# Jongno Japanese restaurant for raw shrimp sushi: Ilpum Gwanghwamun - By Dambaek (https://superchart.com/en/@mirror-and-menu/) - Written Sep 9, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Jongno, Seoul - Sponsored: This review was written with support from the restaurant. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@mirror-and-menu/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@mirror-and-menu/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum/index.md) ## In short Ilpum Gwanghwamun is a Japanese restaurant in Jongno, Seoul, near Gwanghwamun Station. After reserving counter seats, we had ₩26,000 kaisendon and ₩28,000 sushi, with thick sashimi and clean-tasting raw shrimp sushi standing out. Ilpum Gwanghwamun is a place I’d revisit when I’m craving kaisendon in Gwanghwamun. ## Good to know - **Location**: 223, B2, Le Meilleur Jongno Town, 19 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea - **Hours**: Mon–Sat 11:00–21:30 (break 15:00–17:30); closed Sunday - **Parking**: Building parking available; 2 hours free parking supported - **Kaisendon**: ₩26,000 - **Premium kaisendon**: ₩37,000 - **Today’s sushi**: ₩28,000 - **Whole unagi don**: ₩40,000 *as written by the visitor on Sep 9, 2026* ## Ilpum Gwanghwamun, close to Gwanghwamun Station ![Exterior of Ilpum Gwanghwamun in the basement of Le Meilleur Jongno Town](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum-01-1habh-960.webp) Ilpum is on B2 of Le Meilleur Jongno Town. It’s a three-minute walk from Exit 4 of Gwanghwamun Station, or five minutes from Exit 1 of Jonggak Station! Seeing the long row of waiting benches outside, I got the feeling lunch comes with a wait. I recommend reserving ahead like I did. > 📍 Location: 223, B2, Le Meilleur Jongno Town, 19 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea > ⏰ Hours: Mon–Sat 11:00–21:30 (break time 15:00–17:30 / closed Sunday) > 🅿️ Parking: Building parking available, with 2 hours of free parking support ## Counter seats and plenty of table seating ![Counter seating area inside Ilpum Gwanghwamun](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum-02-2gpww-960.webp) ![Interior seating area at Ilpum Gwanghwamun](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum-03-i80op-960.webp) ![Cooking area behind the counter at Ilpum Gwanghwamun](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum-04-iu7hw-960.webp) I reserved and sat at the counter! The great thing about counter seating is getting to watch the food being prepared right in front of you, haha. It’s fun to watch, so it’s perfect for dining solo too. There were plenty of tables farther inside, so families or groups of friends can visit comfortably. It was also handy that you can order right away by QR code at every seat without having to call over staff. ![Seat with QR ordering at Ilpum Gwanghwamun](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum-05-n3khu-960.webp) ![Table seating inside Ilpum Gwanghwamun](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum-06-u97d2-960.webp) The walls were packed with celebrity signatures, so this really seems like a legit local favorite... A small but thoughtful touch: each seat has a wooden hanger for your coat! ## Kaisendon and today’s sushi prices ![Japanese menu at Ilpum Gwanghwamun](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum-07-1fhug-960.webp) ![Menu and price information at Ilpum Gwanghwamun](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum-08-19dk0-720.webp) ![Kaisendon menu at Ilpum Gwanghwamun](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum-09-usu49-720.webp) ![Sushi menu at Ilpum Gwanghwamun](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum-10-szg5x-720.webp) Here’s the menu! Kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) is ₩26,000 / premium kaisendon ₩37,000, while today’s sushi is ₩28,000 / whole unagi don (grilled eel rice bowl) ₩40,000. It’s not exactly cheap, but every main comes with chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), a noodle dish, and dessert, so it feels like a course meal. The three of us ordered two kaisendon and one sushi set! ## Miso soup and fluffy steamed egg ![Miso soup and steamed egg side dishes](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum-11-159gt-859.webp) ![Fluffy steamed egg and miso soup](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum-12-aoviz-665.webp) First up, the side dishes were miso soup and steamed egg! The steamed egg was soft and fluffy like pudding, and a sip of the soup warmed me right up. It would be even better in winter, haha. ![Sushi selection with flounder and raw shrimp](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum-13-kkiv3-960.webp) ![Ilpum sushi topped with assorted sashimi](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum-14-19fp9-720.webp) ## A sushi selection where the raw shrimp really shone Here’s the sushi selection! The slices of sashimi were seriously huge... good things should be big... From flounder and shrimp to raw shrimp and tuna, the variety was so good. The raw shrimp was especially delicious that day: not fishy at all, so I polished it off in no time. I started with a light dip in soy sauce, then ended up eating it plain just to taste the fish itself. ![Large raw shrimp and tuna sushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum-15-1cw9y-720.webp) The raw shrimp was even topped with caviar, which was a treat for both the eyes and the mouth, haha. ![Raw shrimp sushi topped with caviar](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum-16-6alvp-720.webp) ![Futomaki and dessert udon](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum-17-hej2x-720.webp) The complimentary futomaki (thick sushi roll) and the udon that came as dessert were insanely good too... Just look at that cross-section—so generously packed. ## Thick-cut kaisendon wrapped in seaweed ![A bowl of kaisendon topped with thick-cut sashimi](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum-18-1hb3a-820.webp) And then, the long-awaited kaisendon! Thick-cut sashimi of different kinds was piled on so generously that you could barely see the rice. The squid sashimi had that wonderfully chewy texture. Being able to try salmon, tuna, flounder, and even scallop all in one bowl was the best. ![Kaisendon with salmon, tuna, and scallop](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum-19-13l90-720.webp) The kaisendon also comes with seaweed, so wrapping it up like this is part of the fun, haha. ![Kaisendon served with seaweed](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum-20-1xx65-720.webp) ![Salmon kaisendon wrapped in seaweed](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum-21-1ndxl-720.webp) ![Tuna kaisendon wrapped in seaweed](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum-22-w6nra-720.webp) I wrapped salmon and rice in seaweed, then did the same with tuna, and it all disappeared in no time... The sashimi with just a little wasabi was truly exceptional. Is that why the restaurant is called Ilpum—“the best”? Haha! Ilpum is a great Japanese restaurant in Gwanghwamun for family gatherings, dates, or office lunches and dinners. If only I had enough money to come every day, haha. I’ll probably be back the next time I’m craving kaisendon in Gwanghwamun! ## Where it is - Ilpum Gwanghwamun (일품 광화문점) - 223, B2, Le Meilleur Jongno Town, 19 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 종로구 종로 19 지하2층 223호 일품 광화문점 - 37.5708344, 126.9798606 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%9D%BC%ED%92%88%20%EA%B4%91%ED%99%94%EB%AC%B8%EC%A0%90/@37.5708344,126.9798606,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@mirror-and-menu/gwanghwamun-kaisendon-dacci-ilpum/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt