Yeoksam Station eel bowl with a soy-marinated salmon side: Chisot

Why Japanese food near Yeoksam Station on a day for a clean, tidy meal

Near Yeoksam Station there are days when, whether it's lunch or dinner, you just want a real, proper meal instead of another barbecue joint or stew place. That's exactly the mood I was in when I found Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch, a Japanese restaurant near Yeoksam Station that's been quietly gaining word of mouth. It's close enough to GS Art Center to walk to, so it's also a handy stop before or after a show.

Ordering the signature hitsumabushi at Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch

No hesitation on the menu — I went straight for Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch's signature dish, hitsumabushi (eel rice bowl). Honestly, this is the whole reason to come here. If you've been chasing down good hitsumabushi spots, you'll know the Nagoya-style method: finely chopped eel laid over rice, eaten four different ways.

What comes on the hitsumabushi tray

A short wait later, the whole table gets laid out at once. This visual is basically unfair. A red lacquered box of eel rice sits in the center, flanked by pickled ginger and pickled hot pepper, a 3-section dish of scallion, fresh wasabi and seaweed, rolled egg, soup, and a dashi kettle for ochazuke (rice soaked in tea/broth). It's the kind of setup where you photograph everything before you even pick up chopsticks.

How the eel and the tare sauce taste

Lift the lid and the eel, glossy and glistening, completely covers the rice. The surface has a light char for smoky flavor, and the tare (glaze sauce) is nicely balanced, not overly sweet. There was zero fishy smell — the skin had a chewy bite while the flesh fell apart soft. Even the rice itself isn't plain white rice; it's soaked through with tare, so it's good on its own.

How to eat hitsumabushi in four steps

Hitsumabushi has a set eating method: use the fish-shaped paddle to cut the rice into four sections, then eat it like this.

Step 2: eel rice topped with scallion, wasabi and seaweed

With the sharp bite of scallion, the nose-tingling kick of fresh wasabi, and the nuttiness of seaweed added in, it turns into a completely different dish. Personally, this second step was the best. Don't be shy with the wasabi — pile it on.

Step 3: eel rice as ochazuke with dashi broth

Pour the hot dashi broth from the kettle over the rice and eat it as ochazuke. The rich, fatty eel meets the broth and suddenly turns clean and light — by the point your stomach's getting full, this step goes down surprisingly easily. It'd probably work great as a hangover cure too.

Step 4: back to whichever way tasted best

The last portion is up to you — eat it however you enjoyed most out of the previous three. I went straight for the topped version again without a second thought.

The free salmon jang from the 30-second review event

And then there's the salmon jeotgal (marinated salmon) I got from the review event! It comes piled high with shredded onion, and the salmon is thick-cut with seasoning that's not too strong — the kind of thing that vanishes an entire bowl of rice. There's a sign posted in the restaurant for a 30-second review event, so make sure to grab it if you visit. It's given per person with no group-size limit, so it's even better if you go with a few people.

Who is Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch best for?

Overall, I left very satisfied. Eel dishes tend to run pricier because of ingredient cost, but given the portion and quality here, the price made complete sense. It works well for a Yeoksam lunch, for taking your parents out, or for hosting guests. If you're looking for a Gangnam rice bowl restaurant or planning a date course, I'd recommend it. It's also low-pressure enough for a quiet solo meal, worth adding to your Yeoksam solo-dining list.

As the weather warms up, a lot of people start craving eel — if that's you, this place is worth a visit, no regrets.

Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch address and details

• Name: Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch
• Address: 59 Bongeunsa-ro 30an-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea (1F, Unit 102)
• Landmark: Walking distance from GS Art Center