Hongdae sushi restaurant date with extra-long sushi: Yu Iksang

Guys, have you ever seen sushi longer than your boyfriend’s hair? (Yep, I got a boyfriend, hehe.) After what feels like 500 million years, the day finally came for me to go on a Hongdae date with my boyfriend.

Why I went looking for Hongdae’s extra-long sushi

Ordinary sushi is boring, right? I visited Yu Iksang Sushi (유익상스시), which had long been famous for its extra-long sushi in Hongdae and somewhere I’d always wanted to try. To give you the conclusion first: it wasn’t just visually unusual—the portions and taste were both the real deal, and we left absolutely stuffed.

We came out of Hongik University Station Exit 9 and walked for about 10 minutes.

I was a little surprised when a queue formed soon after we went in. I thought, well, there must be a reason places this popular are popular.

I absolutely wanted to see this sushi in Hongdae

I also saw other people on dates, so it seems like a great fit for couples looking for an unusual meal in Hongdae.

Couple Set B: a substantial spread before the main

As soon as we sat down, we ordered Couple Set B.

It’s quite a substantial spread even before the main arrives

I thought only sushi would come out, but shrimp tempura, naengmomil (cold soba noodles), and salad arrived first. A bite of crisp shrimp tempura followed by cool cold soba really got our appetites going before the main sushi appeared.

There was such a variety that, as someone who loves trying a bit of everything, I was happy from the start. I set this aside because I had a use for it later...!

The size of the extra-long sushi beside my boyfriend’s face

Then, after a little while, the extra-long sushi we’d been waiting for finally appeared.

Putting it beside my boyfriend’s face really makes the size sink in

Seriously, as soon as the sushi came out, my boyfriend and I both started laughing.

The fish stretched so far beyond the rice that I was like, “Is this really sushi?” It had the most striking look of any sushi I’d seen.

So I immediately held it beside my boyfriend’s face. I compared them myself for all of you.

A comparison photo explains the size much faster than words. It wasn’t just a long tail—the fish itself was piled on generously, so every piece filled your mouth. The overall plating was gorgeous too, making it great for taking photos on a date.

There was a reason this sushi had so much character

While eating, I got the feeling that the owner is definitely someone with a strong personality. Rather than making ordinary sushi, there was a clear sense of, “This is how we serve it here.”

That character came through naturally in the size and lavish composition of the extra-long sushi. The important thing is that it wasn’t all looks—the sushi itself was delicious too. The staff were also kind, so we could enjoy our meal in a great mood.

The futomaki one-bite incident

My boyfriend and I started an unnecessarily serious debate while looking at the futomaki (thick sushi roll): could someone eat this in one bite, or not?

But before I could even take a proper photo, my boyfriend just went ahead and did a whole dismantling show.

No, wait a second. Can you do that in front of your blogger girlfriend? . . He seriously needs a telling-off.

Still, as we laughed and ate together, I realized this is part of the fun of a date. The portions were truly generous, so we eventually left a little behind because we were too full.

Recommended for an unusual Hongdae date meal

I recommend it if you’re looking for an unusual date in Hongdae

At the time of our visit, you could get a drink for writing a Naver review. A staff member accidentally brought us an extra one, and we even confessed that we’d already received ours. I did well, right? (The nerve of me trying to get praised for doing the obvious, wow.)

With the definite fun of extra-long sushi, plus satisfying taste, portions, and plating, this is a Hongdae date spot that has really stayed in my mind. I recommend it if you want a meal that lets you take photos and laugh together rather than just having an ordinary bite to eat. If you go for a couple set like we did, arrive with plenty of room in your stomach—it’s more filling than you might expect.