Magok sushi bar lunch: sharing kaisendon and ilpumdong at Ilpum Magok

I recently wanted a clean, satisfying Japanese meal, so I went looking for a place — and I found a spot that really nails kaisendon (seafood rice bowl)!! 😍 It's Ilpum in Magok haha

Ilpum Magok location, hours, parking

• 📍 Location: 112, 228 Gonghang-daero, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• ⏰️ Hours: Closed Mondays / Tue-Sun 11:00 ~ 21:30
• ✨️ Break time: 15:00 ~ 17:30
• 🚗 Parking: Building parking supported *max 2 hours

So many celebrity autographs right as you walk in!!

A place tons of celebrities have visited°°° It even became a 'star-picked restaurant' after being featured on the KBS show Baedalwatsuda..!!

Inside — from counter seats to group seating, fully equipped

I especially liked the dachi (counter) seats, where you can watch the dishes being made right in front of you

The group tables are so nicely partitioned off too?! Even with lots of people around, there's no crowded feeling — it felt like eating comfortably in a space separated just for your own party~

Menu info

There were so many menu items I drooled over.. I want to try the unagidong (grilled eel rice bowl) with a whole eel on top next time ㅠㅠ Nothing beats eel for energy...🤤

They also had sushi and sashimi menus! If I'd gone in the evening I probably would've wanted a drink with the sashimi

Drinks menu

From sake to highballs and beer, the drinks menu is really solid too — anyone who likes to drink would love it °°° Everything on the menu practically begs you to order a beer, and I almost did, but it was broad daylight so haha, saving that challenge for next time~

There's a review event too!

If you leave a Naver receipt review, you get 2 croquettes on the house! Don't miss it~

Starting with chawanmushi

First up is chawanmushi, Japanese-style steamed egg! Warm and silky egg custard >< It really wakes up your appetite before the main meal

Gamtae (roasted seaweed) on top and plump shrimp underneath haha. The gamtae aroma was really lovely!

What we ordered

• Premium kaisendon ₩37,000
• Ilpumdong ₩30,000

Premium kaisendon ₩37,000

The premium kaisendon I'd been so looking forward to!

It comes with a mini cold udon topped with chicken karaage. It refreshes your palate when the broth from the sashimi starts feeling heavy. The udon portion is mini-sized too, so it wasn't overwhelming

The rice is piled generously with all kinds of seafood 😍 It totally lives up to the name 'premium'..

The sashimi was sliced thick all around, so each bite had great texture, and it was fresh with absolutely no fishy taste ❤️

Salmon and salmon roe! Melts softly in your mouth°°°

The tuna's color was gorgeous too. It was delicious wrapped in seaweed too... Sliced thick so the texture held up, and it was even better eaten in one big bite❤️

For me, wrapping it in gamtae was the tastiest way to eat it — that gamtae aroma is really something 😍

Ilpumdong ₩30,000

Next, the ilpumdong we ordered together! Pretty appetizing-looking visual, right..ㅜㅜ

The ilpumdong comes topped with minced tuna (tuna negitoro), salmon roe, sea urchin, and gamtae!!

There was more tuna piled on top than there was rice underneath haha. Such a generous, budget-friendly portion that felt like it would burst your stomach!

It's also delicious eaten with salmon roe wrapped in seaweed ㅠㅠ None of the individual flavors are too strong — they blend together naturally haha

I also tried piling sea urchin and salmon roe together >< I was so happy °°

A sweet, refreshing dessert to finish it off perfectly✨️

As the meal was wrapping up, they brought out a pudding topped with mango jam for dessert!

Mango is my favorite fruit, and mango jam?! 🧡 It had a gentle sweetness that wasn't overwhelming at all! A perfect ending!!!

Final thoughts

If you're craving kaisendon or a Japanese rice bowl in Magok, I definitely want to recommend Ilpum!! Above all, I got to enjoy fresh sashimi and seafood in a clean, satisfying way, and the plating was so pretty I took about 100 photos haha

Personally, if you want to enjoy a variety of seafood, the premium kaisendon comes highly recommended!!!! If you're visiting with two people, I'd suggest ordering one kaisendon and one ilpumdong to share like we did ❤️ If you're looking for a nice-atmosphere Japanese restaurant and kaisendon spot in Magok, this is definitely worth a visit! Highly recommend~~~