Gwanghwamun lunch set with kaisendon and karaage: Ilpum Gwanghwamun

When I'm near Gwanghwamun and craving a proper bowl of Japanese food, one place always comes to mind first.

I finally made it to Ilpum Gwanghwamun, famous for its eye-catching kaisendon (seafood rice bowl)! It's so well known as a go-to kaisendon spot in Gwanghwamun that I had high expectations — and honestly, the whole experience, from the food to the service, felt genuinely upscale.

How to find Ilpum Gwanghwamun, and why the escalator matters

Ilpum Gwanghwamun is on the 2nd floor of Lemeilleur Jongno Town. If you take the escalator that connects directly from outside, the restaurant appears right in front of you.

If you're looking for a sushi spot in Gwanghwamun, note that this place is on the 2nd floor of Lemeilleur Jongno Town, and the route can be a bit confusing the first time. Use the escalator that connects directly from outside and the restaurant will be right there in front of you!

Definitely remember this if you're planning a visit — take the escalator, not the elevator, and you'll get there without wasting any time.

What is on the menu at Ilpum Gwanghwamun, and what is the room like?

The menu at Ilpum Gwanghwamun centers on rice bowls, led by the signature kaisendon at ₩26,000, and the interior is a cozy setup with counter seats and about 3 tables for four. This time we ordered the signature kaisendon, a half roll of futomaki, and karaage.

Standing at the entrance, we were greeted by a poster noting that celebrities Lee Young-ja and Hwang Jung-min had visited — haha. Inside, it's a cozy, quiet space with counter seats plus about 3 tables for four.

Looking at the menu board, there's a whole range of rice bowls starting with the signature kaisendon at ₩26,000. We generously ordered the signature kaisendon, a half roll of futomaki, and a side of karaage!

Every table had a CatchTable order kiosk installed, so we could order comfortably right from our seats.

There was even a dedicated coat rack on one side of the restaurant — a thoughtful touch. By the way, if you book through Naver Reservation, you get 2 hours of free parking and free corkage, so it's worth setting up in advance!

How to eat the signature kaisendon in the best order

The signature kaisendon at Ilpum Gwanghwamun works best when you start with the mild white fish and move on to the richer-flavored cuts. Wrapping the sashimi and wasabi in the gamtae (seasoned seaweed) or nori that comes alongside really brings out the flavor.

Finally, the kaisendon itself! Thick slices of fresh sashimi piled generously on top — just looking at it felt filling. For first-timers, the recommended order is to start with the mild white fish and gradually work toward the richer cuts.

Wrapping the thick sashimi and wasabi in the gamtae or nori that comes with it really brings the flavor to life! The well-seasoned rice combined with the pop of flying fish roe spread through my mouth in the best way.

The futomaki comes as a half roll for ₩17,000, and the size was so overwhelming it was hard to fit in one bite.

The karaage (Japanese fried chicken) we ordered as a side was crispy outside and juicy inside — instantly made me want a beer.

Every main dish comes standard with chawanmushi (savory steamed egg custard) and udon, and the udon broth was really rich and clean!

Starting with the soft chawanmushi warmed things up first, which made the rest of the meal go down even easier.

As noted at the bottom of the menu, the set also includes noodles, a fried dish, and dessert — really solid value for the price.

How the lunch ends: homemade milk pudding at Ilpum Gwanghwamun

The highlight of the meal at Ilpum Gwanghwamun is the dessert served at the end: homemade milk pudding topped with mango purée.

After finishing the meal at this Gwanghwamun Japanese restaurant, the standout dessert arrives — and it was genuinely something else!

Homemade milk pudding topped with sweet mango purée gives off real fine-dining polish. The rich milk flavor cleanly refreshed the palate, leaving me feeling well taken care of right to the last bite.

If you're after a proper, formal Japanese lunch near Gwanghwamun, this place is worth a visit. Just remember the elevator route is confusing, so take the escalator instead! Haha.