Pungnap-dong sashimi bar: rockfish a picky dad approved, Dowon Susan

Dowon Susan (도원수산)

Top-notch freshness! A local Pungnap-dong sashimi spot where you can properly enjoy springy flounder, rockfish and crunchy sea cucumber.

What is Dowon Susan, the sashimi restaurant near Cheonho Station in Pungnap-dong?

Dowon Susan is a sashimi restaurant in Pungnap-dong, Songpa, right next to Cheonho Station, and it's much loved by neighborhood residents and regulars. On a weekend evening I felt like having fresh, chewy sashimi with a glass of soju, so I headed over!

It's close to Cheonho Station so it's easy to get to, and it's a go-to sashimi restaurant around Cheonho Station and Pungnap-dong where you can eat all the fresh raw fish you want.

What are the fish tanks and the restaurant atmosphere like at Dowon Susan?

The moment I walked in, I noticed the cleanly kept tanks with lively live fish and fresh seafood swimming around. Freshness is everything with raw fish, and the fish here are in such good shape that you can eat with confidence.

The inside is clean and cozy too, so it's very comfortable for a quiet drink with friends, a small gathering or a company dinner.

What skidaci (starter side dishes) come out at Dowon Susan?

The side dishes came out as a whole lineup of skidaci: seaweed soup, corn cheese, saury, steamed egg, kimchi pancake and more! They were so good that I cleaned out every last bit.

How were the flounder and rockfish set and sea cucumber at Dowon Susan?

What I ordered at Dowon Susan that day was the flounder and rockfish set, the crowd-pleasing classic combo, plus fresh sea cucumber, nicknamed the "ginseng of the sea"!

After ordering, the neat skidaci arrived along with a generous spread of the day's main dishes.

Freshly sliced straight from the tank and glistening, it looked so good I couldn't help but gasp.

Flounder: just the right thickness with a sweet, savory depth

The flounder here is sliced neither too thin nor too thick, just right, with a rich flavor that clings to the palate. The sweet, nutty taste spreads the more you chew, and it had the freshness you'd expect from a real Songpa sashimi restaurant.

I couldn't resist and ended up ordering somaek (soju mixed with beer), haha! Tender yet chewy, clean and sweetly savory. I think I'll be craving it again, sob.

Rockfish: approved by my dad, who's picky about raw fish

The rockfish had that signature springy, crunchy bite, and chewing it was a lot of fun. Wrapped in lettuce with sharp garlic and wasabi, the flavor got even better. With its bouncy, elastic texture and deep nutty richness, it earned a pass from my dad, who is extremely picky when it comes to raw fish.

Sea cucumber: chewy with no fishy taste

The sea cucumber was premium quality, with a firm, chewy texture and a fragrant sea aroma filling the mouth. There was no fishiness at all, and it got crunchier and cleaner the more I chewed, so it's hard to beat as a light drinking snack. That unmatched chewiness and burst of fresh sea scent with a shot of soju, ahh, happiness is right there in your mouth.

Tasting the sweet savoriness of the flounder, the dense chew of the rockfish and the crunch of the sea cucumber all together was a feast of textures in the mouth, a perfect balance.

Verdict: a good place for sashimi and a drink near Cheonho Station and Pungnap-dong

Fresh live fish and seafood, reasonable prices and a friendly atmosphere: I was happy with all of it at Dowon Susan!

If you're looking for a sashimi restaurant that won't let you down near Cheonho Station or Pungnap-dong, or you want fresh raw fish to share with a good drink, I strongly recommend stopping by Dowon Susan in Pungnap-dong, Songpa!