Mulgeum, Yangsan sushi: sushi-print cups and three sets, Shirokuma

I went on a weekday evening and the place was completely full, with a line outside too. It had that "this is the real deal!" energy, so here's my review of Shirokuma (시로쿠마), a hot sushi spot in Yangsan.

From sushi that melts in your mouth to adorable tableware details and a tip for getting in without waiting, I packed it all in, so please read to the end!

Is there a wait at Shirokuma in Yangsan on weekdays?

Shirokuma in Mulgeum, Yangsan is packed inside and out even on weekday evenings, so it's best to reserve on CatchTable beforehand. It's open daily 11:30–21:00, with a break from 14:30 to 17:30 and last order at 20:00. From Namyangsan Station on Subway Line 2, it's a walk of 15+ minutes.

The moment I arrived I was surprised to see customers filling the restaurant and the area outside.

Luckily I had booked ahead, so I skipped the wait and was shown straight to a reserved seat with my name on it! It's hugely popular, as a Yangsan hotspot should be, so please book on CatchTable before you go.

Shirokuma's table setting: sushi-print cups and white bear tissues

Everything from the water cup with sushi drawings to the small plates and sauce dishes is so dainty that the cuteness is off the charts.

What stole my attention the second I sat down was the tableware! The water cup has little sushi drawings on it. Isn't it just too cute?

From the small plates to the dishes for soy sauce, pickled scallions (rakkyo) and pickled ginger, every single piece was so pretty that my mood lifted before the meal even began.

How ordering works at Shirokuma: tablets at every seat

You order with the tablet at each seat, just tap tap tap. The screen keeps showing the receipt review event info and the Premium sushi lineup, which was really handy when choosing or wondering what comes in a set!

Shirokuma's complimentary cabbage salad and miso soup

Before the sushi arrives, Shirokuma brings a cabbage salad and miso soup as standard, sized to your party.

The cabbage salad dressing is super nutty with a fresh finish, perfect for waking up an empty stomach, and the soup is a hot, clean, classic miso soup that goes great alongside sushi.

Shirokuma means "white bear," so even the tissues have a white bear drawn on them.

What to order at Shirokuma: three sushi sets tasted

I wanted to try a range, so I ordered the Shirokuma Premium Sushi (12 pieces), Shirokuma Special Sushi (10 pieces) and salmon sushi (10 pieces). Don't they look gorgeous? ✨

• Shirokuma Premium Sushi (12 pieces)
• Shirokuma Special Sushi (10 pieces)
• Salmon sushi (10 pieces)

Shirokuma Premium Sushi (12 pieces)

The Premium 12-piece set includes 4 kinds of aged fish, salmon, tuna loin, beef, garlic shrimp, eggplant, cuttlefish, grilled salmon and futomaki (thick sushi roll).

This set really lives up to the name "Premium"! First, the 4 kinds of aged fish are chewy and springy, unlike fresh-caught sashimi, and the savory depth that builds as you chew is crazy good!

The garlic shrimp and grilled salmon, kissed with a smoky char, burst with salty flavor the moment they hit your mouth, and the eggplant sushi, a specialty, is full of juice and super soft. Finally, stuffing in a fist-sized futomaki in one bite felt just like finishing a perfect course meal.

Shirokuma Special Sushi (10 pieces)

The Special 10-piece set has 3 kinds of aged fish, salmon, tuna loin, egg, beef, cuttlefish, eggplant and soy-sauce shrimp. Only the best bits, a great-value lineup!

The balance between the melt-in-your-mouth red tuna loin, the rich, chewy soy-sauce shrimp and the fluffy, sweet egg sushi is excellent! The beef sushi was tender with nothing tough about it, and it was the best too!

Shirokuma salmon sushi (10 pieces)

If you're a salmon lover, order the 10-piece salmon sushi, no question! This isn't cheap salmon. It's glossy, good-quality fish with a nice layer of fat, so it melts "moistly" in your mouth with no fishy smell at all!

The rice seasoning is just right too, so finishing all 10 pieces in a flash is a given.

Shirokuma's receipt review event: the "nostalgic prize draw"

At the Shirokuma counter they run a receipt review event called the "nostalgic draw" (추억의 뽑기). There seemed to be a range of prizes from 1st to 5th place.

I only noticed it on my way out after the meal, and I had eaten so much sushi that I stuffed myself and sadly skipped it this time. Next time I'll definitely join in and grab the prize! If you visit, be sure to take part!

Is Shirokuma in Yangsan worth visiting?

From the cute tableware details to the chewy aged fish and salmon that melts in your mouth, everything was perfect at Shirokuma in Yangsan! I understood right away why people queue even on weekday evenings. It's the real deal.

I highly recommend it if you want properly good sushi in Yangsan! (Booking on CatchTable before you visit is a must! Don't forget ⭐️)