Songdo Japanese restaurant: ₩51,800 for two + egg nigiri, Sushi Doku

I wanted sushi in Songdo, so I headed to Sushi Doku The Songdo (스시도쿠 더송도) on a weekday morning. It's on the 2nd floor of Honesta Mall, right next to the Hyundai Premium Outlet, so it's a handy spot to eat before or after shopping. This time I had the Premium Special set (품격 있는 명품스시 특정식). There was a wide variety of sushi and the pieces of fish were generous, so I was happy with it. Here's what I ate and what the place is like.

Where is Sushi Doku The Songdo, and is there parking?

Sushi Doku The Songdo is at 157 Songdogukje-daero, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, on the 2nd floor of Honesta Mall, and it opens at 11am. It's close to Exit 2 of Tekeunopakeu Station on Incheon Subway Line 1, so it's easy by public transport. If you drive, you can use the Honesta Mall parking lot, with 2 hours of free parking when you eat here.

Half full at the 11am weekday opening

I arrived right at 11am on a weekday and there were more customers than I expected. I figured opening time would be relaxed, but more than half the seats were already taken. About 30 minutes into the meal, the restaurant was nearly full and people were waiting.

I was a bit surprised to see so many people on a weekday morning. If you want to eat at a quieter time, I'd say arrive right at opening~

What is the atmosphere like at Sushi Doku The Songdo?

The inside of Sushi Doku The Songdo was tidy overall. Even in the daytime the lighting was a little dim, which gave it a calm, cozy feel. It's more a place to sit and eat at a leisurely pace than a bright, noisy restaurant.

The staff were friendly too, so ordering was no trouble at all. When I pick a restaurant, cleanliness and service matter to me as much as the food, and this time I could eat comfortably overall. If you want a calm meal, it's worth considering when you look for a Japanese restaurant in Songdo.

The photos of the entrance and interior give you a sense of the seating and mood. That said, it can get crowded when customers pile in, so if you want a quiet meal, I'd suggest coming a little earlier.

How much is the Premium Special set, and what comes with it?

The Premium Special set at Sushi Doku The Songdo is ₩25,900 per person, and the two of us each ordered one. I liked that you get many kinds of sushi in one go, so you don't have to pick items one by one.

When the food arrived, the first thing I noticed was the size of the toppings on the sushi. The fish didn't look skimpy; it was laid on generously, which made every bite satisfying. If you're in the mood to try lots of different toppings, it's a set worth a look.

Tasting the 10 pieces of nigiri one by one

The set came with 10 kinds of nigiri: flatfish, sea bream, salmon, squid, sweet shrimp, akami (lean tuna), red shrimp, snow crab meat, eel and ankimo (monkfish liver). From white fish to shrimp, tuna and eel, the lineup was varied, so the flavors never got monotonous.

The flatfish and sea bream were nice and clean-tasting, and the salmon had an appealing soft texture. The squid was chewy, which set it apart from the others.

The sweet shrimp and red shrimp had that distinctive shrimp savoriness, and the akami had a memorable clean tuna flavor. The snow crab meat and eel each had their own character, and with ankimo included, it wasn't a lineup of only familiar sushi.

Personally, what I liked most was the size of the fish. It wasn't sushi where only the rice feels big; the toppings were generous too, which made it satisfying. Of course everyone has their own favorite fish, but if you want to taste lots of kinds in small amounts, it's worth putting on your list when you look for a Japanese restaurant in Yeonsu.

Extra egg nigiri and the review-event tuna belly

On top of the basic set, we added two pieces of egg nigiri. Its soft sweetness is different from the fish sushi, so it was nice to have in between. For a review event I also got two pieces of tuna belly nigiri, and the soft texture and rich flavor stuck with me.

The basic set already had plenty of variety, but it was nice to try other cuts too. I think sushi depends not just on freshness but on the ratio of rice to fish, and the sushi I had this day had generous toppings overall and a good balance of flavors.

If you want a wide range of sushi, it's worth comparing menu setups. When choosing a restaurant, checking location and parking as well as the food makes planning your visit easier.

Which side dishes at Sushi Doku The Songdo were good?

Besides the sushi, the set at Sushi Doku The Songdo came with sides like udon, salad and chawanmushi (steamed egg custard). Having something warm and brothy or soft between pieces of sushi made the meal feel a bit fuller.

I liked how the chawanmushi melted softly in my mouth, and its gentle sweetness made it easy to eat. The savory egg flavor came together with a warm, moist texture.

Of the sides at Sushi Doku The Songdo, the one I enjoyed most was the shrimp tempura. The batter was crisp and the shrimp kept its texture, so it went well with the sushi.

Not every side was equally memorable, but the shrimp tempura was especially satisfying. Being able to have sushi and sides together felt like a plus too.

₩51,800 for two: is it worth the price?

The Premium Special set at Sushi Doku The Songdo is ₩25,900 per person, so the base total for the two of us was ₩51,800. It's not a cheap meal, but with 10 kinds of sushi plus sides and generous toppings, I personally found it reasonable.

I especially liked being able to try many kinds at once. The restaurant was clean and the staff were friendly, so nothing bothered me during the meal. Rather than looking at price alone, consider the menu lineup and portion too, and it's a useful reference when comparing sushi places in Songdo.

Final verdict

Sushi Doku The Songdo was a satisfying meal, with a wide variety of sushi and generous fish. The shrimp tempura was especially good, and the tuna belly nigiri from the review event was memorable too. The restaurant was tidy and the staff were friendly. The price isn't very cheap, but considering the menu and location, it was a good choice.

If you want to taste many kinds of sushi at once, or you're looking for a place to eat near the Hyundai Premium Outlet, check out the menu. I'd happily come back next time I'm craving sushi in Songdo, and I'll probably think of it on days when I want an easy place to stop before or after shopping. What I liked most about this visit was the sushi lineup and the easy access.