Jonggak double-date sashimi spot with fried shrimp heads: Suksseong

Why we chose Suksseong Susan near Jonggak Station for a double date

Suksseong Susan Jongno Main Branch (숙썽수산 종로본점) is a Jongno sashimi restaurant where you can enjoy both raw shrimp and aged sashimi. Has everyone tried raw shrimp? We were out on a double date and agonized over what to eat for ages. My friend had never tried raw shrimp, so we searched for a place that had it and also looked good for aged sashimi, and ended up at Suksseong Susan.

Suksseong Susan Jongno Main Branch: location and curtained seating

Suksseong Susan is a long way in from Exit 4 of Jonggak Station, down the alley.

Inside, a row of tables stretched out. Like a pojangmacha (Korean street-tent bar), a curtain is lowered once guests sit down, so it felt more private than I expected.

What we ordered at Suksseong Susan and how much it cost

At Suksseong Susan we ordered the small aged sashimi set, clam fish cake soup and raw shrimp. Just looking at the photos gets me excited.

• Aged sashimi, small (for 2) - ₩69,000
• Clam fish cake soup - ₩27,000
• Raw shrimp - ₩30,000
• Saero (soju) - ₩6,000 × 3 bottles
• Beer - ₩7,000 × 4 bottles

We had reserved, so maybe that's why the side dishes were already set out. We got sesame soft tofu, green peas and assorted pickles. The peas were nice to pick at before the main dishes arrived, and the mild sesame tofu felt like it lined the stomach first.

What comes in the small aged sashimi set for 2?

The small aged sashimi set for 2 (₩69,000) was quite generous: large flounder, red sea bream, salmon, bluefin tuna, greater amberjack, croaker (minu), sweet shrimp and even monkfish liver. It came out faster than I expected. What I personally loved is that they gave us a note with every type of fish written out. At a sashimi place you understand while the staff explains, but halfway through eating you often think, "What was this again?" Here the names are written down, so you can see what you're eating.

How the red sea bream and bluefin tuna taste

I tried the red sea bream first, and the moment I bit in I could feel how firm and springy it was. Next was the bluefin tuna: the richness spread softly, the texture was super smooth, and it wasn't overly greasy, with a nutty flavor that lingered, which I loved. The other fish were aged well too, so there was no fishy taste at all and they melted in my mouth. I was surprised.

Does the clam fish cake soup go well with sashimi?

The clam fish cake soup (₩27,000) came with fish cake skewers topped generously with clams like hard clams and mussels, all covered in plenty of minari (water dropwort) and green onion.

I ladled some broth into a bowl and took a sip, and honestly, this is a certified fish cake soup place... The broth was refreshing yet deeply savory, with the sea flavor from the clams soaking in naturally, so it's really good as drinking food. The minari adds aroma over time: at first it felt clean and cool, but the longer it boiled, the more its fresh, fragrant scent came through, and it paired really well with the sashimi. There wasn't just one or two kinds of clams but several, so picking through them was fun, and the broth tasted deeper too. I was very satisfied.

Does the raw shrimp come with fried shrimp heads?

The raw shrimp (₩30,000) came with fried shrimp heads too. We ordered it because my friend had never tried it. Plenty of sashimi places charge extra for fried heads, so I liked that Suksseong Susan serves them together with the raw shrimp.

I dipped the raw shrimp lightly in chojang (sweet chili vinegar sauce), and the springy texture was really good. The flesh was chewy as soon as it hit my mouth, and the shrimp flavor came through strongly. The fried heads were crispy and nutty, the kind you keep reaching for once you start.

Is Suksseong Susan good for a Jongno date or group dinner?

This Jongno sashimi restaurant had fresh fish overall, a generous aged sashimi set and satisfying clam fish cake soup, so it was great for drinks and chatting with friends. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a Jongno sashimi place with a nice mood for a blind date, group dinner or date :)