# Gangnam izakaya for sea bream sushi on a zero-alcohol date: Sakai - By Rina (https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-dining-compass/) - Written Sep 11, 2026 - Updated Sep 13, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Gangnam, Seoul - Sponsored: This visit was sponsored by the business. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-dining-compass/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@seoul-dining-compass/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/index.md) ## In short Sakai is an izakaya in Gangnam, Seoul, about 10 minutes on foot from Seolleung Station. On a zero-alcohol date, we tried potato salad, chicken nanban, assorted sushi, and negitoro hosomaki, with the springy, nutty sea bream sushi stealing the show. Verdict: Reserve a counter seat early and go for the sea bream sushi. ## Good to know - **Location**: 10-minute walk from Seolleung Station Exit 1 - **Hours**: Daily 17:00–01:00 (last order 00:00); closed on the first Tuesday of every month - **Seating**: Counter seats and table seating - **Ordered**: Potato salad, chicken nanban, sushi, and negitoro hosomaki *as written by the visitor on Sep 11, 2026* While my boyfriend and I were on a date around Seolleung over the weekend, we found an incredibly delicious sushi gem with such a lovely atmosphere, so I rushed over to share the review! It’s Sakai, a newly opened sushi bar and izakaya in Seolleung that locals—and those in the know—already know all about! From the neat atmosphere to the absolutely flawless quality of the food, I was beyond satisfied. ## How to get to Sakai near Seolleung Station and opening hours Getting there: 10 minutes on foot from Exit 1 of Seolleung Station on Subway Line 2 or the Suin–Bundang Line Hours: Closed on the first Tuesday of every month / Daily 17:00–01:00 (last order 00:00) ![Visitor information for Sakai near Seolleung Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai-01-17r05-900.webp) ![Sakai restaurant information in Seolleung](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai-02-oylle-900.webp) ![Exterior view of Sakai](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai-03-1p9ps-900.webp) Maybe because we visited on the weekend, but the place was already packed and buzzing with guests. The atmospheric counter seats I wanted most were fully booked, so sadly we couldn’t sit there this time. I firmly vowed that next time, I’d absolutely reserve counter seats in advance! ![Sakai counter seats and restaurant seating](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai-04-wlzko-900.webp) The table we were shown to instead of the counter was also set so neatly and cleanly. It was fun just looking at all the tableware here! Every little item—the cups, small plates, and chopstick rests—was pretty, but I personally found the adorable soy sauce bottle and dish so cute and beautiful that I wanted to take them straight home. ## A zero-drink date at an izakaya Cheers~ Today, we’re being sensible: zero time! ![Zero drinks for a non-alcoholic date](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai-05-1c1lh-900.webp) ![Cass Zero and Coca-Cola Zero](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai-06-1k0dy-900.webp) We came to an izakaya, but we decided to enjoy a non-alcoholic date for a change. My boyfriend and I have both been drinking fairly often lately, so we’re trying to cut down a little! He ordered a refreshing Cass Zero and I got a Coca-Cola Zero; we clinked our cold drinks to soothe the slight disappointment and still get into the mood. ## Ordering snacks, from potato salad to chicken nanban ![Izakaya snack order at Sakai](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai-07-yis5n-900.webp) ![Sakai izakaya snack selection](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai-08-jv3hv-900.webp) ![Snacks ordered at Sakai](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai-09-ho0jr-900.webp) ![Menu order at a Seolleung izakaya](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai-10-1em6k-900.webp) ![Snack and sushi order at Sakai](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai-11-1mobr-900.webp) ![Sakai snack menu order](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai-12-19ptr-650.webp) Since we were cutting back on alcohol, we decided to go all out on the snacks (?) instead and ordered away! - Potato salad - Chicken nanban - Sushi (2 sea bream, 2 flounder, 2 egg, 2 salmon, 1 mackerel) - Negitoro hosomaki (thin tuna-and-scallion roll) ![Potato salad and chicken nanban](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai-13-1lhdi-900.webp) ![Chicken nanban with tartar sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai-14-10i0d-900.webp) ![Sakai potato salad and snacks](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai-15-15ug7-900.webp) The potato salad arrived first, soft and nutty—perfect for waking up the appetite. The chicken nanban was insanely good too: crispy fried chicken piled generously with tartar sauce. It was the dangerously addictive kind of flavor that made zero beer go down so easily! ## The sea bream sushi I remember most ![Sakai sushi lineup](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai-16-o9kc-900.webp) ![Sea bream sushi ordered at Sakai](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai-17-1ug3q-1200.webp) ![Flounder, egg, salmon, and mackerel sushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai-18-11el9-900.webp) ![Sakai sushi menu selection](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai-19-1cemv-900.webp) ![Negitoro hosomaki and sushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai-20-19fhv-900.webp) ![Non-alcoholic sea bream sushi date at Sakai in Seolleung](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai-21-1w7f2-900.webp) ![Sushi order including sea bream](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai-22-d42gw-900.webp) ![Sakai sushi and hosomaki](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai-23-m09ry-900.webp) And then, the long-awaited sushi lineup! We picked out exactly the pieces we wanted. The flounder, egg, salmon, mackerel with not a hint of fishiness, and the melt-in-your-mouth negitoro hosomaki were all so excellent that the quality could rival plenty of omakase places! But the clear number-one pick that completely won over both my boyfriend and me was the sea bream! Its wonderfully springy, sticky texture and the nutty sweetness that came through the more we chewed were truly a work of art. ![Sea bream sushi with a springy texture](https://img.superchart.com/images/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai-24-ye0u3-900.webp) It was such a happy weekend date, discovering an izakaya near Seolleung Station with sushi this delicious. We didn’t get counter seats and had to make do with zero drinks today, but the food was so great that all disappointment disappeared. Sushi was the undisputed winner, but every other snack besides the sushi was delicious too! Next time, I’m definitely succeeding at reserving counter seats and coming back for delicious sea bream sushi with a real cold draft beer! ## Where it is - Sakai (사카이) - 101, 1F, 15 Yeoksam-ro 67-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울특별시 강남구 역삼로67길 15 1층 101호) - 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 --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-dining-compass/seolleung-chamdome-sushi-date-sakai/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt