Jonggak Station sushi lunch: fried scallop, 15-piece set, Choe Uyeong

Sushi is good any time of day, isn't it? I find it sits lightly on my stomach, so I often pick it for a light meal. Today I visited Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch (최우영스시야 종로점), famous as a great-value sushi spot in Jongno. It's a place where thick cuts of fish and hearty rice make for a satisfying meal, and here's my honest review.

How do you get to Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch?

Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch is on the first basement floor of a building, a 5-minute walk from Jonggak Station Exit 1. Head into the inner alley of the building and take the elevator across from the gelato shop for the quickest way down.

Ride the elevator down, turn right, and you'll see the restaurant right away. The smell of sushi drifts out from the entrance, and it made me hungry!

From a range of sashimi dishes to sushi sets, there are lots of options, so picking by your own taste looks like fun.

For takeout, you order at the kiosk at the restaurant entrance.

Seating and atmosphere at a weekend lunch

On a weekend lunch, Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch was full except for one or two seats. There were lots of seats good for dining solo, and many guests had come as families or on dates.

With so many offices nearby, I imagine office workers fill it on weekday lunches. Since the seating suits solo diners too, I'd recommend it as an office lunch spot.

Each seat comes with pickled scallions (rakkyo) and ginger, plus chopsticks, a spoon and a water cup. I also liked the thoughtful touch of tissues on every table, haha

What's on the menu at Choe Uyeong Sushiya?

The menu at Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch runs from assorted sashimi to sushi sets, à la carte sushi and kaisendon (seafood rice bowl). I took photos of the menu beforehand at the kiosk by the entrance, and the pictures made it easy to understand.

From assorted sashimi to sushi sets, the prices are really low, right? You can try monkfish liver or sea urchin roe cheaply, and red shrimp or cuttlefish sashimi are also offered at good value.

Build your own set with à la carte sushi

What I especially liked about Choe Uyeong Sushiya is that you can order sushi by the piece and build the meal however you like. With sets, some pieces you don't want are included, and it's awkward if there's sushi you normally don't eat. Here you can choose exactly what you want and set the price to the level you want, so I thought it reflects customers' needs very well.

Kaisendon (seafood rice bowl), the value pick

Kaisendon is also a recommended value menu! Think of it as a slightly fancier raw fish rice bowl. The price is reasonable, so it seems many people order it.

How do you order and pay at Choe Uyeong Sushiya?

Every table at Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch has a kiosk, and you pay as you order. No hassle of settling up after the meal, which I liked.

I ordered the premium top sushi and the special sushi set, plus a few extra pieces individually that I wanted to try.

Does the non-alcoholic yuzu highball go with sushi?

The non-alcoholic yuzu highball came out first, and it is really good. Being alcohol-free, it's easy to sip, and its fresh citrus cuts the fishy taste, so it pairs really well with sushi.

It was so good that if a nearby convenience store sold it, I'd want to buy some separately. It's a nice light choice for people who don't like alcohol or can't handle it, so I recommend trying it.

How do the 15-piece special and premium top sushi taste?

The special sushi set comes with 15 kinds of sushi, nicely presented, and above all I loved the thick fish. The sushi arrived without a long wait!

The fried scallop and fried shrimp I ordered as sides were crispy and added a nice variety of textures.

The premium top sushi is, literally, top-grade sushi prepared as a premium. There were many kinds, so choosing and eating them one by one was fun.

The biggest reason it felt rustic but made with care was the size of the sushi. Overall, the pieces are really big. The fish is thick and there's plenty of rice too, so I got very full enjoying it.

The standouts: white fish and salmon

The white fish and salmon were the best, I think.

The white fish had a lively chewy texture that filled the whole mouthful, which was satisfying. The salmon was really tender. They were so good that next time I'd like to order only salmon, flounder and sea bream by the piece.

The sweet shrimp sushi topped with uni (sea urchin) was also the best combination: rich and nutty, with sweetness rising at the end.

Looking for good-value sushi in Jongno?

Beyond the taste, the prices at Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch are really low, and among the sushi places I've visited recently I'd say it has the best value. If you want a great sushi spot in Jongno that's also good value, I recommend Choe Uyeong Sushiya.

• For those proud of their appetite: the set menus, with lots of variety
• For those who want to eat their favorites until full: the à la carte menu