Garak-dong izakaya lunch sets: sushi, cold soba and rice bowl at Haru

The vibe at Haru Izakaya Garak Main Branch

Tucked down an alley, the cozy, quiet exterior gave off real Japanese local vibes — it felt like stepping into a tiny back-alley eatery in Tokyo.

Inside, the wood-toned interior paired with soft hanji-paper lighting gave a warm, comfortable feel. Bamboo partitions divided the space into private nooks, great for conversation, and the sake bottles and mood-setting posters on the walls added that classic izakaya flair.

The lunch special menu and what we ordered

Once seated, we looked over the lunch menu, which had a nice range of affordable lunch specials — house-made cold soba, old-school pork cutlet, sashimi rice bowls and more. We ordered the signature sashimi sushi set along with a hearty rice bowl set.

Our food soon arrived on a neat wooden tray, generously laid out. The spread was so vivid it nearly filled the whole table — I couldn't help but be impressed. Sushi, cold soba, rice bowl, udon, pork cutlet — getting all of that in one lunch made this feel like a seriously satisfying Garak-dong lunch spot.

The sushi, cold soba and cutlet in the sashimi sushi set

We started with the signature sashimi sushi set. Five pieces of fresh raw fish sushi, house-made cold soba floating with shaved ice, and crispy fried house-made pork cutlet arrived together as a perfect combo.

The sushi was cut long and thick, generously draping over the rice. Dipped lightly in soy sauce, that first bite delivered the chewy, sweet, fresh flavor unique to raw fish, filling my whole mouth. The vinegared rice was seasoned just right, and the sharp kick of wasabi rounded it out — quality that rivaled a dedicated sushi restaurant.

The cold soba included in the set had an amazing broth. A rich tsuyu broth mixed with grated radish, chopped scallions and wasabi, slurped together with the noodles, cooled me down from the inside out. The chewy bite of the buckwheat noodles and the deep umami of the broth came together beautifully — this really showed why it's known as a cold soba spot near Garak Market Station.

The house-made pork cutlet exceeded expectations too. The batter stayed crisp while the inside was packed with moist, tender pork, giving it a great texture to bite into. Paired with the sweet-savory house cutlet sauce and crunchy cabbage salad, I enjoyed every last piece without feeling greasy.

The sizzling stone-pot rice bowl set

Next came the rice bowl set, arriving in a piping-hot stone pot still sizzling — just the sound and sight of it made my mouth water. It was piled colorfully and generously with popping flying fish roe, crunchy pickled radish, chopped stir-fried kimchi, savory seaweed flakes and fresh radish sprouts.

Mixing it all together with a spoon and taking a big bite, the flying fish roe popped in my mouth, and the nutty sesame oil aroma blended fantastically with the spicy-sweet stir-fried kimchi. From the fresh sushi to the cool cold soba, the savory rice bowl and the crispy pork cutlet, every dish balanced beautifully, making for a very satisfying meal. If you're looking for a hearty lunch spot in Garak-dong, I'd definitely recommend stopping by.

🌱A shy one-line verdict: fresh sushi, icy cold soba, stone-pot rice bowl and crispy pork cutlet — Garak-dong's best lunch spot for both value and taste!