Hongdae sashimi restaurant: set for 2, rice in spicy stew, Eosa Chulto

Some days you just crave fresh sashimi and seafood at a price that doesn't sting, right? For those days, I went to Eosa Chulto Hongdae Branch (어사출또 홍대점), a Hongdae sashimi spot you can walk into without a second thought. It's already famous as a budget-friendly sashimi restaurant chain, so many of you probably know it. Among all the flashy, pricey places, here's my honest review of stuffing myself with plentiful, fresh sashimi at a very reasonable price!

Where is Eosa Chulto Hongdae Branch, and what are its hours?

Eosa Chulto Hongdae Branch is a 5-minute walk from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 2, and it's open Monday to Saturday from 11:30 to 23:00. It's closed on Sundays. The hours work for day drinking and for a late evening drink alike!

A bright, spacious restaurant with a wide menu lineup

Follow the map and the Eosa Chulto sign catches your eye from far away! At the entrance, the signboard lists today's recommended dishes and hearty set menus in big letters, so you start happily agonizing over what to eat before you even go in.

The first thing I noticed inside was how big and open the restaurant is. It doesn't feel stuffy at all, so you can eat comfortably! The walls are packed with menu boards, covering everyday live fish like flounder and rockfish, seasonal seafood that changes through the year, stews and fried dishes. Picking a menu was half the fun!

For two people, the Chulto Set for 2

I wanted so many dishes that I dithered for ages, but since there were two of us, we chose the Chulto Set, the best-value way to try a bit of everything! The Chulto Set for 2 comes with two seafood dishes, a small mixed sashimi platter and a spicy stew all at once, so my expectations were high from the moment we ordered!

Side dishes at Eosa Chulto: the miljeonbyeong is a treat

Once you order, the staff set out the side dishes quickly! The table spread was neat and tidy with no fuss, which I liked. The miljeonbyeong (thin wheat crepes) was an unexpected scene-stealer and a real treat! Chewy and easy on the mouth, it's a great palate cleanser before the main dishes arrive! And you know corn cheese is a given at a sashimi restaurant, right? I happily munched on that too. While we were tasting the sides, the main dishes began arriving one after another, perfectly timed!

Chulto Set small mixed sashimi platter: portion and freshness

First out was the star, the small mixed sashimi platter. Even though it's the small size, the portion was quite generous, which surprised me, and it came neatly sliced in several kinds of fish rather than just one, so picking and choosing was a lot of fun! Freshness is what matters most at a sashimi restaurant, and the moment I put a slice in my mouth I couldn't help exclaiming! The fish was so fresh and springy that the more I chewed, the more a sweet, nutty flavor filled my mouth! The texture wasn't soft at all, still chewy and plump, so every single slice was delicious! Being able to try different cuts at once meant I never got tired of it, and I happily polished it off to the last piece!

The set's two seafood dishes: abalone and sea squirt sashimi

The set's two seafood dishes turned out to be abalone sashimi and sea squirt sashimi. They happen to be my two favorites, so I cheered inside! Seafood like this is often hard to eat because of a strong fishy smell if it isn't fresh, but at Eosa Chulto you could see the freshness with your own eyes! The sea squirt (멍게, meongge) spread its slightly bitter, fragrant taste of the sea the moment it hit my mouth, making me think of a glass of soju! The abalone had that crunchy texture that was a work of art, and the sweetness rose the more I chewed, so the plate was empty in no time! Both were top-notch fresh, not fishy at all, and very clean-tasting!

Finishing with spicy stew and an extra bowl of rice

The last course of the Chulto Set is the bubbling maeuntang (spicy fish stew). It arrived in a big pot topped with vegetables, and the broth was deep and kick-in-the-throat spicy, the kind that settles your stomach! The fish bones in the stew had plenty of meat clinging to them, so picking it off was a lot of fun! And as a Korean, I can't resist rice with a spicy broth like this! The moment I tasted the hot, rich soup, I badly wanted to mix rice into it, so I ordered an extra bowl and ate it all up! Filling up on rice in the broth made it a perfect meal!

Is Eosa Chulto Hongdae Branch worth it as a budget Hongdae sashimi restaurant?

Eosa Chulto Hongdae Branch was a great place to enjoy high-quality sashimi and seafood at an easy price, very close to Hongdae Station! With prices these days, getting a full course from mixed sashimi to seafood to spicy stew in the middle of Hongdae at this price felt like amazing value! Not many sashimi restaurants open early, right? Eosa Chulto also has lunch specials. The space is large and bright too, so for a relaxed get-together with friends or a drink and an honest chat in a comfortable setting, I don't think there's a better sashimi place. If you're looking for fresh sashimi near Hongdae that nails both value and taste, definitely stop by Eosa Chulto Hongdae Branch haha