Gangnam sushi restaurant vs Gwangju branch, weekday lunch: Sushi Ian N

While looking for a lunch date spot near Seolleung Station in Seoul, I went back to Sushi Ian N Seolleung Station, a place I remembered fondly eating at in Gwangju. Knowing the Gwangju branch's flavor well, I was curious how the Seoul branch would compare, so here's my honest take from visiting in person.

• Restaurant name: Sushi Ian N Seolleung Station
• Address: 10 Seolleung-ro 86-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 2nd floor
• Hours: Daily 11:20–22:00 / Break time 15:00–17:00 (no break time on weekends)
• Parking: Yes (building basement level 1)
• Wi-Fi: Yes, Naver reservation: Yes, Takeout: Yes, Delivery: Yes
• Restrooms: Yes, High chairs: Yes, Waiting area: Yes

How to reach Sushi Ian N Seolleung Station, and where to park

Sushi Ian N Seolleung Station is about a 3-minute walk from Exit 2 of Seolleung Station, so accessibility is excellent. There's also a parking lot in the building's basement level 1, which is convenient if you're driving.

If you're coming by car, parking is available on the building's basement level 1.

How long is the wait at 1pm on a weekday? About 20 minutes

The restaurant is on the 2nd floor of the building, and you register for the wait via Catch Table at the entrance. Even past 1pm on a weekday, right as office workers were finishing lunch, I waited about 20 minutes. There's a separate waiting area inside the restaurant where you can wait comfortably even on a hot day.

Seating is mostly made up of 2-seat and 4-seat tables.

There were also restrooms toward the back of the restaurant, which was nice since it made moving around easy.

Inside Sushi Ian N Seolleung Station: seating and how to order

It's reassuring that the restaurant states it uses no Japanese ingredients at all for its sushi.

At 2-seat tables, you need to ask the chef or staff directly for whatever menu items you want. At 4-seat tables, you can conveniently order via tablet.

I'd already tried everything on this menu in Gwangju, and sure enough, these really are the popular items! Today I planned to eat through everything here again.

Weekday lunch deals and Naver review perks at Sushi Ian N

Unlike Gwangju, this branch has a weekday lunch event. Udon and cold soba (naengmomil) are discounted, and kids get free fries and ketchup.

Also, if you write a Naver review, you can get a free plate of sushi or a can of a drink.

You earn 2% of your payment amount back as points, so if you plan to visit often, be sure to claim your points.

Sushi Ian N Seolleung Station menu and prices: 1,990 won a plate

Every plate is a flat ₩1,990.

Unlike Gwangju, Seoul also had a seasonal menu — new items I hadn't seen in Gwangju! I was really looking forward to it.

Besides sushi, they also have udon, soba, ramen, beer, soju, and highballs — just tell a staff member and they'll bring it right over.

There's also a separate takeout menu, and it's cheaper than eating in, so takeout is a good alternative to consider.

Miso soybean paste soup and wasabi soy sauce are also provided.

Every plate reviewed: egg shrimp, beef tartare tataki, grilled prawn

There's a variety of sushi on the conveyor belt, but if a dish isn't on the belt, just tell staff and they'll make it fresh for you right away.

Here are my personal impressions of the dishes I ordered during my visit.

Egg cheese sushi: Good for a light start to the meal.

Yukhoe (raw beef) sushi and yukhoe tataki sushi: A dish I loved in Gwangju too, and it holds up just as well at the Seolleung branch.

Egg shrimp sushi: The restaurant's number one bestseller, and it's easy to see why — it hits the spot from the very first bite. Highly recommended.

Wagyu truffle basil tataki sushi: A strong basil aroma that lingers pleasantly after eating.

Live fish aged kimchi sushi and salmon onion sushi: These weren't on the belt, but staff made them fresh on request.

Woo samgyeop bossam sushi (beef belly with kimchi): The tangy kimchi and beef belly pairing feels more like eating a meat wrap than sushi.

Salmon roll: The crispy crumble topping on top was satisfying.

Grilled prawn sushi: Looks luxurious and tastes excellent too.

Iced persimmon and ice cream: A refreshing way to cleanse the palate at the end of the meal.

The egg shrimp sushi really lives up to its bestseller status — it's the kind of sushi that makes you go 'wow, this is really good' the moment you take your first bite.

Is Sushi Ian N Seolleung Station worth it as a lunch date spot?

Being able to enjoy the same Sushi Ian N flavors in Seoul that I loved in Gwangju made for a very satisfying lunch. The quality relative to price is excellent, so if you generally like sushi, this is a solid choice in terms of value.

If you're weighing lunch date spots near Seolleung Station, this place is worth considering for its clean atmosphere and varied menu. The staff were also friendly throughout, so there was no discomfort during the meal, and I plan to stop by again next time I'm in the area. It's a conveyor-belt sushi chain that keeps a similar quality level nationwide, so you get both familiarity and good taste at once.

Great value, and a nice conveyor-belt sushi place for a lunch date.