Late-night Seolleung sushi bar: two pieces of each nigiri at Sakai

On a day I had a dinner appointment in Seolleung, I really wanted proper, good sushi for once, so I went to Sakai.

I like tasting good-quality sushi one piece at a time like an omakase, but I actually prefer picking what I want to eat over following a set course. Sakai turned out to be exactly that kind of place.

The fish and menu available change a little day to day, and you can order whatever sushi you want piece by piece, so the whole meal felt like a little personal omakase. I already promised myself I'd come back. I think the next visit might end up being for a slightly more special occasion, haha.

Where Sakai is and how late the Seolleung sushi bar stays open

Sakai is at 15 Yeoksam-ro 67-gil, 1st floor, unit 101, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea, about 6 minutes from Seolleung Station Exit 1. It's open 17:00–01:00, closed the first Tuesday of every month, and there's no parking.

• 📍 Location: 15 Yeoksam-ro 67-gil, 1st floor, unit 101, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• 🚇 Transit: About 6 minutes from Seolleung Station Exit 1
• 🅿️ Parking: Not available
• ⏰ Hours: 17:00 – 01:00
• 🗓 Closed the first Tuesday of every month

The first thing you notice inside is the counter seating. You can watch the sushi being prepared right in front of you, and the overall vibe is small and calm — good for a drink with a friend or a date.

Best of all, you can enjoy sushi and sake late into the night, which makes it a solid pick if you're looking for late-night sushi near Seolleung Station!

Picking nigiri two pieces at a time at Sakai, omakase-style

This is what I liked most about Sakai. Instead of eating a set course in a fixed order, you can look at whatever's available that day and order the sushi and dishes you actually want.

Since the ingredients and menu change a little every day, you get to try a different lineup each time you visit, which I found really appealing. This time I picked 2 pieces each of mackerel, amberjack, flounder, red sea bream, and squid.

I ordered two pieces of each type so I could compare them, and honestly none of them felt like an afterthought. The sushi especially had such a good rice-to-fish balance that finishing one piece naturally made me want to pick the next!

The mackerel kept its distinctive flavor without any off-putting fishiness, and the amberjack had a nice nutty taste and texture. Alternating between the clean-tasting flounder and red sea bream made each one's character stand out even more.

This was definitely a place for savoring each piece of sushi slowly, one at a time.

Abalone steamed in sake: the most tender dish of the night

Snow crab at Sakai, shelled and ready to eat

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