Balsan Station kaisendon restaurant, basic vs premium bowl: Ilpum

Today I'm writing up the premium kaisendon and the basic kaisendon I had at Ilpum Magok (일품 마곡점), a kaisendon spot that's perfect for a date in Magok!

Where is Ilpum Magok, and is there parking?

Ilpum Magok is easy to reach: a 4-minute walk from Balsan Station Exit 8 and an 8-minute walk from Magok Station Exit 4. It's also about 10 minutes on foot from Magok One Grove, so if you're looking for a good restaurant near One Grove, I recommend Ilpum Magok for high-quality kaisendon.

If you're driving, put "Leaders Tower Magok" into your navigation and use the underground car park. Parking is free for 2 hours.

Ilpum Magok menu and what's included

The signature kaisendon comes in several versions so you can pick what suits you, and there's also sashimi, the day's sushi, tempura and single-piece sushi, so the choice is wide, which I liked.

With kaisendon you get fresh raw fish and rice together, so I often go for it when I'm craving Japanese food. It's a clean, tasty meal in a nice setting, so I'd recommend it if you're looking for a place for a Magok date or a blind date haha

Ilpum Magok atmosphere and counter seating

The restaurant extends deep inside, so it felt spacious and comfortable, and the interior is upscale, so the mood was really nice haha There are dodge seats where you sit side by side, plus table seats, and I'd recommend booking ahead.

Tables can be reserved from 3 people, I was told. It looks good for a family meal or an evening get-together.

I booked ahead and went with one other person. We sat at the dodge seats, where you can watch the ingredients being prepared right in front of you, which was fun haha You can order with the QR code right in front of you or just tell the staff.

What we ordered at Ilpum Magok and prices

• Kaisendon ₩26,000
• Premium kaisendon ₩37,000
• Beer ₩6,000

I was going to order two basic kaisendon, but I was curious about the premium one too, so we got one of each haha

Right after ordering, white kimchi and miso soup arrive, along with chawanmushi (savory steamed egg custard) as an appetizer. The chawanmushi was warm and soft, perfect for warming up and refreshing your palate. There was shrimp inside too haha

Here are the basic kaisendon (left) and the premium kaisendon (right). They looked so pretty and showy that I kept taking photos haha

Basic vs premium kaisendon: what's the difference?

Basic kaisendon (26,000 won)

Even the basic kaisendon is generously loaded. Flying fish roe sits on top, and underneath are monkfish liver, salmon, sweet shrimp, scallop, cuttlefish, tuna, crab meat, fried lotus root, egg and more, with plenty of kelp-cured fresh fish, so it looked substantial at a glance. Even as the basic one, it has everything you'd want in a kaisendon.

Premium kaisendon (37,000 won)

The premium kaisendon was topped with flatfish, red sea bream, fatty tuna (toro), salmon, scallop, sweet shrimp, sea urchin (uni), abalone, cuttlefish, crab meat, salmon roe, egg, fried lotus root, gamtae (seaweed) and more. Compared with the basic bowl, it clearly adds premium cuts and things like abalone.

Maybe because the fish is kelp-cured, the texture was really chewy and fresh. The nori that came with it is thick and very crispy, unlike ordinary nori, and wrapping it around a spoonful with rice goes together so well.

The rice underneath was seasoned just right too, so it didn't get in the way of the seafood's aroma and added a nice salty savoriness.

It's tasty just scooped up as is, but the nori and gamtae are so crispy and nutty that they pair really well with the seafood. You could taste each ingredient's own flavor, and it felt like a dish made with care.

Taking a sip of beer between bites made me so happy haha

The abalone was cut at a good thickness, and the scoring made the texture even better. I ate it with wasabi haha

I think it was the best kaisendon place I've been to recently.

Udon and mango panna cotta to finish the meal

Partway through the meal, udon came out. It had springy noodles in a clear broth with fried fish cake on top, so it was a great palate cleanser haha

When we finished, dessert arrived: panna cotta topped with mango purée. The mango flavor was rich and the dessert was smooth, so the ending was perfect haha

Is Ilpum Magok worth a return visit?

I was so satisfied while eating that I'd already planned a return visit. Ilpum Magok serves a generous kaisendon in an upscale setting, so I highly recommend it! If you're looking for a kaisendon restaurant near Balsan or Magok, definitely give Ilpum Magok a try haha