Hongdae sushi restaurant with grilled eggplant sushi: Yu Iksang Sushi

Let me introduce Yu Iksang Sushi, where you can try sushi with extra-long tails in Hongdae. I came out of Hongik University Station Exit 9 and walked for about 10 minutes.

Why Hongdae’s extra-long-tail sushi is worth the wait

Ordinary sushi is no fun, right? Yu Iksang Sushi had been famous for its extra-long-tail sushi in Hongdae for ages, so I had really wanted to visit. To give you the conclusion first, it was not just visually unusual—the portions and flavor were both spot-on, and we left absolutely stuffed. I was a little surprised when a queue formed shortly after we went in. I guess popular places are popular for a reason.

How did the long fish on Couple A Plus feel?

🍣 Couple A Plus Long slices of fish that tasted truly fresh covered the rice, catching my eye right from the start. The fish was incredibly long and thick, so each bite filled my mouth with that satisfyingly springy, chewy texture.

As I ate, I got the feeling that the owner is definitely someone with a strong personality. Rather than making ordinary sushi, there was a clear sense of, “This is how we serve it here.” That character came through naturally in the size and showy composition of the extra-long-tail sushi. Most importantly, it was not just about the visuals—the sushi itself was delicious too. The staff were kind as well, so we could enjoy our meal in a great mood.

There was a varied lineup of salmon, tuna, and flounder, plus distinctive sushi topped with nutty tempura crumbs and sauce, so every bite felt different. I also saw couples on dates, and it looks like a great fit for couples seeking an unusual meal in Hongdae.

The fish stretched so far beyond the rice that I thought, “Is this really sushi?” It was the most striking sushi presentation I have ever seen. It was not simply made with a long tail—the fish was generously piled on too, so every piece felt like it filled my whole mouth. The overall plating was gorgeous as well, so it would be great for taking photos on a date.

Complimentary eggplant sushi

🍆 Eggplant sushi While we were happily eating, they kindly brought us carefully grilled eggplant sushi on the house. The sweet-savory seasoning had soaked in nicely, with a subtle smoky aroma, and it was more appealing than I had expected.

Yu Iksang Sushi menu lineup

A varied sushi lineup is ready for you to enjoy according to your tastes.

Set meals, couple sets, and assorted sushi

• Couple A, Couple B, A Set for Two, B Set for Two, VIP Set for Two
• Yu Iksang Special Sushi, Yu Iksang Sushi, Yu Iksang VIP Sushi, Yu Iksang Cooked Sushi

Yu Iksang Value Sets

• Yu Iksang Value Set Assorted Sushi, salmon/tamago aburi, flounder/tamago aburi, salmon/soy-marinated shrimp, flounder/soy-marinated shrimp
• Garlic salmon aburi/soy-marinated shrimp, eel/soy-marinated shrimp, flounder/cooked shrimp, flounder/raw shrimp, eel/raw shrimp, eel/cooked shrimp, salmon/raw shrimp
• Beef/cooked shrimp, beef/raw shrimp, beef/soy-marinated shrimp, salmon/garlic shrimp aburi

Single-piece sushi and other à la carte items

• Salmon, flounder, otoro/fatty tuna, garlic salmon aburi, mekadoro/swordfish belly, beef, cooked shrimp, soy-marinated shrimp
• Garlic shrimp aburi + tamago aburi, garlic salmon aburi, cold soba set

The unmistakable fun of extra-long-tail sushi, along with the flavor, portions, and plating, made this a Hongdae date spot that really stayed with me.

An interior for solo meals and dates alike

Step inside and the Japanese-animation-inspired interior and cute little decorations create the feeling of being at a local restaurant in Japan. With neat counter seats and table seats, it is just right for a solo meal as well as a date.

What I really liked about Yu Iksang Sushi was that it uses high-quality ingredients, and you can feel the care put into every piece of sushi. The owner and staff welcomed us kindly too, so we had a comfortable, enjoyable time throughout the meal.

With its generous fish texture and friendly service, this is a place I want to revisit whenever I am craving sushi. If you want special sushi near Hongdae that delivers both visual appeal and freshness, give it a visit.