# Seolleung sushi izakaya for salmon zuke and fried eggplant: Sakai

- By Jimin Ok (https://superchart.com/en/@seochon-back-alley/)
- Written Sep 18, 2026
- Local places › Restaurants › Gangnam, Seoul
- Sponsored: This post was written as part of a sponsored store visit.
- English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@seochon-back-alley/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai/
- Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@seochon-back-alley/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai/index.md)

## In short

Sakai (사카이) is an open-kitchen sushi izakaya on Yeoksam-ro 67-gil near Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul. Meeting a friend just back from abroad, the writer sat at one of Sakai's large tables and ordered flounder, salmon, amberjack, sea bream and mackerel piece by piece, then added fried eggplant, caprese, salmon zuke and salmon aburi. Ordering by the piece let each person pick only what they liked, and Sakai stays open until 1am, so it works for a late third or fourth round of the night.

## Good to know

- **Location**: 1F, 15 Yeoksam-ro 67-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- **Hours**: Daily 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM
- **Last order**: 12:00 AM (midnight)
- **Closed**: First Tuesday of every month
- **What we ordered**: Flounder, salmon, amberjack, sea bream, mackerel, fried eggplant, caprese, salmon zuke, salmon aburi
- **Drinks**: Kirin beer, non-alcoholic beer (no soft drinks)
- **Seating**: Large table seats, bar seats in front of the open kitchen
- **Ordering**: Sushi can be ordered piece by piece

*as written by the visitor on Sep 18, 2026*

## Why we chose Sakai, a sushi izakaya near Seolleung Station

Sakai (사카바) is a sushi izakaya on the ground floor of Yeoksam-ro 67-gil. My friend Vé is a total seafood fanatic. Since Vé just came back from abroad and we were meeting up for the first time in a while, I thought about where to take her and booked Sakai near Seolleung — it's exactly our vibe.

![Zen-style interior inside Sakai sushi izakaya near Seolleung](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai-01-lf2rw-900.webp)

The zen-style interior is genuinely so good.

![Interior mood and lighting inside Sakai](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai-02-9jv3m-m-900.webp)

![View of Sakai's seating and interior](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai-03-kojc3-900.webp)

Something like this — we had a lot of bags with us so we just took the big table.

![Large table seating good for setting down bags](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai-04-f9hvl-m-900.webp)

![View of the interior from the table seats](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai-05-1dhsu-900.webp)

But honestly, if you can, sitting right here at the bar seats seems like it'd be great. I was a little shy but too curious not to, so I went over and took a photo.

![Bar seats in front of the open kitchen](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai-06-armp9-900.webp)

## Sakai's open kitchen and showcase: choosing the fish by sight

Sakai has an open kitchen, so you can watch the chefs make each order the moment it comes in. Chop chop, right in front of you. The showcase shows off all kinds of fish, and honestly I thought — wow, the freshness looks amazing. And when they show you everything like this, you can just pick by looking, even if you don't know the names.

![Sushi showcase displaying the fish](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai-07-vvuy8-900.webp)

![Chef making sushi in the open kitchen](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai-08-1khzn-900.webp)

They write out recommended dishes separately. And you can order exactly what you want, piece by piece — I really loved that. No need to take stuff that's not your taste. Just order exactly what you want, exactly how you want it. Being able to order individually by the piece like this is genuinely great.

![Sakai's menu board listing recommended dishes](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai-09-1aqvj-899.webp)

## What we ordered at Sakai: flounder, salmon, amberjack, sea bream, mackerel and fried eggplant

At Sakai we started with flounder, salmon, amberjack, sea bream, mackerel, fried eggplant, and a Kirin/non-alcoholic beer. *There were no soft drinks so I went non-alcoholic.

![Small decor item on the table at Sakai](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai-10-4t2xu-900.webp)
*So cute*

What was this called again? I learned it in Japanese class.

![Staff taking orders at the counter](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai-11-1d1l9-900.webp)
*The staff — maybe even the owner? — were so, so kind*

The lighting is so pretty that even carelessly-taken photos come out nice.

![A glass of Kirin draft beer on the table](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai-12-15qrq-900.webp)
*Vé's Kirin beer order*

Your skin looks good too... here. This place is a sushi spot plus a natural filter spot. You should bring a blind date here.

![A plate of flounder, salmon, amberjack, sea bream, and mackerel nigiri](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai-13-1c6pt-1200.webp)
*Ta-da*

The moment I posted this on my story, DMs kept coming in asking where this good-looking sushi was from. Thick-cut and just genuinely delicious — even I, who loves this stuff, thought it looked really fresh.

![Close-up of thick-cut sushi at Sakai](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai-14-1svc7-900.webp)

Fried eggplant. You squeeze lemon over it and dip it in mayonnaise? It just disappears. It feels like a drinking-snack dish but... it's so good.

![Fried eggplant served with lemon and mayonnaise](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai-15-1kmpo-900.webp)

The server explained each piece to us. For me, the amberjack was the best.

![Amberjack nigiri eaten while listening to the server's explanation](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai-16-1ld31-900.webp)

### Why ordering sushi by the piece works so well at Sakai

Dip it in soy sauce, poke poke. Honestly, ordering piece by piece is really great because it means no problem even if the people you're with have different tastes. I don't really like mackerel, but Vé said it's her favorite and thought one piece wasn't enough, so she started with two. If you feel like you're a little short, you can keep ordering small extra bits — no pressure at all.

![Individually ordered nigiri dipped in soy sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai-17-1fpx9-900.webp)

## Second round at Sakai: caprese, salmon zuke and salmon aburi

Even though we were full, I was curious so we ordered more. We got one each of caprese, salmon zuke, and salmon aburi. The caprese seemed to be cream cheese rather than mozzarella — ah... a perfect way to cleanse the palate at the end, chomp chomp. With plenty of balsamic and nut chips on top, I thought I was too full, but I cleaned the plate anyway.

![Caprese topped with balsamic and nut chips](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai-18-1lqti-900.webp)

You have to order the salmon zuke and salmon aburi. Both Vé and I said, oh, this is the highlight. I don't know how to describe it, but it's a rich, luxurious, weighty flavor. Genuinely high-quality taste.

![Salmon zuke and salmon aburi nigiri](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai-19-rk0oy-900.webp)

Next time I should try those bar seats. I like the big table, but I also like watching the chefs work right in front of me.

![Interior of Sakai open late into the night](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai-20-1hush-900.webp)

## Is Sakai good for a group dinner or a first date?

Sakai is open until 1am, so this can genuinely be your second, third, or fourth stop of the night, and since it's not just heavy dishes — you can order sushi one piece at a time — it's a great izakaya for a relaxed chat. Keeping this one in my back pocket for group hangouts and blind dates.

> GO CHILL :)

## Where it is

- Sakai (사카이)
- 15 Yeoksam-ro 67-gil, 1F, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- 서울특별시 강남구 역삼로67길 15 1층 101호
- 37.5023593, 127.0528285
- Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%82%AC%EC%B9%B4%EC%9D%B4/@37.5023593,127.0528285,17z

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Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@seochon-back-alley/seolleung-sushi-salmon-zuke-aburi-sakai/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt