Yeoksam Station eel restaurant with a mini hitsumabushi set: Chisot

Today I want to share a story about a delicious eel rice bowl I had near Yeoksam Station. With the change of seasons dragging my stamina down, I was trying to figure out what to eat as a pick-me-up, and I ended up going for eel rice bowl. The place I visited was Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch.

Where is Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch, and what are its hours?

• Address: 59 Bongeunsa-ro 30-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea (1F, Unit 102)
• Hours: Mon–Fri 11:00 – 21:30 / Saturday 11:00 – 15:00 / Closed Sundays
• Break time: Weekdays 15:00 – 17:00
• Last order: Weekdays 14:30 / 21:00, Saturday 14:30
• Parking: Not available

Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch is about a 10-minute walk from Exit 7 of Yeoksam Station, so it was plenty convenient to reach by public transport.

Arriving outside, the clean exterior caught my eye first. You can check the menu from outside too, so I got to mull over what to order before even stepping in.

Inside Chisot: bar seats for solo diners, tables for groups

Stepping inside Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch, I found table seats and bar seats side by side. It seemed handy for anything from solo dining to a date to a quick meal. There's also group seating, and up to 6 people can be accommodated with a reservation...! The bar seats especially make it a no-pressure spot for eating alone, which is why I wanted to recommend it to anyone searching for a good Japanese restaurant near Yeoksam Station. In fact, there were plenty of other solo diners besides me. haha

Chisot's signature dish: the hitsumabushi eel rice bowl

When you search for a good Japanese restaurant near Yeoksam Station, plenty of places with eel rice bowls or sake-don (salmon rice bowl) pop up, but among them Chisot felt like the place to go if you really want to eat proper hitsumabushi. So the moment I saw the menu, I decided on hitsumabushi. If you're looking for a clean, satisfying lunch or dinner near Yeoksam Station, this place is worth checking out.

Chisot's signature menu item is hitsumabushi. It's a Nagoya-style eel rice bowl where you start by eating the eel and rice as is, then add laver (gim), wasabi, and scallion, and finally pour broth over it to finish it off like ochazuke (rice in savory broth). It comes in mini, regular, and deluxe sizes. That day I didn't get greedy and ordered the mini hitsumabushi. It came out as a neat single set, easy to dig into!

How to eat hitsumabushi, step by step

Alongside the eel, laver, scallion, and wasabi were laid out, plus everything needed to finish it as ochazuke. There was even a helpful guide on how to eat hitsumabushi, which made the meal even more enjoyable. Shall we dig in together?

First, I tried the eel and rice just as they were. There was barely any fishy smell, and the flesh was plump and tender — genuinely delicious. If you've been hesitant about a good Japanese restaurant near Yeoksam Station because of eel's usual fishy edge, this might put your mind at ease. The eel's typical heaviness wasn't strong at all, and it blended so well with the sauce and rice that my spoon kept going back for more.

Second, I added the laver, scallion, and wasabi. Tasting the eel on its own versus with wasabi and scallion added felt distinctly different — the variety in texture was fun. You do have to be careful with how much wasabi you add. Finally, I added the broth to eat it like ochazuke, and even though it was the same eel rice bowl, this last stage was much softer and cleaner to eat. That's what makes hitsumabushi interesting — one dish enjoyed in several different ways.

What else is on the menu at Chisot besides eel?

Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch also has other Japanese dishes like sake-don and chashu-don (pork belly rice bowl), so it seems like a good spot even if you're with someone who doesn't like eel — everyone can order to their own taste. There are also side dishes to go with sake or draft beer. The menu is bigger than you'd expect, so check the photos!

Was the mini hitsumabushi at Chisot worth it?

Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch is a place that'll come to mind whenever I'm craving an eel rice bowl. I had the mini hitsumabushi, and the eel was so unfishy and springy that I really enjoyed it. It felt like a solid choice when you're looking for a good Japanese restaurant near Yeoksam Station but want something hearty without being too heavy for lunchtime. If you've been searching for a good Japanese restaurant near Yeoksam Station, give Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch a look.

Who should eat at Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch?

• Anyone looking for an eel rice bowl near Yeoksam Station
• Fans of Nagoya-style hitsumabushi
• Anyone who prefers eel without a fishy smell
• Fans of springy, plump eel texture
• Office workers hunting for a good Japanese restaurant near Yeoksam Station
• Anyone looking for a comfortable place to eat solo
• Anyone looking for a Japanese restaurant with bar seats
• Anyone who likes enjoying one dish in multiple ways