Ansan izakaya date: year's first yellowtail and tendon soup, Susanjang

What is Susanjang Seonbu and how do you get there?

Susanjang Seonbu (수산장 선부점) is a seasonal seafood izakaya (Japanese-style pub) at 17 Seonbugwangjang-ro, 1st floor, Danwon-gu, Ansan, open every day from 17:00 to 01:00. If you drive, use the nearby public parking lot. I heard there was a tasty, atmospheric seasonal seafood izakaya in Seonbu-dong, Ansan, so I went on a date with my husband 🫧 There's no signboard, but the exterior has such a distinct vibe that we spotted it right away.

Susanjang in Seonbu-dong is a Japanese restaurant that picks the seafood at its best each season, and rather than sticking to a fixed menu it serves a variety of dishes so you can really taste what's in season. There's a fish tank inside, and they prepare your order on the spot, so it feels extra fresh ✨ Note that, as an izakaya, ordering alcohol is required, and children aged 7 and over and minors can't enter.

Inside Susanjang Seonbu and the seating

There are tables for 2, 4 and 6. It's a cozy space, good for a casual drink with friends, a partner or family, and comfortable enough to drop by without any pressure.

What's on the menu at Susanjang Seonbu?

The menu runs from seasonal dishes built around in-season seafood to sashimi, teppanyaki (iron-griddle cooking), cooked dishes, hot pots and sides. With so many dishes using different seafood, you can pick to your taste, and it works as a hearty meal as well as a drinking session. The seafood in season changes with the time of your visit, so I want to come back every season and conquer the new menus one by one 🤭

Complimentary flounder and Susanjang somaek

The flounder served as the complimentary side was moist and perfectly seasoned, ideal with drinks,

and the Susanjang somaek (soju-and-beer mix), made with barley soju and draft beer, starts with the soft fizz of draft beer, then a faint barley aroma and a clean finish. It was refreshing to sip before the main dishes.

Is the spicy beef tendon soup a must-order?

The spicy beef tendon soup (얼큰스지술국) comes with a separate seasoning paste (dadaegi) that you add to taste. The milky broth is so good on its own that it felt restorative, haha. We were craving something spicy, so we put all the paste in at once, and the smell was amazing,,,,, ! You have to order this one T_T Highly recommended.

It was my first time trying beef tendon (seuji), and it was chewy and delicious, with plenty of fresh vegetables like bean sprouts, bok choy and mushrooms! Add the kicky broth and it was the best thing to drink with.

How was this year's first yellowtail at Susanjang Seonbu?

The seasonal menu had yellowtail (daebang-eo), which my husband loves, so we ordered right away to eat it before the cold wind arrived. Maybe because it's the first yellowtail of the year, but it was just so good!!!!!! 🥹🥹🥹 They give you plenty of accompaniments, including seaweed, sesame oil dip, aged kimchi, pickled ginger, rakkyo (pickled shallots), wasabi and radish sprouts, so you can eat it properly.

My husband loves seafood so much that in yellowtail season he eats it 2-3 times a week, and since we kicked off at Susanjang in Seonbu-dong, Ansan, I think we'll be seeing a lot more yellowtail, haha. It's good dipped in the sesame oil with wasabi on top, and the combo of seaweed, aged kimchi, oil dip and wasabi is great too 👍

We even got to try the special cuts that come only in small amounts from a yellowtail, so Susanjang in Ansan was amazing value!

Grilled autumn shad and seaweed rice balls

The grilled autumn shad at Susanjang Seonbu comes with 3 fish and cheongtaeju rice balls (seaweed rice balls), so it's even more filling! In autumn you absolutely have to eat shad 💛 This autumn has been so busy I thought I'd miss out on shad, so I was so happy to meet it like this T_T

The seaweed rice balls are lightly seasoned and so tasty that I kept eating even though I was full, pure magic haha. The owner of Susanjang is totally a flavor genius,,,,

Susanjang Seonbu in one line

If you're looking for an atmospheric place to eat in Seonbu-dong, Ansan, I recommend Susanjang Seonbu, an Ansan izakaya where you can enjoy seasonal seafood dishes ⭐️