Date-night izakaya in Hapjeong: aged sashimi for two, Sushi Sakaba

A Hongdae date night with aged sashimi at Sushi Sakaba Hapjeong

Sushi Sakaba Hapjeong (스시사카바 합정) is an aged-sashimi Japanese izakaya on the 2nd floor on Dongmak-ro 3-gil, a 5-minute walk from Hapjeong Station. I was on a date with my boyfriend around Hongdae, and for dinner we headed here to eat aged sashimi, which I already love.

Hapjeong is a place we visit a lot for dates, since it's great for wandering between cafés and side streets before or after a meal. This time too we browsed around Hongdae first and moved over in time for dinner. I like aged sashimi more than ordinary raw fish, so I was excited even before we arrived.

Sushi Sakaba Hapjeong opening hours and location

Sushi Sakaba Hapjeong is at 38 Dongmak-ro 3-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 2nd floor. It's open 11:30–22:30 Monday to Thursday, 11:30–23:50 on Friday and Saturday, and 11:30–22:00 on Sunday. Break time is 14:30–17:00, and it accepts the high-fuel-price relief support fund.

• Address: 38 Dongmak-ro 3-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 2nd floor
• Mon–Thu 11:30–22:30
• Fri–Sat 11:30–23:50
• Sunday 11:30–22:00
• Break time 14:30–17:00
• Accepts the high-fuel-price relief support fund

Where to park near Sushi Sakaba Hapjeong

It's a 5-minute walk from Hapjeong Station Exits 3 and 4, and for parking you can use the nearby Hapjeong on-street public parking lot. I went on a Friday evening and luckily there was space. On weekend evenings and at mealtimes it may fill up, though, so I'd allow a bit of extra time.

Inside Sushi Sakaba Hapjeong: is it good for a date?

The inside was bigger than I expected, with comfortable space between tables. For a couple like us who like to talk over dinner, it was an easy place to settle into. It felt natural rather than overly formal, which suited a date-night dinner, and I saw a lot of people at nearby tables enjoying sake or highballs.

We ordered aged sashimi for two and mulhoe. I'd driven, so no drinks this time, but watching everyone else made me think a light drink would be nice next time.

What comes in the aged sashimi for two?

The aged sashimi for two came with flatfish (gwangeo), tuna and salmon that day, and the lineup can vary depending on the day you visit, I was told. It arrived fairly quickly, with the fish and accompaniments neatly prepared. Each piece was set apart with space between, which made it easy to eat, and the sides were laid out nicely by type.

Trying it with fresh wasabi and monkfish liver

Eaten plain, the sashimi had a clean, mild flavor of its own. Adding fresh wasabi made the finish even cleaner, and with monkfish liver (ankimo) it gained a nutty richness and felt a bit smoother.

The staff explained each piece one by one, the type, the cut, and even the best way to eat it, so even on a first visit it was easy to know what we were eating.

Is it OK for first-time aged sashimi eaters?

The aged sashimi had almost no fishy smell, and each piece had a mild sweetness and umami. The more I chewed, the nuttier it got, with a slightly springy texture.

Best of all, my boyfriend had never had aged sashimi before, but since the aroma isn't strong, he ate it better than I expected.

Mulhoe with the sashimi

The mulhoe (cold raw fish soup) came in a sweet-and-sour broth with more fish than I expected, plenty for two to share. I tried it between bites of sashimi, and the tangy broth cleansed the palate nicely, so it went well alongside the raw fish.

We'd driven so we skipped the drinks, but lots of nearby tables had sake or highballs. The quiet atmosphere is great for talking over a meal, so it works well for a date.

From Hongdae to Hapjeong, a relaxed end to the date

We spent the day on a date in Hongdae, then moved over to Sushi Sakaba in Hapjeong for dinner. The surrounding side streets are nice for a slow stroll after eating, so it was a relaxed date, which we hadn't had in a while.

I'd been looking forward to this place because I love aged sashimi, and besides the taste of the fish, I liked being able to eat and talk in a quiet atmosphere. Next time I'd like to try other sashimi sets.