Ansan izakaya: shima-aji sashimi and butter rice cake at Susanjang

Susanjang Seonbu hours and location

Susanjang Seonbu (수산장 선부점) is a cozy izakaya in Seonbu-dong, Ansan, 242m from Exit 1 of Seonbu Station. It is open Sunday to Thursday 15:30–23:50, and Friday and Saturday 16:30–00:50 the next day.

What is the atmosphere at Susanjang Seonbu like?

The wood-toned interior put me right at ease. It felt clean yet homey, like a proper Japanese-style pub. The colorful pictures of dishes painted all over the walls work nicely as stylish decor.

On top of that, a big projector was playing the popular anime 'Demon Slayer', which really nailed that trendy, hip vibe.

Seating: group tables, bar seats and solo spots

One of the biggest charms of Susanjang Seonbu is the variety of seating. There are group tables that are great for a crowd,

appealing bar seats (dacchi) where you can watch the cooking up close, and a well-prepared area for solo diners and drinkers who want a relaxed drink alone.

On one side of the restaurant there is a small tank where you can see squid swimming around energetically, which gave me real confidence in the freshness of the raw fish.

What did we order at Susanjang Seonbu?

My main dish that day was striped jack (shima-aji) sashimi, counted among the top-class sashimi ingredients. It is a premium fish known among food lovers for its great texture and deep flavor, so I was full of anticipation from the moment I ordered.

I also ordered grilled butter rice cake, a nice specialty to nibble on, along with an ice-cold draft beer.

Soy sauce and chogochujang (sweet chili vinegar sauce) were neatly set on every table, so I could pour some onto my small plate as I liked and wait comfortably for the food.

Fried flounder as the free side dish

Not long after I finished ordering, the basic side dishes were served.

Surprisingly, freshly fried golden flounder comes out as the free side dish. It was crispy outside, moist inside and nicely salty. I pay a lot of attention to my protein intake, so I loved that such a great protein snack comes as standard.

Grilled butter rice cake with apple jam

The grilled butter rice cake at Susanjang Seonbu is full of buttery aroma, with sweet apple jam served in the middle. It wasn't ordinary syrup but a high-quality jam with crunchy bits of apple.

Sweet, salty and chewy, it makes a perfect snack with beer.

How does the striped jack (shima-aji) sashimi taste?

At last the star of the day arrived: Susanjang Seonbu's pride, the striped jack (shima-aji) sashimi, in a gorgeous presentation. Just looking at the color of the fish told you how lustrous it was, exactly like the photo.

The sashimi comes with a full spread: pickled ginger, rakkyo (pickled scallions), white kimchi, wasabi, sliced garlic, cherry tomatoes, a sesame oil salt dip and crispy seaweed.

I started with the pickled ginger and rakkyo, which are said to have a sterilizing effect and cleanse the palate. The soft, chewy texture of striped jack combined with the crunchy rakkyo made a first-rate harmony in the mouth.

The more I chewed, the more nutty and clean the flavor became, and I instantly understood why it's called top-class sashimi.

Wrapping a piece of rich sashimi in seaweed with wasabi and white kimchi on top was also a great combination.

Striped jack sashimi with draft beer

On a hot summer evening, with such great snacks, how could I skip an ice-cold draft beer? I first enjoyed the bubbles fizzing up in a full glass, then took a big refreshing gulp, and it went down fantastically. The beer cleanly cut through the fresh sashimi, and I had a magical experience of keep drinking and eating.

Is Susanjang Seonbu a recommended izakaya near Seonbu Station?

I was very happy to discover Susanjang Seonbu, with premium sashimi of this quality in Seonbu-dong, Ansan. I'm 100% coming back with friends soon. If you're looking for a proper izakaya near Seonbu Station, I recommend Susanjang Seonbu without hesitation.