# Seongsu izakaya date with mackerel sushi and aged sashimi: Tenba - By Haeju (https://superchart.com/en/@neon-cork-seoul/) - Written Sep 9, 2026 - Local places › Bars › Seongdong, Seoul - Sponsored: This visit was sponsored by the business. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@neon-cork-seoul/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@neon-cork-seoul/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/index.md) ## In short Tenba is an izakaya bar on Yeonmujang-gil in Seongdong, Seoul. From counter seats, I watched mackerel pressed sushi being made and paired a two-person aged sashimi platter with Sapporo draft beer. Tenba made for a thoroughly satisfying date-night dinner. ## Good to know - **Hours**: 17:30–24:00 (last order 23:00) - **Regular closing day**: Every Monday - **Parking**: No parking; use a nearby public parking lot - **Seating**: Counter seats and tables for four *as written by the visitor on Sep 9, 2026* ![Izakaya meal at Tenba in Seongsu](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date-01-xke88-966.webp) I found this atmospheric izakaya in Seongsu and came in for a date night. From the fresh, thick-cut aged sashimi and mackerel pressed sushi to the kind service from the staff, it was an all-around very satisfying dinner. ![Visit to Tenba, an izakaya in Seongsu](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date-02-ofml0-966.webp) ## Tenba Seongsu hours and parking - Hours: 17:30–24:00 - Last order: 23:00 - Closed every Monday - No parking available Since this is Seongsu, parking is difficult, so you will need to use a nearby public parking lot. Tenba is on the first floor of the building. ## Soft lighting and counter-seat atmosphere Tenba's interior is a little dark but softly lit, and it felt like the kind of izakaya that many groups of women and couples come to visit. ![Tenba interior with soft lighting](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date-03-tp4m6-966.webp) There are seats ranging from counter seats to tables for four, so you can choose where you would like to sit. Since there were two of us, we chose the counter, and it was nice to watch the cooking right in front of us. From the cabinet décor to every individual dish, everything fits the restaurant's mood so well and feels stylish. ![Cabinet décor at Tenba](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date-04-1dxm5-966.webp) ![Stylish dishes and interior at Tenba](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date-05-1he1z-966.webp) ## What you can order at Tenba ![Tenba signature menu](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date-06-vmffl-942.webp) These are Izakaya Tenba's signature dishes :) There were so many choices—including aged sashimi, mackerel pressed sushi, uni cream gim pasta, marinated Korean melon with prosciutto, large Spanish mackerel fry with smoked tartare, negitoro-don, and sea bream carpaccio—that it was hard to decide. The red scallop and clam butter sake steam, as well as the futomaki, also seemed to be popular choices. ![텐바 종이 메뉴판과 가격](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date-07-1lp04-966.webp) Please refer to the photo for the paper menu and prices! There is also a wide selection of drinks. ## Aged sashimi and mackerel pressed sushi dinner The basic sides were dressed seaweed and sashimi soy sauce. The seaweed salad was slightly tangy and nutty, so I kept reaching for it. ![Dressed seaweed and sashimi soy sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date-08-1sl5q-966.webp) ![Basic side dish of dressed seaweed](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date-09-5xu31-966.webp) They sliced and prepared our mackerel pressed sushi right before our eyes. Preparing mackerel seems like a dish that quietly takes a lot of work, and they made it look incredibly pretty too. ![Mackerel pressed sushi made at the counter](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date-10-12kln-966.webp) Our order arrived~ We ordered the two-person assorted sashimi, mackerel pressed sushi, and Sapporo draft beer. ![Assorted sashimi and mackerel pressed sushi spread](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date-11-bhf9r-966.webp) A presentation that makes you happy just looking at it. Snap a photo, and the table is set! ### Two-person assorted aged sashimi The assorted aged sashimi comes with 10 kinds of fresh seasonal sashimi. They first told us to eat the live abalone topped with abalone innards sauce before it cooled, so we did. It was the best abalone I have eaten in my life.. The warm, chewy yet tender abalone and savory sauce felt heavenly in my mouth. I only wished there had been more than one piece. ![Live abalone topped with abalone innards sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date-12-11zps-966.webp) ![Live abalone from the assorted aged sashimi](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date-13-oaifo-966.webp) The sweet shrimp was also amazing lightly dipped in soy sauce—it melted and spread through my mouth like exceptionally luxurious marinated crab meat. ![Sweet shrimp with soy sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date-14-cm45w-966.webp) As befits such a premium ingredient, the uni (sea urchin roe) had a rich, soft nuttiness that went wonderfully with gim (roasted seaweed). ![Uni with roasted seaweed](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date-15-il85n-966.webp) ![Uni in the assorted aged sashimi](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date-16-159on-966.webp) The lean and belly cuts of red sea bream were mild and pleasantly chewy. ![Aged red sea bream lean and belly cuts](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date-17-1k0tn-966.webp) The lean and belly cuts of bluefin tuna, along with the salmon, were softly savory with just the right amount of richness. For a blue-backed fish, there was lightly vinegared herring. It had no fishiness at all and was a flavor I was trying for the first time. I had heard herring is difficult to prepare, and indeed, there were no fine bones and it tasted so clean. ![Lightly vinegared herring aged sashimi](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date-18-1valg-966.webp) ![Lightly vinegared herring and assorted aged sashimi](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date-19-1a76q-966.webp) The smoked Spanish mackerel was mild and chewy, with a pronounced smoky aroma that felt very refined. ### Shime saba bo-zushi ![Shime saba bo-zushi mackerel pressed sushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date-20-zy8u2-966.webp) ![Mackerel pressed sushi made at the counter](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date-21-1hlny-966.webp) The mackerel pressed sushi was a dish I was especially excited about because it was made right in front of us. Lime juice over the sushi gave it a subtle tang, while the top of the mackerel was lightly torched for a hint of charred aroma, letting its freshness come through. It is delicious on its own or wrapped in gim. ![Mackerel pressed sushi with lime juice and charred aroma](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date-22-ti3eh-966.webp) ![Mackerel pressed sushi eaten with roasted seaweed](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date-23-2inb0-966.webp) Mackerel can usually leave a fishy aftertaste, but the fish was so fresh and the lime juice cut through it, leaving my mouth clean even after the meal. I was very pleased. ![Futomaki being prepared with a generously filled center](https://img.superchart.com/images/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date-24-1psqg-966.webp) I also watched them make futomaki, and it looked delicious with such a generously filled center. I would like to try some other dishes next time. When we paid and left, I noticed that Izakaya Tenba even offered free hangover-relief drinks. It was a great restaurant with wonderful service and thoughtful touches too 👍🏻 ## Where it is - Tenba (텐바) - 41-22 Yeonmujang-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울특별시 성동구 연무장길 41-22 1층 텐바) - 서울특별시 성동구 연무장길 41-22 1층 텐바 - 37.5433674, 127.0542183 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%ED%85%90%EB%B0%94/@37.5433674,127.0542183,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@neon-cork-seoul/seongsu-tenba-mackerel-sushi-date/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt