ordered the assorted sashimi for two! Getting an assorted sashimi platter for ₩50,000 is great value, and since the fish was delivered fresh that day, it was an extra satisfying dish! Every piece looked really fresh in color and had no fishy smell at all, so anyone could enjoy it.

The tuna especially was so rich and fatty that the savory flavor burst in my mouth, and the tenderness was the best,,, Even with just wasabi and soy sauce it was fresh sashimi you keep reaching for! When you visit Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun, the sushi is of course delicious, but do try the sashimi too~

Who is Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun for?

Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is a high-quality sushi and sashimi spot near Gwanghwamun Station! It's also good for families, couple dates and company dinners, so if you're looking for a great sushi place near Gwanghwamun, definitely stop by~