Unagi don eel rice bowl and bar seats at Ilpum Yeouido Branch

Today I visited Ilpum Yeouido Branch, a Japanese restaurant near Gukhoeuisadang Station in Yeouido, Seoul. This is a place that delivers top-tier seafood and a great atmosphere, and honestly it was so good I have to give it a strong recommendation. It's a great spot for family gatherings, dates, or business meetings — I've actually had meetings here with overseas clients, and everyone was happy with it! Let's get right into it.

Ilpum Yeouido Branch's location, 6 minutes on foot from Gukhoeuisadang Station

It's located behind the Korea Development Bank, in west Yeouido behind Yeouido Park. Go down just one flight of stairs to the basement level and you'll spot Ilpum right away. It's about a 6-minute walk from Gukhoeuisadang Station!

Interior seating and the bar-table atmosphere

Here's the inside of Ilpum Yeouido Branch. The seating is very spacious and looks like it could hold a good number of people. As you'd expect from a Japanese restaurant, it's mostly bar-table seating, but there are also regular tables. The seats are spread out generously, which makes it great for meetings, and it's nice and quiet too!

I sat at the bar table. Watching the chef prepare dishes right in front of me meant the wait was never boring. The way they prepared the food so cleanly really won me over!

Ilpum Yeouido Branch's menu lineup

Ilpum's menu mainly consists of rice bowls like kaisendon and unagi don, along with very fresh sushi. There's also sashimi, and fried dishes as side options.

They told us the bar table had a new menu item, ankimo hosomaki. It was my first time seeing it — apparently it's made using monkfish liver. I'd love to try it next time. Also, if you leave a Naver receipt review, they give you a croquette. Honestly, Ilpum's food is already top-tier, so you should definitely take advantage of the review event!!

Ordering unagi don (eel rice bowl) and premium kaisendon

We ordered unagi don (eel rice bowl) and premium kaisendon. This was my third time at Ilpum — the first time I got the basic kaisendon, and the second time the premium kaisendon. The basic kaisendon was tasty too, of course, but with the premium version I finally understood why it's called "premium." It melts in your mouth even more, richer and more flavorful, so on this third visit I ordered the premium kaisendon again!

Unagi don — eel that's tender without a single bone

The unagi don arrived. Everyone probably already knows eel is good for you. But honestly, I used to be bad at eating eel haha. I'd had too many with lots of bones or badly prepared ones, so I just avoided it entirely — until I met Ilpum's unagi don and was amazed eel could be this soft!

I was a little nervous about biting into a bone, but there wasn't a single one — it was so soft it practically melted (not exaggerating, I mean it...!). It was even better than the eel rice bowl I once had in Tokyo. It might actually surpass the original, honestly? The quality and tenderness are so good that I'd strongly recommend it for treating someone at a meeting.

With unagi don, a whole eel comes out and they cut it with scissors right in front of you — that part was really fun too haha. And when you take a big bite of the egg and eel together inside the bowl, it's basically paradise, right? It was so good my eyes went wide...

Premium kaisendon — thickly cut sashimi, piece by piece

Here's the premium kaisendon. Most people think of kaisendon as an expensive rice bowl topped with sashimi. If it's just expensive without actually tasting different from regular sashimi, there's no real payoff — you'd just feel like you wasted money. But there's no need to worry about that with Ilpum's premium kaisendon! It always keeps its top-tier quality.

Each piece of sashimi's freshness and richness was genuinely moving on the tongue... it was surprising how every single bite, no matter which fish, felt just as impressive. Usually you can get a little tired by the end of a rice bowl, but with so many different sashimi and combinations each time, I was actually sad to see each piece disappear ㅠㅠ I really have to call this a top sushi spot in Yeouido...

The steamed egg and cold udon that come as basic sides

These are the steamed egg and cold udon that come as basic sides. The steamed egg was so soft it melted in my mouth, and the udon (which also comes with the unagi don) had noodles so springy it was surprising for something that's just a free side — I mean, if even the free sides are this good, what are you trying to do to me? It was that delicious.

Take a look at each piece of sashimi. They're so thick — every bite was a small moment of awe. It just disappears in your mouth ㅠ

Wrapping it in gamtae seaweed, and finishing with mango pudding

My favorite combination is wrapping it in gamtae (roasted laver sheets) — the rough texture of the gamtae with the rich sashimi, topped with uni, was genuinely moving. This visit reminded me how soft uni can really be and how springy salmon roe can really be haha.

Finally, they give you mango pudding. Even the dessert at Ilpum was perfect.

How about a meeting or a first date here?

With so many bank buildings nearby, I thought this would be an ideal spot for inviting a business contact or holding a meeting. It's got both the taste and the atmosphere covered, so there's really no reason not to go. If you're looking for good sushi near Gukhoeuisadang Station or a sushi spot in Yeouido, I strongly recommend Ilpum Yeouido Branch!! It'll be a meal you won't regret.