Gwanghwamun Station sushi lunch, aged salmon 10-piece: Elephant Sushi

Where is Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun and how do you get there?

Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is on the B1 floor of KT Gwanghwamun, which is connected to Exit 2 of Gwanghwamun Station. Underground parking was available, but we took the subway and got off at Exit 2 to find it.

We visited yesterday. The interior is so pretty and clean that it really catches your eye.

• Hours: daily 11:00–21:00
• Break time: 15:00–17:00
• Address: B109-5, B1, 178 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Seating and tablet ordering at Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun

There are bar-style counter (dacchi) seats as well as regular tables, and ordering was easy, done on a tablet.

You can also watch the sushi being made. It's a really high-quality sushi place, and it turns out it's well known as a lunch spot near Gwanghwamun Station.

What's on the Elephant Sushi menu?

The menu had a wide range: sushi sets, à la carte pieces, hoedeopbap (raw fish rice bowl), kaisendon (seafood rice bowl), and a kids' sushi set. We ordered the Elephant Sushi B set and the 10-piece salmon sushi.

I liked that the spoons, chopsticks and wet wipes were all set out neatly.

The broth and salad came out first. The broth was richer than at other sushi places, which made it even better.

What comes in the Elephant Sushi 12-piece B set?

The B set has 12 pieces and lets you try many kinds of fish: 2 pieces of fresh white fish, plus salmon, shrimp, blue-backed fish, tuna, monkfish liver (ankimo), amberjack and striped jack. It was colorful and the sushi looked so pretty.

The selection changes day to day, but we came on a day with futomaki (thick sushi roll) and abalone. The abalone was really delicious, and the futomaki with shrimp and salmon was a great combination.

The flounder was also very fresh and good quality, and the soy sauce isn't too salty, so you can dip generously and it's still tasty. I like places with good sushi soy sauce, haha. And with the set menu you also get cold soba, which is perfect with sushi on a hot summer day.

How does Elephant Sushi age its fish at low temperature?

Elephant Sushi says it ages all its live fish at low temperature in the traditional sushi way, adjusting the salt and aging time for each type of fish, and serves it when moisture and firmness are perfect. The technique is rare at this price, and the quality was clearly different.

There was no fishy smell at all and the sushi tasted great. If you download the Kirin draft beer coupon, tap save and notifications, then use it in the store, you get draft beer free. And if you join in with a Naver review, you also get sweet fried shrimp as a service!

The mini cold soba served with the B set and salmon sushi

The mini cold soba here was so good, loaded with seaweed flakes and slushy ice. It was hot out, and cold noodles are a must with sushi, so I was about to order cold soba, and having it included in the set made me even happier.

When we ordered the 10-piece salmon sushi, it also came with a mini cold soba, so we each got to try one. Nice!

What to see in Gwanghwamun before a sushi lunch at Elephant Sushi

• Located on B1 of KT Gwanghwamun, connected to Exit 2 of Gwanghwamun Station!
• After a show at Sejong Center, just cross the road!
• Great for sushi when you get hungry after visiting Kyobo Book Centre!
• Good for sushi after Gwanghwamun Square and Gyeongbokgung!

Is the 10-piece aged salmon sushi at Elephant Sushi worth ordering?

If you like salmon, you have to try the salmon sushi at Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun, which melted in my mouth. Maybe because the salmon is aged, it was so much softer and really delicious. You'll regret it if you skip it!

Now I see why it's famous as a favorite of the US and Australian embassies... The sushi made by the chefs right after you order was on another level. Next time I'm in Gwanghwamun, I'm going to Elephant Sushi again!

It's hot, so a glass of Kirin draft beer too! If you're looking for a good place near Gwanghwamun Station, come to Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun.