Hongdae sushi restaurant with a kid: soda and Chupa Chups, Yu Iksang

It had been a while since I took my elementary-school-age kid out to Hongdae, and we stopped by Yu Iksang Sushi. I love sushi, so while looking for a good sushi restaurant in Hongdae, I found this place, known for its long-tail sushi topped with generous slices of raw fish.

Yu Iksang Sushi in a nutshell

• True to its name, the long-tail sushi has big, fresh slices of fish — satisfying in both taste and portion
• We had a reservation, so our table was already set up and the food came out fast
• They gave our child a can of cola and even Chupa Chups lollipops, which made it a great family meal

• 🍣 Hours: 11:00–21:00 (closed Mondays)
• 🍣 Takeout, delivery, Wi-Fi

The walk from Hongik University Station

Yu Iksang Sushi is in an easy spot to reach on foot from Hongik University Station, so getting there by public transit was convenient. Strolling through the Hongdae streets, we arrived in no time. It's a good location for meeting friends, a family meal out, or anyone looking for a good-atmosphere date restaurant in Hongdae.

There are so many restaurants in Hongdae that picking one can be tough, but if you're ever craving sushi, it's worth remembering this as a sushi restaurant near Hongik University Station.

Reserved ahead, and the table was already set

We had reserved before visiting, and when we arrived the table was already neatly set. We ordered the Couple A Plus set. We didn't have to wait to sit down, and the food we ordered came out quickly, too — great.

While we were eating, more customers came in and there seemed to be a bit of a wait forming. Guess everyone's heard about this place, haha.

The inside of Yu Iksang Sushi

The interior overall had a tidy Japanese-style design. It wasn't overly flashy but still had that distinct sushi-restaurant atmosphere, and the tables and dishware were kept clean, so we could eat comfortably.

Starting with fried shrimp

We started off with fried shrimp. Crispy and savory fried shrimp!!

Long-tail sushi — just how big is the fish?

The dish I was most looking forward to at Yu Iksang Sushi was, of course, the long-tail sushi. The raw fish draped over the rice was so generous it hung long past the edges — it looked so tempting the moment it arrived that I snapped a photo and dug right in :)

The fish was piled on generously compared to the rice, so even one piece felt like a proper sushi experience. The texture of the raw fish came through well and it paired nicely with the rice. The ingredients were cleanly prepped with no fishy taste, so I enjoyed it without any hesitation.

It was fun trying each type of sushi one by one, and the portion turned out to be more filling than expected. If you've ever been disappointed by sushi with too little fish on top, this is a Hongdae sushi restaurant that will satisfy you. The portions are really generous!

Cola and Chupa Chups for the kid

Since I had my elementary-school-age child with me, they gave us a can of cola as a freebie. When we were leaving after the meal, they even handed over two Chupa Chups lollipops, and my kid was thrilled. A small gesture, but the attentiveness toward the child left an impression.

How was it as a family meal out?

Between the clean interior, the quick service, and the generously topped sushi, it was a satisfying meal overall. Thanks to the reservation, our table was ready in advance, and we finished the meal happily after the cola and candy service for our child.

If you're looking for a good sushi restaurant near Hongik University Station or a comfortable place to eat in Hongdae, be sure to visit Yu Iksang Sushi! Next time, I'd love to come back and try the other sushi we didn't get to this time :)