Hongdae kaisendon Set A for two, eaten in 4 steps: Makise Hapjeong

Today I had a kaisendon piled high with fresh seafood in Hapjeong.

I like raw fish and seafood in general, so I eat kaisendon (a Japanese rice bowl topped with assorted sashimi) quite often. This time I visited Makise Hapjeong (마키세 합정), which I'd recommend as a Hongdae kaisendon spot. You get many kinds of sashimi in one bowl, and there's even a guide to eating kaisendon in a more special way, which was fun.

We ordered Set A for two (drinks included)!

What's the atmosphere like at Makise Hapjeong?

Makise Hapjeong feels like a small local restaurant in Japan, with exposed concrete walls, a dark ceiling and soft lighting. The moment we walked in, it felt cozy but full of character.

Photos of Japanese scenery and all sorts of small props hung on the walls, and there was Japanese-language decor here and there, which gave it a really nice mood. The tables were neatly kept, and the casual vibe made it easy to eat without any pressure.

I thought it would be a good place to visit on a date around Hapjeong or Hongdae when you want a slightly special Japanese meal. 😊

What seafood goes on the kaisendon at Makise Hapjeong?

The kaisendon at Makise Hapjeong is generously topped with several kinds of sashimi, including salmon, tuna, shrimp and white fish, plus uni (sea urchin roe). Kaisendon is a Japanese seafood rice bowl with various fresh seafood laid over rice.

The biggest charm of the kaisendon here was getting so many kinds of seafood in a single bowl.

As you can see in the photo, salmon, tuna, shrimp, white fish and more were piled on generously. Add the uni, and it looked even more appetizing. 🧡

Each seafood had its own color and texture, so it was fun picking through them. The thickly sliced fish went well with the rice, and the plump shrimp caught my eye too. If you'd rather taste a bit of many things than just one kind of sashimi, you'll be even happier with this lineup.

The fun of picking sashimi one piece at a time

I think the best thing about the kaisendon at Makise Hapjeong is that you can taste everything at once, from mild white fish to tender salmon to rich-flavored tuna.

Every sashimi tasted different, so I never got tired of it until the end. The lightly torched salmon in particular paired a soft texture with a nutty richness. Put a piece of sashimi on the rice and the texture and the rice come together naturally ♥️ A little wasabi on the side cut the richness and made the seafood's own flavor taste cleaner.

4 steps to enjoying kaisendon at Makise

Makise Hapjeong has a guide posted on how to eat kaisendon like sushi. If it's your first visit, you might want to follow it haha.

• Don't dissolve the wasabi in the soy sauce: Makise recommends eating the wasabi separately rather than mixing it into the soy sauce.
• Put rice and wasabi on a spoon: place a moderate amount of rice on the spoon and top it with a little wasabi.
• Enjoy your favorite sashimi like sushi: dip the sashimi lightly in soy sauce, set it on the rice and eat it in one bite. It tastes like sushi made on the spot. 🍣
• Save the soy-cured sashimi for mid-meal: according to the guide, sashimi that is cured in soy sauce or smoked is best eaten from the middle of the meal onward. Strong-flavored items later let you taste the delicate flavor of the other sashimi better haha.

Your favorite sashimi as sushi, one more time!

At Makise Hapjeong, after you finish the kaisendon, you can tell the staff which sashimi stayed with you most. This is the fun, only-at-Makise part! For the record, we asked for yellowtail, which is the winter fish!

The crispy fry in Set A for two

Set A for two at Makise Hapjeong comes with fried items alongside the kaisendon, so of course I couldn't skip those. They were fried golden and looked crisp from the surface. The batter had visible layers, more than ordinary fried food, which made it look even tastier haha.

Having crispy fry between bites of the seafood-focused kaisendon changed up the texture nicely. Soft, moist sashimi with crunchy fry, what a combo! I liked the set for two because you get to enjoy dishes with such different charms together haha.

Makise Hapjeong overall verdict

Makise Hapjeong is a place I'd recommend to anyone who likes a variety of seafood.

Above all, the kaisendon was generously topped with many kinds of sashimi, so it was satisfying from the look of it. It was fun comparing the textures and flavors of different seafood in one bowl, too. With a guide on eating kaisendon like sushi, it felt different from the seafood rice bowls I usually eat!

Who I'd recommend it to

• Anyone looking for a good kaisendon spot in Hapjeong or Hongdae
• People who like a variety of sashimi such as salmon, tuna and white fish
• Those who want to taste several kinds of seafood rather than just one raw fish
• Anyone planning a Japanese-food date in Hongdae or Hapjeong
• People who want kaisendon and fried items together