Yeouido sashimi bar for a second round: platter for 2 and soju, Ilpum

This is Ilpum Yeouido Branch, a sushi spot near National Assembly Station.

We friends got together in Yeouido after a long time, and we'd already eaten so much at the first stop that everyone was full, so picking a second place was surprisingly tricky..? At times like this, clean, light sashimi is the best drinking snack, haha. So this is the story of our second round at Ilpum Yeouido Branch, a sushi place near National Assembly Station.

Where is Ilpum Yeouido Branch, and what are the hours and parking?

Ilpum Yeouido Branch is at 25 Eunhaeng-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, in the Anwon Building basement level 1. It is open 11:00-21:30, with a break from 15:00 to 17:30.

• Location: 25 Eunhaeng-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Anwon Building B1
• Hours: 11:00-21:30 (break 15:00-17:30)
• Parking: available in the building, 2 hours covered

What are the atmosphere and seats like?

Stepping inside, it felt much more modern and neat than it looks from outside.

In the middle are counter seats (dacchi-seok) where you can watch the chefs cook in real time. It feels hygienic and reassuring, and the open kitchen means nothing feels stuffy.

The counter seats look great for a side-by-side, cozy date! I think Yeouido office workers would love to drop by after work.

The three of us wanted to chat comfortably, so we took a table seat inside. The interior mixes white and wood tones nicely, so it feels warm and cozy overall.

How was the sashimi moriawase for 2 as a second-round snack?

Ilpum is known for sushi, but we were already somewhat full, so we ordered only snacks and drinks.

We ordered the sashimi moriawase (assorted sashimi) for 2 (₩62,000) and 2 bottles of soju (₩14,000). Before the main dish arrived, they prepared one chawanmushi (savory steamed egg custard) per person.

And here comes the sashimi moriawase we ordered! It looks like a whole sea packed onto one plate, generous and showy.

Tuna, salmon, sweet shrimp, abalone, flounder, uni and more: there's a better variety than I expected. A lineup like this is a nice match for soju.

Tuna: moderately thawed and soft

First we went for the vivid red tuna!

The tuna was thawed just right and quite soft, perfect with a shot of soju.

Uni: one bite with gamtae, cucumber strips and fresh wasabi

For the uni (sea urchin roe), they piled crunchy cucumber strips, uni and plenty of fresh wasabi on fragrant gamtae (seaweed), and you eat it in one big bite.

A slight bitterness and the scent of the sea spread pleasantly in your mouth, and it went quite well with the savory gamtae.

White fish: thick-cut with a chewy texture

The white fish was decent overall too. I picked up a thick-cut slice,

put a little wasabi on it and dipped it in soy sauce, and you really get that signature chewy texture.

The slices are thick rather than thin, so I think people who like a mouth-filling texture will enjoy them.

Cold udon: bouncy noodles, sadly no standalone order

Ilpum also served cold udon, and the bounciness of the noodles was out of this world. Honestly, I fell for the udon here, so why is there no udon on its own on the menu? T_T What a shame..

Would I recommend Ilpum Yeouido Branch for a second round in Yeouido?

Considering Yeouido's wicked prices, Ilpum Yeouido Branch offers quite a generous spread, and above all the place is quiet and nice, which makes it good for a second round. Maybe it's because I'm getting older, but I prefer somewhere calm enough to talk over somewhere crowded and loud, and that was the biggest plus for us.

We finished the day happily, lightly emptying 2 bottles of soju with clean snacks. If you're looking near Yeouido for a not-too-busy, solid place for sashimi and a drink, I don't think you'll regret stopping by once.