Unlimited salmon and yukhoe buffet in Jungnang, Seoul: Yukyeon Sikdang

The magic of thick, moist raw seafood and beef

Why Yukyeon Sikdang Mukdong branch for yukhoe near Meokgol Station?

Cutting to the chase, I decided on this yukhoe restaurant near Meokgol Station. I'd heard about Yukyeon Sikdang Mukdong branch's reputation and stopped by, and the yukhoe and salmon sashimi were genuinely so fresh and generous that I couldn't help but fall for it. Another big plus is that it's open from 3pm to 2am with no break time. Here's what I ordered.

• Yukyeon Unlimited (₩25,900)
• Flying fish roe rice ball (₩4,000)

Getting to Yukyeon Sikdang near Meokgol Station, and where to park

By public transit, it's a 2-minute walk from Exit 7 of Meokgol Station on Subway Line 7. Hours are 15:00-02:00, and they warmly welcome takeout and delivery orders too. Free parking for 2 hours at the Emart underground parking lot.

What Yukyeon Sikdang is like on a weekday at 4pm

The place was clean overall. Located on the 1st floor, it's within easy reach of the station, making it a comfortable stop near the subway. Since I went a bit past 4pm, there were almost no other customers, which made it even more relaxing. It was a weekday afternoon. Even though it's a place that handles raw ingredients, it was quiet and spotless with not a hint of fishy smell, so I felt at ease the moment I walked in.

The signatures: yukhoe (beef tartare) and Norwegian salmon sashimi

The signature dishes here are definitely the yukhoe and salmon sashimi. The salmon is Norwegian, glistening with fat and fresh, plus rich in omega-3, so I ended up eating a huge amount of it without even noticing. The yukhoe was also fresh, chewy with hardly any frozen texture, and free of any raw-meat smell or off taste — I could see why this place has spawned so many branches from this original location.

How thick and how generous is one Yukyeon Unlimited plate?

Since I ordered the all-you-can-eat option that day, a generous plate arrived. Each piece was so thick, and the sashimi itself was cut deliciously along the grain, so I happily inhaled it all.

Being able to eat this generously for around ₩20,000 per person really felt like a dream. The charm of all-you-can-eat that never seems to shrink no matter how much you eat — you all know that feeling, right?

On top of that, I was glad this was a classic combo of protein and good fat rather than carbs. It's easy to digest even in large amounts, and it doesn't spike your blood sugar quickly. So I ate my fill without any guilt.

Side dishes and other menu options at Yukyeon Sikdang

I can't tell you how well the crisp raw onion and radish sprouts that came alongside went with everything. I ordered the restaurant's signature all-you-can-eat, but I noticed some other guests ordering sushi with rice as well.

Besides the all-you-can-eat option, there's also a plate sold by weight in grams that looked pretty generous too — it seemed to go out mostly as a drinking snack at night. With yukhoe or salmon sashimi like this, just a few thick pieces are usually enough to fill you up quickly.

After writing my review I also tried the sushi, which had a hint of sweetness from sugar — it went well even when placed on top of the yukhoe. They also have a full lineup of various beers and soju, so while you can definitely have a meal here, it also felt like a neighborhood mainstay of a drinking spot.

Is the 25,900-won buffet at Yukyeon Sikdang worth it?

Overall, I really liked the freshness of the ingredients — nothing to fault there. It's genuinely not easy to handle raw ingredients at home or slice your own sashimi, and it's a lot of hassle, so being able to enjoy such good sashimi to your heart's content for around ₩20,000 was a huge plus.

This is food that anyone would love, regardless of gender or age. Overall, it's a feast of precious ingredients that are hard to prepare at home, and since it's not junk food, it deserves high marks. I could see why this brand has opened so many branches. Among all the restaurants fighting it out in the greater Seoul area, this clean and fresh dining brand is one I'll be adding to my list.