Jonggak Station sushi via Starfield's subway link: Choe Uyeong Sushiya

I visited Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch, located near the Starfield section connected to Jonggak Station.

Whenever I passed by, weekday or weekend, the place was always packed, so I was curious!

Especially on hot days like these, being able to walk straight from the subway to the store without going outside was a huge plus after work. The staff were kind and the menu felt like an absolute steal — I'm planning to go back soon!

Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch: location, hours, parking

Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch is at 7 Jongno 5-gil, B1 Unit 104, Jongno-gu, Seoul, connected to the basement of Starfield. It's open daily from 11:00 to 21:30, with a break time from 15:00 to 17:00, and offers 2 hours of free parking.

• Address: 7 Jongno 5-gil, B1 Unit 104, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 11:00 - 21:30 (break time 15:00 - 17:00)
• Parking: 2 hours free

Jonggak Station Exit 1 is the closest, but if you're not coming by subway like me, you can also walk in through the Starfield entrance and head down to B1.

On hot days especially, being able to use the cool indoor passage was great. The subway is close by and there's a bus stop right out front too, so it's a good meeting spot haha.

The storefront was visible even from a distance.

The store's location is easy to spot, making it a good place to arrange to meet, and also convenient to visit for lunch.

Solo seats, partitioned tables, and the weeknight dinner atmosphere

Inside Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch, there are seats where solo diners can eat comfortably, as well as tables divided by partial walls, making it good for small gatherings or after-work dinners. I visited on a weeknight evening and, as always, the place was packed with customers.

Choe Uyeong Sushiya's sushi is the real deal, but the sashimi lineup is also excellent. Personally, I'd recommend the sushi menu for lunch, and the sashimi menu for evening get-togethers or drinks.

The reviews were so good that I came in with high expectations, and here's what I ordered as the main dishes that day.

• Mixed sashimi: ₩40,000
• Premium top-grade sushi: ₩33,000

The cola came out cold in an ice-filled cup, which was nice, and on a non-weeknight the atmosphere would've been perfect for enjoying sashimi with a beer.

Premium top-grade sushi ₩33,000, what's in the 17 pieces?

The premium top-grade sushi came out first, with a total of 17 pieces.

Paired with the sashimi, the portion felt filling, and being able to enjoy so many different kinds of sushi at once exceeded my expectations!

Above all, the fish on top of the sushi was thick across the board, and pairing it with the house soy sauce and wasabi to taste brought out the flavor of the fish while adding even more umami.

Each piece was different, so if you enjoy a variety of sushi types, you'll likely be very satisfied.

What I especially liked, true to the name 'premium,' was that my favorite, salmon, was included as a given, and uni (sea urchin) was included too.

According to the website, the goal is to offer customers the highest quality seafood in generous portions at a reasonable price, and the actual composition really felt that way.

It felt like a lineup made up of only the popular, higher-priced items you'd find at a conveyor-belt sushi place, so I really got to enjoy premium sushi properly.

The three gunkan (battleship roll) pieces, including a large tamago (sweet egg) nigiri and a tako (octopus) gunkan, were also full of umami and had their own charm apart from the rest.

My favorite salmon nigiri was thick enough that it stayed rich and savory all the way through.

For anyone who loves sushi and cares about a good variety in the set, I'd recommend this menu haha. Given the composition and quality, the price is fairly reasonable, and I'd happily order it again.

Mixed sashimi ₩40,000: portion and thickness

Mixed sashimi

The mixed sashimi at Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch was even more generous in person than in the photos.

The variety was good, and each slice of fish was thick, so you could really feel the texture with every bite.

Salmon is a dish I really love, and pairing it with the onion sauce it came with worked well, though personally I was just as satisfied eating it plain, since the fish itself had such a nice richness. Even writing this, I find myself thinking about it again.

The portion was generous and the variety wide, making it feel like a special menu for office workers to enjoy after a long day at work.

Friendly service and final thoughts

Another strength of Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch, beyond the food, was the friendly service. Someone who appeared to be the owner was seen carefully attending to each table, which gave the impression the store was well managed.

I thought it would also make a great spot for a team dinner. Receiving kind service at the end of a tough day feels like something beyond just the food.

It's easy to see why the place was packed for both lunch and dinner on a weekday. Both the sushi and sashimi were high quality, and with its varied composition and reasonable prices, it's a real find near Jonggak Station.

Especially on hot days like these, free parking support plus the cool indoor passage through Starfield are big advantages.

For a day when you're craving premium sushi, or want to enjoy a generous variety of sashimi, I recommend this restaurant near Jonggak Station: Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch.