# Japanese restaurant near Deoksugung with free 60-minute parking: Tawa

- By Somi Kwon (https://superchart.com/en/@nakwon-quiet-table/)
- Written Sep 17, 2026
- Local places › Restaurants › Jung-gu, Seoul
- Sponsored: This post was written based on a complimentary in-store dining experience provided by the restaurant.
- English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@nakwon-quiet-table/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi/
- Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@nakwon-quiet-table/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi/index.md)

## In short

Tawa is a Japanese restaurant on basement level 1 of Hansan Building near City Hall Station and Deoksugung in Jung-gu, Seoul. One table at Tawa covered kaisendon (sashimi rice bowl) at 25,000 won, topped with ankimo monkfish liver, and hitsumabushi (Nagoya-style grilled eel rice bowl) at 30,000 won, finished as eel ochazuke with green tea poured over the rice. With the first 60 minutes of parking free, Tawa is an easy pick for a group driving into central Seoul.

## Good to know

- **Location**: Unit 102, Basement Level 1, Hansan Building, 115 Seosomun-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
- **Kaisendon**: 25,000 won
- **Hitsumabushi**: 30,000 won
- **Parking**: First 60 minutes free, 5,000 won per additional 60 minutes (max 40,000 won)
- **Parking entrances**: 2 entrances — turn right from the main road, turn left from the side street
- **Seating**: Counter seats, tables for 2 and 4, private room available by reservation
- **Waiting**: Sign up on the Catch Table kiosk in front of the restaurant
- **Price reference**: ₩25,000 ≈ $18 · ₩30,000 ≈ $21.5 (2026-09-19)

*as written by the visitor on Sep 17, 2026*

Hi, I'm Haraminu! Today I'm reviewing Tawa, a Japanese restaurant near City Hall Station.

![Main photo of Tawa, a Japanese restaurant near City Hall Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi-01-r7wwj-1200.webp)

> Tawa

![Entrance with the Tawa sign visible](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi-02-1bo6s-900.webp)

## Where is Tawa, and how does the free 60-minute parking work?

Tawa is a Japanese restaurant on the basement level of Hansan Building on Seosomun-ro. Located in a building near City Hall Station, Tawa has that upscale Japanese-restaurant feel the moment you reach the entrance.

![Entrance to Tawa on the basement level of Hansan Building](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi-03-tmkpy-900.webp)

![Catch Table waiting kiosk in front of the restaurant](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi-04-10cuc-900.webp)

It's on the first basement level of the building. There's a Catch Table kiosk out front, so registering to wait is easy ◡̈⋆*

🚘 Parking info

- First 60 minutes free
- Extra ₩5,000 per 60 minutes, max ₩40,000
- There are 2 parking entrances
- Coming via the main road — turn right
- Coming via the small road — turn left and you'll find it

![Wood-toned interior of Tawa](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi-05-6t7dg-900.webp)

## Inside Tawa: counter seats, tables and private room booking

Tawa's interior is a warm yet modern wood-toned design. It's an upscale but tidy, cozy restaurant — I really liked the atmosphere.

![Dining hall with counter seats and tables](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi-06-oipdp-900.webp)

There's a range of seating from counter seats to tables for 2 and 4, so it works well for solo dining or dates ♥

![Private room seating](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi-07-17hnm-900.webp)

You can also book a private room, so private meals are possible too. It'd be great for important gatherings or a blind date.

![Tawa's menu](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi-08-1wf5h-900.webp)

![Page of Japanese set-meal menu items](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi-09-1bqkx-900.webp)

![Page of eel and sashimi side dish options](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi-10-5gn7f-900.webp)

![Menu listing kaisendon and hitsumabushi prices](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi-11-7xa8z-900.webp)

## Tawa menu and prices

Tawa has neat Japanese set-meal dishes that are great for a proper meal, plus premium side dishes like eel and sashimi that set the mood. Kaisendon is ₩25,000, hitsumabushi is ₩30,000.

![Japanese set meal served on a tray](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi-12-dkqt3-m-900.webp)

These are the dishes we ordered. They come plated neatly as a set on an elegant tray ᶫᵒᵛᵉ⠀̆̎ෆ

![Kaisendon piled high with sashimi](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi-13-yfn3n-900.webp)

## Kaisendon, 25,000 won — sashimi rice bowl topped with ankimo monkfish liver

Tawa's kaisendon (sashimi rice bowl) is a ₩25,000 bowl piled with premium seafood. The rice is completely hidden under thick, generous slices of sashimi.

![Kaisendon topped with flounder, salmon, tuna, squid, and ankimo](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi-14-9am6r-900.webp)

It's a premium bowl topped with flounder, salmon, tuna, squid, and even ankimo (anglerfish liver). It comes with a house-made radish side dish, and the fancy homemade seasoning kept my chopsticks going back for more ദി ᷇ᵕ ᷆ )

Every slice of sashimi was so fresh, with zero fishiness, and had a dense, chewy texture that filled the mouth. The ankimo on top had a really luxurious, savory richness.

![Kaisendon sashimi eaten with perilla leaf](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi-15-fw6o4-900.webp)

The freshness of the sashimi was really great. Perilla leaves are served alongside, and dipping one lightly in soy sauce with a piece of sashimi on top sends the fragrance exploding ( •͈ᴗ-)ᓂ-ෆ

The rice was also cooked perfectly fluffy, so laying each piece of sashimi on top and eating it made me so happy 💗 I have to fully declare this a City Hall Station favorite,,

![Nagoya-style hitsumabushi piled with eel](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi-16-7lkld-900.webp)

## Hitsumabushi, 30,000 won — Nagoya-style grilled eel rice bowl

We also ordered hitsumabushi (₩30,000), the Nagoya-style grilled eel rice bowl with a light charcoal aroma wafting off it. The bowl is generously piled with eel grilled to a golden brown.

![Close-up of golden-grilled hitsumabushi eel](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi-17-1dud3-900.webp)

The grilling was truly perfect — nicely crisp and golden on the outside while staying moist inside ( *'ч' *)っΨ

The sauce wasn't overly sharp or sweet — instead there was a subtle, upscale sweetness and deep savoriness, so I could eat it all the way through without getting tired of it ⋆˚.•✩

![Guide on the table explaining how to eat hitsumabushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi-18-1x1rd-900.webp)

### How to eat eel ochazuke with green tea poured over the rice

There was a guide at the table showing how to enjoy hitsumabushi in different ways. Following the guide, I tried making ochazuke too. Portion some rice and eel into the empty bowl provided, then gently pour warm green tea over it!

![Eel ochazuke with green tea poured over it](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi-19-167nf-900.webp)

It was my first time making ochazuke, and the harmony of the fragrant green tea with the savory richness of the eel was really wonderful.

![Bowl of ochazuke topped with perilla leaf](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi-20-8cge8-900.webp)

Adding a bit of perilla leaf on top doubles the elegance haha. It was a really comforting way to finish the meal ♡゛

## Is Tawa worth a visit near Deoksugung?

- 🤍 An upscale Japanese restaurant near City Hall Station, complete with private rooms
- 🤍 The hitsumabushi with its subtle charcoal aroma comes highly recommended
- 🤍 A great-atmosphere restaurant for a blind date near City Hall Station

## Where it is

- Tawa (타와)
- 115 Seosomun-ro, Hansan Building B1 Unit 102, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- 서울특별시 중구 서소문로 115 한산빌딩 지하1층 102호 타와
- 37.5634157, 126.973652
- Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%ED%83%80%EC%99%80/@37.5634157,126.973652,17z

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Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@nakwon-quiet-table/tawa-deoksugung-parking-hitsumabushi/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt