Mother-daughter lunch at Ilpum, a Yeouido Japanese rice bowl spot

I went to Ilpum, famous for sushi and Yeouido lunch spots. I had the unagidon and the karaage don — here's my review.

What is Ilpum Yeouido Branch near National Assembly Station like?

Ilpum Yeouido Branch keeps coming up as a lunch spot among Yeouido office workers. It's near National Assembly Station, so it's often used for team lunches or casual meetings by people working nearby.

Looking at the signboard first — the two characters for 'Ilpum' are printed large in a clean font, so it stands out even from far away. No flashy decoration, just a tidy look that actually gives off more trust for a Japanese specialty restaurant.

You can even check the menu from outside!

Inside Ilpum: bar seats and table seating

Stepping inside, the wood-toned interior is the first thing that catches your eye. Warm wood finishes and lighting come together for a space that feels both cozy and modern. Seating includes a straight bar table plus tables set up on both sides, so it works whether you come alone or with company.

Ordering the unagidon and karaage don by QR code

At Ilpum Yeouido Branch you can scan a QR code and order straight away!

Next time I want to try the premium kaisendon (seafood rice bowl).

My mom loves eel, so we ordered the unagidon with a whole eel on top, and I had the karaage don.

There's also a printed menu, so you can browse it comfortably too.

Chawanmushi and miso soup that come with every meal

Once you order a meal, they first bring out chawanmushi (savory egg custard) and miso soup.

It felt like a proper set meal, which was quite nice.

How does Ilpum's karaage don taste, and is it filling?

The karaage don at Ilpum Yeouido Branch came piled high with crispy fried chicken. The batter was thin and crunchy so it wasn't greasy, and the chicken inside stayed juicy — you could taste the moisture with every bite.

Paired with the sauce that came alongside, the savory flavor deepened even more and I kept going back for more. But the portion was seriously huge! I was really surprised while eating.

Whole-eel unagidon you cut with scissors

The unagidon caught the eye right away with its glossy eel laid neatly over the rice.

They give you tongs and scissors, so you cut it right there before eating.

The eel was grilled crispy on the outside and cooked soft on the inside, with the sweet-salty sauce soaked in well, so I emptied a whole bowl of rice in no time. No fishy smell, just a clean flavor — I think even people trying eel for the first time could enjoy it without hesitation.

The rice was evenly soaked in the sauce too, so even eating it without the eel felt savory. If you're craving Yeouido sushi, this place will do the trick.

Tamagoyaki, cold udon and milk pudding to finish

Both the karaage don and unagidon come with tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelet). Maybe because it's Japanese-style, it's sweet and delicious.

The portion was so big we ended up moving the fried chicken onto a separate plate haha. There was more than I could count!

Cold udon comes along too, and karaage comes with it as well, so give it a try if you're curious! Salty enough to work as a side with rice.

Dessert comes out too — milk pudding, nutty and light, so I ended up finishing it all.

Parking and tips for visiting Ilpum Yeouido Branch

For reference, if you use the building's parking lot, you get free parking for a set time while dining, so visiting by car isn't a big burden either. If you have a lunch appointment in Yeouido or work nearby, Ilpum Yeouido Branch is worth a visit.

It seems like a great choice especially if you like eel dishes or Japanese-style rice bowls. The portions are big enough that men should be able to eat their fill too. Next time, I want to try the kaisendon at this Yeouido sushi spot.