Late lunch shrimp tempura udon and 19,000-won sushi set: Jongno branch

I love sushi, but I always end up a little hungry afterward. The taste is great, but eating until full gets pricey, and at a lot of places I find myself thinking "wait, that's it already?" after just a few pieces. This time, though, Choe Uyeong Sushiya completely broke that pattern — a real find near Gwanghwamun, Seoul.

The sashimi pieces were thicker and bigger than I expected, so it felt less like a sushi restaurant and more like walking out of a full sashimi feast. I was looking for a cost-effective Japanese restaurant for a late lunch near Jongno, and as a big eater myself, I left satisfied — so let me give you the honest rundown, including what wasn't perfect!

A solo-dining-friendly spot near Jonggak Station

Located inside Starfield Avenue, it was easy to find from Exit 1 of Jonggak Station. The menu is displayed right at the entrance, so I could check prices before even stepping in. "Wait, this is Gwanghwamun and it's this cheap for this much food?" I thought, and walked in without hesitation for a late, budget-friendly lunch.

The interior was bigger and more comfortable than I expected. Alongside regular tables perfect for chatting with company, there were also solo-dining seats where you can eat comfortably alone without feeling out of place.

We walked in right as break time ended. The place, which had felt spacious at first, was completely full within barely 30 minutes — proof that this is already a well-known favorite among office workers in the nearby Jongno area.

Restaurants in Gwanghwamun located inside malls or complex buildings can sometimes have restrooms that are far away or hard to find, which is annoying. Here, the restroom was right next to the restaurant, so moving around mid-meal was easy. A small detail, but it genuinely raises your satisfaction once you're actually there.

The 19,000-won sushi set — sashimi that meant business

First off, the quality was great for 19,000 won. What I liked most was the sashimi-to-rice ratio. The shari (sushi rice) wasn't oversized, and the fish on top was thick, giving it real bite. From familiar staples to ankimo (monkfish liver), the variety kept things interesting — with some places, repeating the same ingredients gets tiring halfway through, but here I kept looking forward to the next piece.

The sea bream was mild with a subtle sweetness that built the more you chewed, and the scallop had a springy texture that softened pleasantly as you ate. The cuttlefish had a distinct chewiness, so eating it right after the soft tuna or salmon gave a nice variety of textures.

The ankimo had an impressively rich flavor. Amid the milder, chewier ingredients, its savory intensity anchored the whole set and kept it from feeling monotonous. I liked that they gave you a variety of ingredients to taste rather than just filling the plate.

I also liked that the soy sauce was handmade and the wasabi came separately instead of being mixed in. It tasted like fresh grated wasabi, so a little goes a long way with the sharpness — first-timers should add it bit by bit to find their preferred level.

The 27,000-won premium set — a plate to pick and choose from

At 27,000 won, this is pricier than the special set, but it was noticeably more elaborate. It included everything from white fish to scallop and uni gunkan (sea urchin roll). The addition of abalone and sea cucumber intestine really set it apart. I was also glad to see flatfish fin included — if you like that distinctive chewiness, this will really win you over.

I was honestly a bit nervous about the sea cucumber intestine, but it had a savory taste with no fishiness at all. The texture melted softly with a subtle ocean aroma, making it approachable even for first-timers. The roe piled on top of the gunkan was generous too — it popped in the mouth and kept waking up my appetite.

I was especially surprised by the size of the eel and tamago (egg omelet). Photos don't quite capture the scale, but in person each piece fills your mouth completely. The eel paired well with its sweet glaze, and the tamago was fluffy yet thick, spreading a soft sweetness through your mouth. Egg pieces sometimes feel like an afterthought, but not here — this one had real presence.

Honestly though, the special and premium sets do overlap somewhat, so if you're ordering both, it's worth knowing that going in. Still, the premium set has standout items like abalone and sea cucumber that made me glad I ordered it.

Mixed kaisendon — satisfying from first glance

I love kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) so much that I couldn't skip it once I saw it on the menu. It arrived looking gorgeous, colors popping, with fresh seafood piled generously into a single bowl — just looking at it felt filling. My favorite, uni, was included in a generous portion, along with shrimp tempura and negitoro (chopped fatty tuna) for variety.

Eaten straight, the freshness of the sashimi and the softness of the rice blend calmly; wrapped in seaweed, the umami really jumps out. In particular, the richness of the negitoro, the lightness of the white fish, and the crunchy contrast from the shrimp tempura made every bite feel different.

When the ingredients are lacking, you end up feeling like you're just eating a lot of rice, but here the portions were generous enough that I wasn't left wanting more even at the last bite. It's a different way of enjoying fresh seafood compared to sushi, and a Jongno lunch option that kaisendon lovers will really appreciate.

6,000-won shrimp tempura udon — another value surprise

This was the dish that surprised me most that day. At 6,000 won, I expected something like a small side dish to go along with the sushi. But when it arrived, the portion was generous, and most surprisingly, it came topped with three pieces of shrimp tempura! The warm broth was mild but refreshing, and the noodles were nicely springy — perfect to alternate with cold sashimi.

If you're dining with others, one order would be plenty to share, and if you're solo, it's a filling addition on top of a sushi set. The sushi was already satisfying, but the udon took the overall meal up another notch.

Final verdict

In one line, Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch in Gwanghwamun, Seoul is a place where you can eat a wide variety of thick, generous sushi. These days a lot of places look pretty but skimp on the fish, but here even one piece filled my mouth completely.

The springy texture and subtle ocean aroma that only fresh fish can give were both clearly present, and the variety kept the meal interesting all the way through. If you're near Gwanghwamun, Seoul looking for a good-value lunch, or a Japanese restaurant near Jonggak Station where you can dine solo, give this place a try. If you're like me and always end up a little hungry after sushi, the sheer volume here will satisfy you.