Seolleung sushi bar explaining China-origin uni, half fry order: Sakai

Today I want to introduce Sakai, a spot in Seolleung with a great atmosphere and satisfying sushi quality. It's an okonomi-style sushi place, meaning what you get to enjoy changes depending on what fish comes in that day. If you love sushi, this is a fun place to explore! Every piece of sushi tasted great, and it was perfect with a drink too — I had a really satisfying visit ♥

Sakai's location, hours and how to book

Sakai is located at 15 Yeoksam-ro 67-gil, 1F 101, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, a 6-minute walk from Seolleung Station Exit 1. It's open daily from 17:00 to 01:00, with last order at 00:00, and closed on the first Tuesday of every month.

Reservations are possible through two methods: Naver Reservation and Catch Table. If you're planning to visit, just check your preferred date and time through whichever method is convenient and book ahead!

Sakai's alley exterior and interior near Seolleung Station

Sakai sits in a quiet alley just slightly off the bustling main street near Seolleung Station.

I visited around 6pm on a weekday, and there was plenty of open seating at that time. The interior had a calm yet warm atmosphere that I liked. There were also plenty of table seats, so it seemed good whether you're visiting as a couple or in a larger group.

There's also counter seating, which I'd recommend to anyone who loves sushi. You can watch the chef prep the neta (fish topping) and make the sushi right in front of you, which adds to the fun of eating.

Sakai's menu and the Post-it ordering system

I visited alone and sat at the counter that day. As soon as I sat down, they gave me the menu. They explained that some items might be missing and new ones might be added depending on what neta came in that day.

So you check both the standard menu and today's neta written on the wall before ordering.

Once you sit down, they set you up with the menu along with a Post-it and pen — you write down what you want and order that way. Unfortunately, on the day I visited, they didn't have red seabream or snow crab, so I couldn't try those this time. Next time I come back, I definitely want to try the red seabream and snow crab!

Instead, they told me mantis shrimp had come in that day, so I immediately ordered 1 piece!

The basic table setting was clean. There was a separate soy sauce dish, so I poured some out, but the sushi here is seasoned to match each neta already, so you don't really need to dip it in soy sauce separately.

Sitting at the counter, I could watch the chef make each piece of sushi right in front of me — from prepping the fish to the finished sushi — so the waiting time never felt boring.

Suntory draft beer and nigiri at Sakai, one piece at a time

The Suntory draft beer came out first! Wow, it was seriously delicious ♥ The foam was incredibly soft and creamy, and it went down so cleanly that the first sip was completely satisfying.

Personally, the Suntory draft beer was just as memorable to me that day as the sushi. While I was drinking my beer, the sushi I'd ordered started coming out piece by piece.

Benjari (threeline grunt)

The surface was lightly torched, so as soon as it hit my mouth, a subtle smoky aroma came through followed by benjari's savory, rich flavor — the umami felt even deeper, so it was delicious right from the start!

Filefish

The filefish had liver mixed in, so as soon as I ate it, a rich, savory flavor spread smoothly. The filefish flesh had a firm yet chewy texture that paired really well with the soft liver. Personally, this is one I'd insist you try!

Mottled squid

The squid's subtle natural sweetness and thick, chewy texture were great. The more I chewed, the more the rich, savory flavor of the squid flesh came through, then finished with a lovely burst of fragrant lemon.

Otoro (fatty tuna belly)

The otoro melted the moment it hit my mouth. The more I chewed, the more the tuna's deep umami and rich fatty flavor spread through my mouth — the aftertaste lingered surprisingly long for just one piece. Otoro really never disappoints...

Abalone

There was liver on top of the abalone. At first, the liver's savory, rich flavor came through, then the abalone flesh gave a chewy texture as I chewed along its grain. The abalone's clean, delicate flavor blended beautifully with the liver.

Horse mackerel

The horse mackerel had soft, tender flesh, and the more I chewed, the more a savory flavor came through, along with a moderately fatty richness that left a deep flavor in my mouth. I personally love the savory flavor typical of blue-backed fish, so I really enjoyed this one!

Mackerel

The mackerel came topped with a ginger and scallion paste. The mackerel's characteristic fatty richness was fully there, but the ginger and scallion cut through any fishiness, so it was completely clean, no fishy taste at all. If you usually like mackerel sushi, you have to try this one. My personal favorite ♥

Botan shrimp

As they served the mantis shrimp, they explained the origin of its name — apparently the stripes on the tail and legs resemble barley ears, which is how it got its name. Hearing these little stories about each neta as I ate made it more fun! The shrimp meat was clean and savory, and the more I chewed, the more the shrimp's characteristic sweetness and aroma came through — really delicious.

Uni: "It's from China," the chef said first

As they served the uni, the first thing they said was "It's from China," which made me go, huh, at first. But they explained that with uni, it's not necessarily about a specific region being best — it's more about seasonal peak and the day's condition by region, and right now China-origin uni happened to be in great condition. After hearing that explanation and tasting it, it was genuinely delicious ~ The moment it hit my mouth, a rich, savory flavor burst out — one of the standout pieces of sushi I had that day. After this, I ordered 2 more pieces!

Amberjack

The amberjack was firm, with a chewy texture that got better the more I chewed, and garlic mixed in gave off a subtle aroma with each bite that paired well with the fish's savory flavor, making it even more delicious.

Sweet shrimp with egg yolk sauce

The sweet shrimp came topped with a sauce made from egg yolk. The sweet shrimp's characteristic sweetness and springy texture were well preserved, and with the savory egg yolk sauce added, the overall flavor became even softer and richer.

Which neta should you order at Sakai?

Honestly, every single piece of sushi I had that day was incredibly delicious, but if I had to recommend a few, I'd pick these four: filefish, benjari, mottled squid, and mackerel! Some of these neta and combinations aren't easy to find at other sushi restaurants, which made it feel even more special, and each one has such a distinct appeal that I really want you to try them.

• Filefish — the combination with liver mixed in
• Benjari — the subtle smoky aroma from light torching
• Mottled squid — the burst of lemon fragrance at the end
• Mackerel — fishiness cut by ginger and scallion paste

Sakai let me order just 2 pieces of horse mackerel fry

The horse mackerel fry was listed as 4 pieces on the menu, but since I'd seen in other reviews that a half order was possible, I tried ordering just 2 pieces. Maybe because it was fried fresh, it came out completely hot and crispy. The outside was crunchy while the fish inside stayed moist and tender — really tasty!

A drizzle of lemon juice added a refreshing touch, so it wasn't greasy at all. Personally, I want to recommend the horse mackerel fry just as much as the sushi — freshly fried, hot and crispy, with lemon and tartar sauce that worked so well together. It especially paired perfectly with the draft beer, so I'd definitely recommend having them together!

Is Sakai comfortable for solo dining near Seolleung?

I visited alone this time, and as I ate, I honestly felt like I was on a trip to Japan eating sushi ♥ The warm, calm atmosphere was great, and the staff were genuinely kind! Most of all, every piece of sushi had great quality and was so delicious :) There's also the fun of picking from whatever neta comes in that day, so anyone who loves sushi will especially enjoy this place. If you're looking for a great-atmosphere sushi restaurant in Seolleung, a good izakaya for solo drinking near Seolleung, or a quality sushi sakaba, I'd definitely recommend giving this place a visit!