Hongdae sushi restaurant for a huge couple set: Yu Iksang Sushi

For the past few days, there was something my boyfriend and I had kept wanting to eat: sushi with more fish than the usual kind. While looking for somewhere to eat in Hongdae, we found Yu Iksang Sushi. It was exactly the style of sushi place we wanted, so we went straight there. The portions were generous, and the fish on top of the sushi was long, which was totally our taste haha.

Hongdae Yu Iksang Sushi: waiting and parking

We visited at 3 p.m. on a Sunday and went straight in without waiting. There was no waiting list, Catchtable, or Tabling system; it is walk-in waiting only~!

Takeout and delivery are available. Yu Iksang Sushi is not a huge restaurant, but it has both bar seating and regular tables, so solo diners can eat comfortably too! The two of us ate at a regular table, but the bar looked perfectly fine for someone dining alone. So if you are looking for a place to eat alone in Hongdae, this might be useful to know. Couples visiting with a boyfriend or girlfriend like us can choose from couple-set menus, which makes ordering easier. It seems like a low-pressure place whether you are a couple, a group, or simply want sushi by yourself. There is no on-site parking. We took the bus, and if you drive, I recommend using a nearby public parking lot~!

What are mekajiki and aburi on the menu?

There were menu items we did not know either, so we looked them up before eating. Tamago means egg, mekajiki means swordfish, and aburi is a preparation method where the surface of the fish is lightly seared with a torch or similar tool. So “mekajiki” and “aburi” may feel a little unfamiliar when you first see them on the menu, but knowing them made it easy to understand the style. Aburi sushi especially has a different flavor from regular sushi because its surface is lightly seared. You can check out the detailed menu in the photos below~!

The Couple A Plus set and side dishes

Once we sat down, cabbage salad, fried shrimp, soba noodles, Japanese-style soup, and more arrived as the included dishes! The fried shrimp was wonderfully crisp and delicious, with no fishy taste at all~!

The menu was more varied than we expected, so a pair could order a set, or you could simply choose the varieties you want. We wanted to try a range of fish, so we ordered the Couple A Plus set.

• 2 pieces salmon
• 4 pieces flounder
• 4 pieces tuna
• 4 pieces beef
• 2 pieces tamago aburi
• 4 pieces garlic shrimp aburi
• 2 pieces mekajiki garlic aburi

It arrived soon after we ordered, and the moment the sushi came out, the two of us were honestly shocked just by the size of the platter lol. It was much more generous than expected. At ordinary sushi places, even when we each order a dish, we often wonder whether we should get one more because it feels slightly insufficient. But at Yu Iksang Sushi, we were instead thinking, “Can we finish all of this?” lol.

The ordering tablet said the portions were on the large side, but this was the first place where we genuinely felt that was true. My boyfriend and I were so full we were suffering a little.. sniffle.

Long slices of fish and an unforgettable owner

The most impressive thing about Yu Iksang Sushi was, of course, the long slices of fish. Rather than the short pieces of fish that usually sit on sushi rice, these had long tails draped over the rice, so they looked generous and let us really taste plenty of fish. Above all, the fish itself felt fresh, which was satisfying. Near where we sat, there were notes that seemed to be reviews left by other customers. Reading them, I saw quite a few people came back as regulars. Once we ate there, I could definitely understand why people return so often. Since it is near Hongik University, I think we will come back whenever we are in Hongdae and craving sushi.

And my favorite part of Yu Iksang Sushi was the owner. During our meal, the owner kept bringing us this and that as service, which I loved. Around the time we paid, the owner came over personally and asked whether the sushi had been okay. Then he suddenly asked if we liked Crayon Shin-chan lol, and even attached a sticker for the back of my phone himself! I think unexpected moments like that will make this place stay in my memory even longer haha.

Why I want to return for sushi on a Hongdae date

My boyfriend and I had been saying for days that we wanted sushi with lots of fish, and this was exactly the style we had hoped for, so we were extremely happy! The two of us ordered the Couple A Plus set, and the portions were substantial enough that we ended up completely full. It was not only the food that stayed with me, but also the fun moment with the owner, which will make it even more memorable haha. If you are looking for sushi in Hongdae and want something beyond ordinary sushi—generous pieces with long slices of fish—it is worth stopping by at least once. I think of it especially as a place to eat near Hongik University or when sushi sounds good during a Hongdae date. If we come to Hongdae again, I think we will stop by whenever we want sushi.