Hapjeong izakaya in Seoul: ₩50,000 aged sashimi and self-sushi set

Sushi Sakaba Hapjeong: an izakaya a short walk from Hapjeong Station

Hi everyone! After work on Friday, I had aged sashimi with a glass of soju at an izakaya in the Hongdae-Hapjeong area!! Does anyone else get that itch to go out somewhere the moment Friday hits?

It's a short walk from Hapjeong Station, so it's easy to get to, and it runs as a sushi restaurant during the day and switches to an izakaya vibe at night — this place is called Sushi Sakaba Hapjeong.

No regular closing day.

What is the room at Sushi Sakaba Hapjeong like?

The first thing I noticed walking into Sushi Sakaba Hapjeong was how clean and cozy it felt — mostly wood-toned interior with soft lighting layered on top. It wasn't a loud, rowdy drinking-spot vibe but more of a place good for actually talking, which was perfect after work!

The tables weren't crammed too close together so it didn't feel cramped, and the seats were fairly spacious too, so my friend and I could chat comfortably while eating. There was also a bit of an open kitchen, so we got to sneak a peek!!

Apparently the owner-chef trained at fine dining restaurants abroad!! Maybe that's why every ingredient combination felt so thoughtfully put together, and each dish had that sense of finished polish.

Cute sushi cups haha. I really love little touches like this. Points already earned for this kind of taste ~

Aged sashimi platter + self-sushi set, ₩50,000

What we ordered that day was the aged sashimi platter + self-sushi set for ₩50,000. First came the salad. The salad dressing was so good I wiped it clean without even meaning to.

And then out came the platter — aged sashimi and self-sushi together!! The plating was so clean I couldn't not take pictures. All kinds of aged sashimi came out, evenly arranged, with great color and just the right thickness — it looked fresh just from looking at it.

One bite in, and that distinct umami flavor of aged fish came through, with a chewy texture that kept me reaching for more!! This Hongdae-Hapjeong izakaya is really so good!!

There was rakkyo (pickled scallion) too, along with garlic mixed into the wrap ingredients, and it was really tasty. There turned out to be quite a lot of side combinations to mix and match. Rice and sushi-grade seaweed!! Wrapping different things up with this was insanely good haha.

Almost no fishy taste, clean and light while still keeping the nutty richness of the sashimi alive — I think anyone who likes raw fish would absolutely love this combination.

How does the self-sushi at Sushi Sakaba Hapjeong work?

For the self-sushi at Sushi Sakaba Hapjeong, the sushi-grade seaweed and aged sashimi come out separately, so you build your own sushi to your liking — surprisingly fun haha. You can pile on as much fish as you want and adjust the wasabi to your own taste, which was great ~

Making it myself, I could eat a lot more generously than with regular sushi, and there was also the fun of trying out different combinations — my friend and I basically cleared the whole thing without noticing.

The standout dish: ankimo (monkfish liver)

Personally, the most memorable dish I had at this Hongdae-Hapjeong izakaya was the ankimo (monkfish liver). I usually don't go for ankimo much, but this was the best I've ever had!

No off-flavor at all, and it was genuinely smooth. The moment it hit my mouth it just melted away, and a rich, nutty flavor spread through — the texture, that rich, nutty flavor spreading, it was just really, really good..

Blanched octopus

The boiled octopus was also really satisfying. I worried it might be tough, but it wasn't at all — it had a good springiness and a soft texture with a nutty flavor coming through.

Dipping it lightly in wasabi with the chojang (vinegar-chili sauce) added a whole different charm haha. It had a different texture from the aged sashimi, so enjoying both together was even more satisfying!!!! This octopus paired really well as a drinking snack.

Who is Sushi Sakaba Hapjeong best for?

Sushi Sakaba Hapjeong has a clean, cozy atmosphere, so it suits dates, anniversaries, gatherings with friends, or just casually having a drink after work. With fresh raw fish, a variety of menu items, and a comfortable atmosphere all in one, I'd fully recommend it if you want to spend some time in Hapjeong!!!

It had been a while since I got to sit and talk with a friend over food in Hapjeong ~~~ You should go too — you can enjoy really delicious aged sashimi there! They also have sushi menus at lunch, so eating sushi there during the day sounds like it'd be great too!!!!! hahahaha