Solo 14-piece omakase sushi dinner in Mulgeum, Yangsan: Shirokuma

Today I want to introduce a Yangsan restaurant that anyone who loves sushi should know about. This is my review of Shirokuma, a sushi restaurant in Mulgeum, Yangsan, which I visited as part of a sponsored campaign.

I usually love sushi and have tried all sorts of places, but this one felt special, so I really wanted to record it haha.

First impressions and atmosphere at Shirokuma

Putting our heart into sushi

The sign caught my eye right away — a white bear character with the phrase 'Putting our heart into sushi' displayed big. My first impression walking in was clean and tidy.

The hall is divided by partitions, so it's not fully open — it's set up to feel fairly private while you eat. There are hangers behind every seat, plus a shared rack on one side of the hall, and this kind of thoughtful touch left quite an impression on me.

The staff were friendly, and even though it was a weekday evening, customers kept coming in and delivery orders never stopped. Given how popular it is, you might have to wait during busy hours.

They were also running a 'no-lose draw review event' in the store — leave a receipt review, scan the QR code, and draw for a gift certificate or sushi voucher. Worth joining if you visit.

What comes in Shirokuma's omakase sushi 14P?

Since I wanted to enjoy sushi purely on its own, I ordered the omakase sushi 14P.

Apparently this is Shirokuma's top-tier composition — built off the premium set but swapping grilled salmon for scallop, soy sauce shrimp, and tuna belly, with two extra pieces added. In total it's 14 kinds: aged sashimi 4pc, salmon, tuna loin, tuna belly, scallop, soy sauce shrimp, garlic shrimp, cuttlefish, eggplant, beef, and futomaki, so it was fun picking through one by one. I thought the portion would be too much to finish, but the sushi vinegar-soaked rice was so good it went down surprisingly smoothly hahaha.

The special soy sauce and seasoned rice that stood out most

What impressed me most at Shirokuma was, without a doubt, the special soy sauce and the sushi rice. Instead of using a store-bought sushi soy sauce, they simmer more than eight ingredients for six hours to make their own — it's not just salty, the umami is clearly on another level. The rice also uses their own recipe, giving it that distinctive dark reddish-brown color, with flavor soaked into every single grain, making it hard to stop reaching for more.

The aged sashimi was thick yet melted in my mouth.

The scallop and soy sauce shrimp were also fresh with great umami.

Eggplant sushi and the fist-sized futomaki

The eggplant sushi everyone raves about lived up to it for me too — no mushiness, just a texture that melted away smoothly, so even people who don't usually like eggplant could enjoy it.

The futomaki (thick seaweed roll) was truly fist-sized, impossible to eat in one bite, and packed generously inside, so it was fun to chew through.

To finish, the brown sugar ice cream I ordered for dessert was a great palate cleanser, with the bean flour and brown sugar syrup pairing nicely together.

Photo spot and the receipt event at Shirokuma

Inside the store there's a white bear figure that doubles as a photo zone and the receipt event info stand. In the evening the lighting turns soft, making the interior feel even cozier, so the partitioned seats were also nice for photos.

Seasonal sets and the best time to visit

This fall they added a Special set (special sushi 10P + shrimp tempura udon) and a Premium set (premium sushi 12P + shrimp tempura udon), which seem better suited to sharing with two or more people rather than eating alone. Perfect for pairing with warm shrimp tempura udon as the weather cools down.

In summer there's also a cold soba menu, so it seems like fun to switch up what you pair with your sushi depending on the season. According to staff, ingredients tend to run out fast around 7pm on weekdays, so if you want a relaxed meal, I'd recommend visiting before then.

Shirokuma hours, location and parking in Mulgeum, Yangsan

• Hours 11:30–21:00 (break time 14:30–17:30)
• Last order 20:00
• Closed every Sunday
• Location 1F, 11-5 Hwahap 4-gil, Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea

Parking is available for up to 4 cars total — 2 in front of the store and 2 at the building next door — and if it's full, you can use the Hwangsan Village public lot, which is free from 6pm to 9am on weekdays, weekends, and holidays. Groups and reservations are possible, and baby chairs are available, so it also seemed convenient for family visits.

Shirokuma was a place where you could really feel the care put into the basics, like the special soy sauce and seasoned rice, plus a few memorable menu items you don't see at other sushi places, like the eggplant sushi and futomaki. If you love sushi, it's worth a visit at least once. Next time, I'm planning to try the premium set with the shrimp tempura udon too.