Jongno sushi restaurant with free 2-hour parking: Choe Uyeong Sushiya

I was looking for a good sushi restaurant near Jongak Station for dinner and ended up at Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch, which people say is both tasty and good value.

Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch 📍 Location 7 Jongno 5-gil, B1 Unit 104, Jongno-gu, Seoul ⏰ Hours Daily 11:00 - 21:30 / Break time 15:00 - 17:00 / Last order 21:00 🚗 Parking available (free 2 hours)

How to reach Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch from Jongak Station, and where to park

Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch is on the basement dining floor of the Tower8 building, about a 2-minute walk from exit 1 of Jongak Station toward Grand Seoul. If you're coming by public transit, just head down to the basement dining floor~

I came by car, and I was glad the building garage offers 2 hours of free parking. The garage was spacious enough, and you just tell a staff member after your meal to register your parking.

The restaurant, on the basement floor, has a big sushi image hanging up and an eye-catching sign, so you can find it right away.

There's also a menu board set up out front, so you can check what's on offer before you go in.

Inside Choe Uyeong Sushiya: seating and a bar counter for solo diners

Right by the entrance to Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch there's a kiosk dedicated to takeout orders. If you're getting takeout, you order there.

The inside was clean and fairly spacious. It has a modern feel overall without being too stiff, and there's a bar-style counter for solo diners too. I noticed a lot of pairs sitting at the bar table as well. There are also storage compartments for your things, so you don't need to worry about your bag or coat, haha.

The regular seats have partition-style backrests that make it feel almost like a private room — cozy and comfortable for eating, and great for conversation too! 👍

What's on the menu at Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch

There's everything from basic sushi to special, premium, and top-grade sushi, kaisendon, sashimi, tempura, and udon, so you can pick according to your taste.

If you want something light, go for the mixed sushi; if you want to try several kinds, the special sushi set; and if you want something more upscale and filling, the premium or top-grade set.

The three of us ordered the special sushi set, the premium sushi set, a mixed kaisendon, and cuttlefish sashimi.

How do the 15-piece special and 16-piece premium sushi sets taste?

If you want to enjoy a variety of sushi, these are the ones to get. The special sushi set has 15 pieces and the premium set has 16, both with a wide variety and generous portions.

There was everything from white-fleshed fish like flounder to salmon, tuna, raw shrimp, abalone, scallop, egg, and uni gunkan (sea urchin battleship roll), so it was fun to pick and choose! 😊

The white fish sushi pieces were clean and light, the tuna and salmon were rich and almost melted in the mouth, and the cuttlefish and scallop had a sweetness that came through more with each chew — the texture felt alive throughout.

What impressed me most was that I can't handle wasabi well, and there was none pre-added. You adjust the amount to your own taste, so people who can't eat it like me, or beginners, can enjoy it without worry.

The mixed kaisendon (raw fish rice bowl)

This dish piles several kinds of sashimi on top of rice, so you get a variety of flavors and textures in one bowl — but the amount of rice was quite a lot. Even I, who eats a lot, left some rice behind... 🫢

The sashimi slices were cut thick enough that you could really feel the texture in each bite. Each type of fish had its own slightly different flavor, which was nice, and wrapping it with rice in seaweed made it even tastier.

The cuttlefish sashimi

The first bite had a chewy, springy texture, and it got more interesting the more I chewed. There was also the cuttlefish's subtle natural sweetness and a clean, light flavor!

What was disappointing, and the verdict on Choe Uyeong Sushiya

The sushi, kaisendon, and cuttlefish sashimi at Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch were all tasty overall, but I think it would have been even better with a bowl of miso soup on the side. The seating was really comfortable too. If you're looking for a sushi place near Jongak Station, it's worth a visit, haha.