Sashimi bar in Sangbong, Seoul for amberjack seaweed wraps: Hoepanjang

What is Hoepanjang Sangbong like?

Hoepanjang Sangbong is an aged sashimi restaurant in Sangbong-dong. According to the banner on the wall, Hoepanjang gets its fish cheaply through direct-from-source delivery and auctions, so it can serve premium fish at a good price. That made me even more excited!

Atmosphere and seating at Hoepanjang Sangbong

There were quite a few customers even though we came early, and the seat backs work like partitions, which made it comfortable to drink. We were a little early and thought we might be the first guests, but lots of people were already eating~

Because the seat backs act like dividers, it feels open but still nicely private, so it was easy to drink and eat in peace.

Menu, prices and corkage at Hoepanjang Sangbong

There were two of us, so no need to think hard: we ordered the small mixed sashimi platter (모듬회 소) for ₩54,000. I took a photo of the menu, but the menu on the Naver business listing is easier to read, so I'm using that one~ The real menu seemed to have more options, like flounder sashimi.. I think only the popular items are condensed here~

Oh, I forgot something important. Corkage is FREE!!! For those who love drinking, or want a drink the restaurant doesn't sell, Hoepanjang Sangbong lets you bring your own, so go ahead and pack a bottle :)

What side dishes come before the sashimi?

Once you order, Hoepanjang Sangbong first brings silkworm pupae (beondegi), mussel soup, tempura, jeon (pan-fried patties) and corn cheese. I used to think pupae were gross and couldn't eat them, but once I discovered how good they are, I can't live without them. I'm known (by myself and others) as the pupae killer, haha. They were slightly spicy, which made them even better. You could easily finish a bottle of beer with just these.

Sweet potato tempura and jeon can't possibly be bad. The sweet potato was nicely sweet too. When the pupae and sweet potato start to choke you, wash it all down with the mussel soup.

Extras that come with the small mixed sashimi platter

The small mixed sashimi platter at Hoepanjang Sangbong has lots of fish types, and the accompaniments are incredibly varied too. Here comes the sashimi platter!><

I loved that they gave us sweet and sour mulhoe (cold raw fish soup), sushi rice with seaweed, plus pickled scallions (rakkyo), perilla leaves, pollock roe and makjang (seasoned soybean paste). As someone who absolutely adores makjang, going to a raw fish restaurant without it would make me so sad,,

I'm so happy they give sushi rice too>< I like sashimi, but honestly I like sushi even more, haha. Meat and fish both taste better with rice, I think!!

Which fish came with the small mixed platter?

Today's main event, the mixed sashimi!! A staff member kindly explained each cut, its texture and how it was aged. Eating with that knowledge versus without it is night and day, so I really liked this part too.

From the left: amberjack, mullet, sea bream, ibaegi, Spanish mackerel, flounder, salmon! I'd never heard of ibaegi, and the moment I thought so, the staff member read my mind and said to think of it as juvenile yellowtail~ Oh, new knowledge unlocked.

The slices were nice and thick! Today's best were the flounder and the salmon. They're classics for a reason.

Best combo at Hoepanjang Sangbong: wrap it in roasted seaweed

The seaweed at Hoepanjang Sangbong isn't the usual seasoned laver from raw fish restaurants but well-roasted dolgim (rock seaweed), and I loved it. Putting sushi rice on it and wrapping it up was pure bliss.

Between bites I sipped beer and ate mulhoe, so my hands and mouth never got a break, haha.

Today's best combo was wrapping in seaweed! They gave us plenty of seaweed from the start, and even after eating our fill there was some left, haha.

Hoepanjang Sangbong, eating as a pair

With so many kinds of fish, and generous side dishes from the starters to the extras, the two of us left really full. Good direct-from-source fish at a fairly reasonable price, plus free corkage, are what I liked about Hoepanjang Sangbong! If you're near Sangbong-dong looking for good-value aged sashimi or a relaxed place for a drink, stop by :)