# Balsan Station Japanese restaurant, Hwang Jung-min's unagi don: Ilpum - By Lunch Detourer (https://superchart.com/en/@lunch-detour-map/) - Written Nov 14, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Gangseo, Seoul - Sponsored: This post is a review from a visit where the restaurant provided the meal. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@lunch-detour-map/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@lunch-detour-map/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/index.md) ## In short Ilpum Magok is a Japanese restaurant specializing in kaisendon (raw seafood rice bowl) and unagi don (grilled eel rice bowl), on the first floor of Leaders Tower near Exit 8 of Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul. The writer ordered the unagi don that actor Hwang Jung-min reportedly picked and the basic kaisendon, and Ilpum Magok also served tempura udon during the meal and desserts such as tofu pudding. Even as a first-time kaisendon eater, the writer called Ilpum Magok a real treat and recommends it to anyone who loves Japanese food. ## Good to know - **Location**: Unit 112, 1F Leaders Tower, 228 Gonghang-daero, Gangseo-gu, Seoul; about 394 m from Exit 8 of Balsan Station - **Seating**: Tables and counter (dacchi) seats - **How to order**: Catch Order via the QR code on each table - **Main menu**: Kaisendon, unagi don, salmon sake don, hon-maguro tsukedon, aburi don, uni toro don, seasonal yellowtail (daebangeo) don, sashimi, sushi - **What we ordered**: Unagi don and the basic kaisendon - **Also served**: Gim (roasted seaweed), white kimchi, gamtae (thin green seaweed), tempura udon, dessert after the meal *as written by the visitor on Nov 14, 2026 · not checked with the business* ![Main photo of the Ilpum Magok visit](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon-01-198h9-1200.webp) I brought it, everyone! ![Ilpum Magok on the ground floor of Leaders Tower at Balsan Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon-02-1roeg-966.webp) ## Where is Ilpum Magok? Ilpum Magok (일품 마곡점) is on the ground floor of Leaders Tower, about 394 m from Exit 8 of Balsan Station. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was the celebrity autographs hanging on the wall! ![Celebrity autographs on the wall at Ilpum Magok](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon-03-1exny-m-966.webp) ![Autographs on the wall at Ilpum Magok](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon-04-6121r-966.webp) The interior is upscale and tidy, with both table seats and bar (dacchi) seats, so the mood for a meal was great. ![Ilpum Magok interior with table seats and bar seats](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon-05-qjfmt-m-966.webp) There are even coat hangers on the wall, which felt like a thoughtful little touch. ![Inside Ilpum Magok](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon-06-z44i0-966.webp) ## Ilpum Magok menu and how to order I heard Ilpum started with its Magok flagship in 2023 and has since expanded to Yeouido, Gangnam, Gwanghwamun and more. ![Rice bowl menu at Ilpum Magok](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon-07-16cdu-966.webp) ![Kaisendon and unagi don menu at Ilpum Magok](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon-08-1a3kf-966.webp) ![Sashimi and sushi menu at Ilpum Magok](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon-09-xfn1r-966.webp) Kaisendon and unagi don, of course, plus salmon sake don, hon-maguro tsukedon, aburi don, uni toro don, seasonal greater amberjack don, sashimi and sushi! If you love Japanese food, picking a dish is going to be a real struggle, haha. ![Table at Ilpum Magok](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon-10-dwww6-966.webp) ![QR ordering guide on the table at Ilpum Magok](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon-11-1yyz3-966.webp) You order with Catch Order through the QR code on the table, which was convenient. ![Ordering unagi don and kaisendon through Catch Order](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon-12-1hecb-900.webp) I ordered the unagi don and the basic kaisendon! ## What is the unagi don that actor Hwang Jung-min picked like? ![Unagi don set at Ilpum Magok](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon-13-17hsp-900.webp) The first dish out was Ilpum Magok's unagi don, which actor Hwang Jung-min reportedly chose! It's an eel rice bowl: seasoned rice topped with Japanese-style rolled omelet, and a whole eel on top of that. ![Unagi don with a whole eel on top of the omelet](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon-14-4cniw-900.webp) Seasoned rice, Japanese-style omelet, and a big whole eel on top. The look of it was seriously awesome. The eel is topped with sliced green onion, and pickled ginger and wasabi are tucked inside. ![Well-seasoned eel in the unagi don](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon-15-m7ls2-966.webp) The eel was well seasoned and really delicious, ![Japanese-style omelet inside the unagi don](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon-16-p4bw3-966.webp) and the omelet was soft and sweet, a real treat. Take a bit of everything in one mouthful, rice, omelet, eel, a little wasabi, pickled ginger and green onion, and it's pure heaven! ![A spoonful of eel, omelet and rice together](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon-17-1e32i-900.webp) Eel rice bowls can get a little heavy partway through, but not here. I enjoyed it to the very last bite. ## What comes in the basic kaisendon? ![Basic kaisendon set at Ilpum Magok](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon-18-1s1bx-966.webp) Next, instead of the premium kaisendon that Lee Young-ja picked, I ordered the basic kaisendon. ![Basic kaisendon topped with seafood](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon-19-kqaom-966.webp) Even though it's the basic one rather than the premium, it didn't feel skimpy at all. ![Sashimi on the basic kaisendon](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon-20-1wvi8-m-966.webp) ![Shrimp on the basic kaisendon](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon-21-1mduz-966.webp) ![Ankimo in the basic kaisendon](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon-22-1jo1x-966.webp) It has a variety of sashimi, shrimp and even ankimo (monkfish liver), so picking out one piece at a time was fun. ![Kaisendon seafood and seasoned rice](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon-23-g7c2s-966.webp) ![Kaisendon wrapped in seaweed and gamtae](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon-24-3sr6o-966.webp) The rice is seasoned too, so it goes well with the seafood. Wrapping it in the seaweed and white kimchi served on the side was delicious, and eating it with gamtae (a fine seaweed) was a treat as well. Above all, the ingredients were really fresh, and I was satisfied the whole way through. ## Tempura udon and tofu pudding dessert Ilpum Magok also brought out udon during the meal, and it wasn't plain udon but tempura udon. Little details like that made me think the quality is good all round. Finally, near the end of the meal, a dessert was served too. It had a soft, tofu-pudding-like texture with a sweet sauce on top, a perfect palate cleanser after eating. ## My thoughts on trying kaisendon for the first time If you want fresh kaisendon, sushi and a proper eel rice bowl in Magok, I totally recommend Ilpum Magok. This was my first time trying kaisendon and it was honestly such a treat, haha. If you like Japanese food, it's worth a visit at least once. ## Where it is - Ilpum Magok (일품 마곡점) - 112 Leaders Tower, 228 Gonghang-daero, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 강서구 공항대로 228 112호 일품 마곡점 - 37.5584383, 126.8328227 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%9D%BC%ED%92%88%20%EB%A7%88%EA%B3%A1%EC%A0%90/@37.5584383,126.8328227,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@lunch-detour-map/balsan-ilpum-unagidon-basic-kaisendon/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt