# Jongno Japanese restaurant sashimi don with rice on the side: Ilpum

- By Eunbyeol (https://superchart.com/en/@weekend-spoon/)
- Written Sep 17, 2026
- Local places › Restaurants › Jongno, Seoul
- Sponsored: This post was written as part of a paid store visit sponsorship.
- English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@weekend-spoon/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi/
- Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@weekend-spoon/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi/index.md)

## In short

Ilpum Gwanghwamun is a Japanese restaurant in Jongno, Seoul, three minutes from Jonggak Station Exit 1 on basement level 2 of the Lemeilleur Jongno Town building. Booked for 6pm, the meal was sashimi don and pressed mackerel sushi (shime saba bonzushi): the sashimi don arrives with the fish and rice on separate plates, ideal for wrapping in gim and gamtae seaweed, and chawanmushi, cold udon and dessert follow in order. Evenings draw a queue at Ilpum Gwanghwamun, so a reservation is the safer way to go.

## Good to know

- **Address**: 223, B2, Lemeilleur Jongno Town, 19 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- **Hours**: Mon–Sat 11:00–21:30
- **Break time**: 15:00–17:30
- **Closed**: Every Sunday
- **Ordered**: Sashimi don, pressed mackerel sushi (shime saba bonzushi)
- **Served with the meal**: Chawanmushi, miso soup, a noodle or fried dish, dessert
- **Seating**: Tables, plus bar seats facing the kitchen
- **Visit time / wait**: 6pm reservation, 3 parties waiting ahead

*as written by the visitor on Sep 17, 2026*

While looking for a good Japanese spot in Gwanghwamun, my husband and I went to Ilpum Gwanghwamun for dinner. I usually love sashimi and sushi, so I picked this place since it has everything from kaisendon to sushi to sashimi. We booked a 6pm reservation ahead of time, and when we arrived there were already people waiting. Let me show you the sashimi don and pressed mackerel sushi we ordered, plus everything else that came with it :)

## Ilpum Gwanghwamun hours, address and closing days

- Address: 223, B2, Lemeilleur Jongno Town, 19 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- Hours: Mon–Sat 11:00–21:30
- Break time: 15:00–17:30
- Regular closing: Every Sunday

## How to walk from Jonggak Station, and the dinner wait

Ilpum Gwanghwamun is about a 3-minute walk from Jonggak Station Exit 1, so it was easy to find whether coming from Gwanghwamun or Jonggak. The location seemed convenient for office workers looking for a Gwanghwamun lunch spot too.

![Walking route to Ilpum Gwanghwamun near Jonggak Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi-01-1ente-900.webp)

![Entrance to Ilpum Gwanghwamun on basement level 2 of Lemeilleur Jongno Town](https://img.superchart.com/images/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi-02-1gkol-m-900.webp)

We had reserved for 6pm so we walked right in without waiting, but there were about 3 parties waiting ahead of us. Tables fill up fast in the evening, so if you don't want to wait, I'd recommend making a reservation.

## Inside Ilpum Gwanghwamun: tables and kitchen-facing bar seats

Inside Ilpum Gwanghwamun there are table seats and bar seats facing the kitchen. From the bar seats you can watch the chefs prep the sashimi right in front of you, and the overall vibe was clean and tidy. It seemed like a good pick not just for dates but as a Gwanghwamun spot for dinner appointments nearby.

![Table seating inside Ilpum Gwanghwamun](https://img.superchart.com/images/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi-03-1d4bh-m-900.webp)

![Bar seats facing the kitchen](https://img.superchart.com/images/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi-04-1iqs0-m-900.webp)

![Clean, tidy interior of the Japanese restaurant](https://img.superchart.com/images/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi-05-vk7jy-900.webp)

## What is on the menu, and what we ordered

Ilpum Gwanghwamun has a wide range of Japanese dishes, from their signature kaisendon to sashimi don, uni don, and sushi. If you're looking for a good kaisendon spot in Gwanghwamun, there are plenty of options here.

![Menu board at Ilpum Gwanghwamun listing kaisendon and sushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi-06-1qggp-1280.webp)

We ordered 'sashimi don' and 'pressed mackerel sushi (shime saba bonzushi)' that day. The menu noted that the main dishes come with chawanmushi, noodles or a fried dish, and dessert included. Eating our way through it, it felt less like ordering two single dishes and more like having a simple course — which I loved.

## Chawanmushi and miso soup to start

Before the main dishes arrived, miso soup and steamed egg (chawanmushi) came out first. The chawanmushi had gamtae (seasoned seaweed) on top and shrimp tucked inside. It was soft and warm, a nice light way to start before the mains.

![Chawanmushi topped with gamtae and miso soup](https://img.superchart.com/images/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi-07-12zi6-900.webp)

## Sashimi don: fish and rice served on separate plates

The sashimi don at Ilpum Gwanghwamun wasn't the usual style with sashimi piled on rice — instead the fish and rice came separately. It included a variety of cuts, from salmon to tuna to white fish, and the slices were on the thicker side.

![Sashimi don served with fish and rice separately](https://img.superchart.com/images/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi-08-jdyno-1200.webp)

![Plate of sashimi with salmon, tuna, and white fish](https://img.superchart.com/images/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi-09-1gxuq-900.webp)

![Close-up of thickly sliced sashimi](https://img.superchart.com/images/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi-10-1ju3v-900.webp)

![Wrapping sashimi and rice in gim and gamtae](https://img.superchart.com/images/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi-11-u79tk-900.webp)

I found it tastier wrapped in gim (seaweed) and gamtae rather than eating it plain. Piling on the fish, some rice, and wrapping it all in gamtae brought out a nutty aroma that made for the perfect bite.

## How does the pressed mackerel sushi taste?

The dish I was most curious about — the 'pressed mackerel sushi (shime saba bonzushi).' The mackerel wrapped around the rice, with a savory topping on top. Each piece was pretty big, more filling than I expected.

![Pressed mackerel sushi with a savory topping](https://img.superchart.com/images/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi-12-1mggq-900.webp)

![A large slice of pressed mackerel sushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi-13-1i09k-900.webp)

![Cross-section of pressed sushi with mackerel wrapped around rice](https://img.superchart.com/images/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi-14-10i67-900.webp)

One bite in, you could taste the distinct mackerel flavor without a strong fishy edge, and it paired well with the rice. If you want something a bit different from the usual sushi around Gwanghwamun, this is worth ordering.

## The cold udon served midway through

While we were still working through the mains, a small cold udon showed up in between. It had a piece of chicken karaage on top, along with tempura crumbs and green onion.

![Small cold udon topped with karaage](https://img.superchart.com/images/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi-15-1xc4d-900.webp)

Having a cool broth in between the sashimi and sushi felt like a nice palate reset. The portion wasn't huge, but having a dish like this included made the whole meal feel much more substantial.

## Dessert at the end of the meal

At the end came a dessert with a refreshing yuzu flavor. After finishing the sashimi and sushi, it was a nice light bite to close things off — and with the mains, noodles, and dessert all coming out in order, the whole thing felt like a simple course meal for the price. We left pretty satisfied.

![Yuzu-flavored dessert served at the end of the meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi-16-1lknw-900.webp)

## Is Ilpum Gwanghwamun worth a dinner reservation?

If you like kaisendon or sushi in Gwanghwamun, or want to try several kinds of sashimi at once, Ilpum Gwanghwamun is worth checking out. It's not just the main dish — chawanmushi, cold udon, and dessert all came together, which felt like great value for the price. If you're visiting in the evening like we did, there may be a wait, so I'd recommend booking ahead :)

## Where it is

- Ilpum Gwanghwamun (일품 광화문점)
- 223, B2, Lemeilleur Jongno Town, 19 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- 서울특별시 종로구 종로 19 지하2층 223호 일품 광화문점
- 37.5708344, 126.9798606
- Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%9D%BC%ED%92%88%20%EA%B4%91%ED%99%94%EB%AC%B8%EC%A0%90/@37.5708344,126.9798606,17z

---

Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@weekend-spoon/ilpum-gwanghwamun-sashimidon-saba-bousushi/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt