Hapjeong kaisendon with mackerel stick sushi: Makise Hapjeong

Today I want to introduce a kaisendon spot in Hapjeong. I visited with my boyfriend for our 3rd anniversary, and he loved it so much I felt so proud haha.

Makise Hapjeong — let's get right into the review.

How to find Makise Hapjeong, and where to park

Makise Hapjeong is a 7-minute walk from Hapjeong Station Exit 8. It's tucked into a small alley inside the 'meokgeori matgil' food street.

There's no parking on site, so if you're driving, I'd recommend the Mapo Hangang Prugio 1cha apartment public parking lot nearby.

Inside Makise Hapjeong: seating and atmosphere

Inside Makise Hapjeong there's a range of seating, from bar tables to 4-person tables. Great for solo dining, and honestly a really nice vibe for couples too 👍

There's also a handy tip on the table for how to eat it deliciously, so take a look.

The menu and ordering by table kiosk

Makise Hapjeong's signature dishes are kaisendon and sakedon (salmon rice bowl). They also serve seasonal specials like mackerel stick sushi and buri-don (yellowtail rice bowl), so it's worth checking ahead. (I actually messaged them to ask if mackerel stick sushi would be available, and they kindly said they'd prepare it for us — so, so nice 💗)

You order via a kiosk at each table, and you can add options like extra uni or extra salmon.

• Set A for Two (with drink): 45,000 won
• Mackerel stick sushi 4p: 12,000 won

What you get in Set A for Two, 45,000 won

We ordered the Set A for Two with drink, which comes with kaisendon for two + cheese fries 2p + 1 drink. Is 45,000 won even legal for that. Usually one kaisendon alone at other Japanese restaurants runs 25,000 won, so in that respect Makise Hapjeong is seriously good value.

The 13-piece kaisendon, piece by piece

First up, the kaisendon: 2 types of white fish, tuna, salmon, 2 types of seasonal sashimi, shrimp, squid, ankimo (monkfish liver), for 13 pieces total. A generous variety of sashimi so you get to enjoy a bit of everything.

Every piece was fresh, and above all none of it had that fishy smell — as someone with a sensitive nose, I'm handing out the pass medal 🏅 The sashimi was chewy and springy, and they cut it nice and thick, so it was a pleasure to eat the whole way through.

Cheese fries, the side that comes with Set A

This is the cheese fries that come with Set A. It doesn't look that big in the photo, but in person it's actually pretty large.

They brought it out steaming hot straight from the fryer, and when you cut it in half the cheese stretches out — the visual was seriously tempting. Other reviews kept raving about how good the cheese fries are, which is exactly why I ordered Set A on purpose — and I'm glad I did, it was that good 🤤

Mackerel stick sushi, 4 pieces for 12,000 won

Next up, the mackerel stick sushi. You might be thinking we ordered too much — yes, we did. But my boyfriend had been singing about wanting mackerel stick sushi for ages, so I got it for him, hehe.

It's cured with the sushi-shop shimesaba method (vinegar-cured), and mackerel is normally a pretty fishy fish, but even I found it quite pleasant. The savory flavor came through much stronger than any fishiness..! There was pickled ginger inside too, which cut the richness and made the whole thing balance nicely.

The free encore sushi only at Makise Hapjeong

What makes Makise Hapjeong special is that they turn whichever sashimi piece stuck in your memory into a sushi for you — the so-called ⭐️encore sushi⭐️. I was too full, so my boyfriend requested his personal favorite, the Spanish mackerel, and got to enjoy it solo.

Taste, service, and price — Makise Hapjeong, a Hongdae-area kaisendon spot, delivered on all three fronts. I really felt like it was the right call to visit for our 3rd anniversary. If you want to make good memories with someone you love, definitely give it a try! Another delicious meal today.

• Seoul kaisendon restaurant, Hongdae kaisendon restaurant
• A great vibe that fits solo dining, dates, and group gatherings alike
• Amazing value: two kaisendon + two cheese fries + a drink, all for around 40,000 won
• A restaurant I'd love to revisit