Seolleung izakaya before the 6pm rush: mackerel sushi at Sakai

Today I'm bringing you a story about an izakaya near Seolleung Station where you can enjoy proper Japanese food and atmosphere — something I hadn't done in a while. I'd only heard about Sakai in Seolleung by word of mouth and went in with high expectations. Spoiler: from the food to the vibe, it was a total success.

Where is Sakai in Seolleung, and what does it look like?

Sakai is a Japanese izakaya you can easily walk to from Exit 1 of Seolleung Station, just 479m away. I didn't drive and took the subway instead. Coming out of Exit 1 of Seolleung Station, served by the Suin-Bundang Line and Line 2, I strolled along and quickly spotted Sakai's stylish exterior.

Even from the entrance, the clean yet warm, tidy Japanese pub atmosphere had me excited. Sakai is a cozy space designed for enjoying various okonomiyaki-style sushi alongside carefully made small dishes.

Sakai hours, closing days and parking

• Address: 15 Yeoksam-ro 67-gil, 1st floor, unit 101, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea (479m walk from Exit 1 of Seolleung Station, Suin-Bundang Line / Line 2)
• Hours: Mon–Sun 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM (last order midnight)
• Closed the first Tuesday of every month
• Closed Sep 21–27
• Parking: No parking available (public transit recommended)

Inside Sakai: why the room is full by 6pm

Walking into Sakai, the interior was much more pleasant and sleeker than I expected. The tables were spaced generously apart, so I could dine comfortably without being bothered by other diners' conversations.

From the pretty cups set on the table to every little prop, you could tell they'd put thought into it — perfect for a couples' date or a special occasion. I arrived a little before 6pm and there were already quite a few guests, but the moment 6 o'clock passed, the spacious dining room filled up completely. I was really glad I'd gotten there early.

What's on the menu at Sakai

Opening the menu, the options were really varied. From Sakai's signature nigirizushi (hand-pressed sushi) to Shizuoka's famous kuro oden (black-broth simmered dish), thick grilled hairtail or boneless grilled mackerel, plus fried dishes like sesseri sweet and sour chicken, chicken nanban, and tora no karaage — it was all there.

There was even seafood ramen for the hangover cure and cool clam miso soup, making it a perfect lineup for a few drinks.

What we ordered at Sakai, and how it tasted

After a long deliberation, I ordered the sashimi platter (sashimi moriawase), sesseri sweet and sour chicken, and mackerel sushi.

For reference, I can't handle alcohol very well — a total lightweight — so I ordered a cold non-alcoholic beer, and the owner kindly threw in a zero-sugar cola for free, which put me in a great mood right from the start.

Sashimi platter (sashimi moriawase), 34,000 won

Sakai's sashimi moriawase comes at ₩34,000 and included a rich, varied lineup: gizzard shad, horse mackerel, flounder, salmon, sweet shrimp, scallop, tamagoyaki (egg), and tuna. The moment it landed on the table, the sheer visual and generous portion made my jaw drop.

Above all, the sashimi was sliced incredibly thick. When I unfolded a piece that was doubled over with my chopsticks, it was basically thick enough to count as two pieces. I carefully photographed each slice, and the quality of the fish was just as impressive as it looked.

Sesseri sweet-and-sour chicken neck, 18,000 won

The sesseri sweet and sour chicken was ₩18,000 — made from chicken neck meat in a black vinegar sauce, and I sprinkled the lemon that came with it over the top, eating it with the vegetables. The lemon's fresh aroma added extra depth, and the chewy yet tender texture of the chicken neck meat paired beautifully with the sweet and tangy black vinegar sauce. It was crispy outside and moist inside, so I never got tired of it.

Sweet shrimp (amaebi) sushi

The sweet shrimp on the sashimi platter was really large, and the more I chewed, the more that sweet, melt-in-your-mouth umami spread through my mouth.

Mackerel sushi: thick slice, perfectly seasoned rice

Sakai's mackerel sushi looked serious from the start — the mackerel flesh stacked in thick layers, piled up prettily like a little cone. The moment I took a bite, an involuntary gasp escaped me.

The mackerel's savory fattiness and clean, fishy-smell-free taste were excellent, but above all, the seasoning and stickiness of the rice (shari) were perfect. The moment I ate it, I thought, 'Next time I definitely need to order the sushi separately' — the rice was that good.

Scallop sushi

The scallop had no fishy smell at all, and the natural softness of the adductor muscle combined with its thick texture made for a really satisfying chew.

Is Sakai in Seolleung worth it? Final verdict

Having experienced it firsthand, I could clearly see why Sakai fills up so early with guests. The emotional interior and atmosphere, the reasonable prices, the fresh and thick quality of the fish, and the friendly service — nothing was lacking anywhere.

For anyone near Seolleung Station wanting to enjoy delicious sashimi and drinking snacks, I recommend Sakai.