Sadang izakaya for a friends' reunion: gwangban-yuksa at Susan Sadang

A day I finally got to see friends after a while :)

We met up at Sadang Station and were trying to figure out where to go for the first round, and ended up at Susan Sadang Main Branch, which people say has great aged sashimi.

Where is Susan Sadang Main Branch, and what are its hours?

• 📍 Susan Sadang Main Branch
• Address: 17 Nambusunhwan-ro 271ga-gil, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• 🚇 About 4-minute walk from Sadang Station
• ⏰ Weekdays 16:00–01:00
• Fri–Sat 15:00–02:00
• Sun 15:00–01:00
• Last order times differ by day, so check ahead if you're visiting late.

Sadang Station has so many good restaurants and bars that it's a great place to set as a meeting spot, and Susan Sadang Main Branch being close to the station made it easy to meet up with friends.

Gwangban-yuksa, 48,000 won: aged flounder and Korean beef sashimi on one plate

Susan had that clean, no-frills look I personally love, so it won me over from the first impression. The dish we ordered without a second thought was gwangban-yuksa! True to its name, it lets you enjoy flounder (gwangeo) and beef yukhoe (raw beef tartare) on one plate.

On days when you want both aged sashimi and yukhoe, this kind of half-and-half dish is honestly perfect. Gwangban-yuksa is currently ₩48,000, and it comes with chewy aged flounder sashimi plus 1++ Korean beef yukhoe.

🐟 Tasting the aged flounder and beef sashimi side by side

One reason I love yukhoe is its light yet savory flavor, and that day the yukhoe definitely felt fresh. The color was vivid and it was clean without any off smell, so I kept reaching for more without hesitation.

What I liked especially was that it wasn't the type of place that drowns the taste in heavy seasoning — you could really taste the meat itself. My friends and I kept saying "this is good" as we picked up piece after piece, and before we knew it the plate was cleared, haha. The flounder had that appealingly chewy texture you'd expect from aged sashimi.

You could taste the distinct umami of aged sashimi, different from raw flounder, and alternating with the yukhoe made the contrast really fun. Gwangban-yuksa is a great recommendation for anyone who can't decide between raw fish and meat — you get two dishes in one, and it's also great for sharing with friends.

🍶 Why Susan Sadang works for a first round near Sadang Station

Susan Sadang Main Branch had that lively, friendly feel of a typical raw fish restaurant. Overall it was clean and comfortable, which made it a nice place to have a drink and talk.

More than anything, since it was the first time in a while I'd seen my friends, just sitting in front of good food and chatting about this and that felt so nice. I prefer places where you can sit facing your friends and eat and talk slowly, rather than loud, chaotic spots, and this place was good in that respect too.

Beyond the aged sashimi and yukhoe, there was a good variety of dishes to enjoy with drinks — oden, fried dishes, udon, and more — so it seemed like a solid choice for a group where everyone can pick what they want and share. And overall, I felt the food was clean and unfussy.

These days a lot of food comes loaded with extras just for visuals, but here the focus felt like it was on the main ingredient, which I actually liked more. Meeting friends after a while, eating good food and having a drink, time really flew by. If you're looking for a first-round spot to meet friends near Sadang Station, and you like aged sashimi, this is worth a visit.

Especially if you're like me and want both raw fish and yukhoe, start with the gwangban-yuksa. It was an evening near Sadang Station made even better by finally seeing friends again. 🤍

Thanks for the meal. Gwangban-yuksa ₩48,000 — aged flounder + 1++ Korean beef yukhoe.