Gangnam, Seoul Japanese restaurant for aged sashimi bowls: Ilpum

The day I wanted a proper meal after dieting

After dieting for a while ahead of my wedding, my stamina had dropped a little and I was feeling strangely low on energy. Rather than just toughing it out, I decided it was time to take proper care of myself with something delicious, so I went to a good kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) spot near Gangnam Station.

Ilpum Gangnam Branch, a kaisendon spot near Gangnam Station, is a five-minute walk from Exit 6. I also liked that parking is available in the building.

A setting that suited solo meals and dates near Gangnam Station

Ilpum Gangnam Branch had a comfortable atmosphere for dining alone. Lots of people are looking for somewhere to eat solo around Gangnam Station these days, and since the food comes neatly in one bowl, I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a filling solo meal there.

It was nice for a solo meal like mine, but there were different kinds of tables, so it also looked great for visiting together and sharing a few dishes. The tidy, pleasant dining atmosphere also felt well suited to a Gangnam date.

Ordering the deluxe sashimi rice bowl and herring isobe maki

I came in originally thinking I’d have eel rice, but once I looked at the menu, the kaisendon caught my eye more. So I ordered the Teuk Sashimi-don (deluxe sashimi rice bowl) that day, along with herring isobe maki (a herring seaweed roll). And I ordered a beer too, haha. I just couldn’t resist beer with kaisendon.

I was even more curious about the herring isobe maki because I heard it had started as a pop-up dish and became popular enough to be launched as a new regular menu item. I already love sashimi and seafood, so I thought these two dishes would make the perfect pair.

First, the side dishes arrived: steamed egg, miso soup, and baek kimchi (mild white kimchi), all great with kaisendon.

The herring isobe maki that was once a popular pop-up dish

The herring isobe maki, which had been popular as a pop-up dish, arrived first. It had a generous piece of herring inside the seaweed, topped with fragrant ingredients, so it had a different appeal from ordinary maki. The distinctive flavor of the herring came through gently, leaving a nutty finish in my mouth.

With a little wasabi and a dip in the sauce, the herring’s flavor became even clearer, and it was clean to eat without feeling rich. I immediately understood why it had been so popular.

The deluxe sashimi rice bowl piled with thick-cut fish

Finally, the Teuk Sashimi-don arrived. This rice bowl is made with premium seasonal aged fish, piled high with thick slices of sea bream, flounder, seasonal fish, yellowtail, salmon, tuna, and more. What I especially loved was getting to try so many different kinds of sashimi at once.

The sashimi was not sliced thin; it was satisfyingly thick, so you could really feel its texture when you bit into it. From soft salmon and light white fish to rich yellowtail and tuna, each type had a slightly different texture and flavor, which made choosing each bite fun too.

Maybe because the fish was aged, its savory depth gently came through with the rice, while the thick-cut sashimi had much more presence than the rice itself. Having sea bream, flounder, seasonal fish, yellowtail, salmon, and tuna all in one bowl makes this a combination sashimi lovers can’t help but enjoy.

It was so delicious wrapped with the baek kimchi and seaweed that came as side dishes. I had originally thought of eel rice for this post-diet restorative meal, but I was very glad I chose kaisendon instead.

Finishing with cold udon and dessert

Cold udon topped with chicken karaage also came out as a final course. The cold udon broth was so good, and the lightly salty karaage was amazing with the noodles. It was perfect for cooling down my warm stomach after a cold beer.

They even gave me a dessert to finish. What a perfect course right to the end. 👍 With my wedding coming up, I used restoring my energy as an excuse to eat as much of the aged sashimi I’d been craving as I wanted for the first time in a while. The kaisendon near Gangnam Station that I chose instead of the eel rice I’d originally planned was even more satisfying. I’d especially recommend it as a solo dining spot near Gangnam Station if you want to try several types of sashimi at once, or simply want a neat, filling meal on your own. If you’ve been managing your diet for a while like me and are desperate for a delicious meal, this kind of menu could be a lovely change of pace.