Lunch special premium sushi set with mom at Shirokuma, Yangsan

I was craving sushi for lunch in the Beomeo housing area of Yangsan, and after searching around I ended up at Shirokuma. After eating there, I totally got why it's mentioned so often as a Yangsan must-visit. I went with my mom, and even she — someone who's pretty picky about sushi — enjoyed it a lot, which made me happy.

Location and hours of Shirokuma

• 📍 11-5 Hwahap 4-gil, Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan-si (1F) (2701-9 Beomeo-ri, Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan-si)
• ⏰ Mon–Sat 11:30–21:00 (last order 20:00)
• Break time 14:30–17:30 / Closed every Sunday
• ✔️ Groups, takeout, delivery, reservations, high chairs, corkage
• 🚗 2 spots in front of the store, 2 more in the building's parking lot next door

Lunchtime waiting and the reserved seating area

I went during lunchtime, and sure enough there was a wait.

Seeing a separate waiting area set up on one side of the restaurant made it clear this is a popular spot in Yangsan even on regular days. I'd made a reservation ahead of time, so I was seated right away without waiting 😊

The restaurant was bigger than I expected, and the tables were spaced out generously, so the whole place felt relaxed and comfortable. The reserved seat in particular had partitions that separated it somewhat from the other tables — it was a nice, quiet spot to eat with my mom 👏

Ordering the lunch special premium sushi for two

We ordered the lunch special premium sushi for two. With the lunch special, you get to pick either udon or soba (buckwheat noodles) to have alongside it ✨

After ordering, it wasn't long before the salad and clear soup arrived first. The salad had black sesame dressing drizzled on it — nutty and delicious, a nice light bite before the sushi came out.

Soy sauce, pickled shallots, and pickled ginger were already set out on the table, so you can just help yourself to as much as you need 👍

And then, finally, the sushi arrived!

The sushi lineup and how it tasted

The first impression was already great — the visuals were on point. So many kinds packed onto one plate, it looked delicious just to look at 😋

I heard Shirokuma in Yangsan really cares about the rice — they apparently tested several kinds before settling on Koshihikari rice. The vinegar seasoning mixed into the rice is also said to be their own developed recipe!

The variety was impressive too. Aged sashimi, salmon, tuna, beef, shrimp, eggplant, squid, futomaki (thick rolled sushi) — there was so much to pick through one by one, and it was fun 🤗

Soba and udon

The soba had springy noodles and a salty, deep broth — delicious. Even better with a bit of wasabi stirred in.

The udon was great too! The noodles were bouncy and chewy, and the broth seasoning was on point. Eating the warm broth alongside the sushi made the whole meal feel hearty and satisfying.

Aged sashimi and salmon sushi

The aged sashimi wasn't fishy at all, and I loved the chewy texture. Best of all, the sashimi slices were pretty thick and long, so you could really feel that bite with each mouthful 👏

The salmon sushi was another standout — soft and rich in flavor. There was even a lightly seared salmon sushi option! Seriously delicious.

With so many kinds of sushi to try, my mom and I had fun sharing one piece at a time and talking about which ones we liked best. Seeing her — someone who loves sushi — enjoy it so much made me glad I'd brought her along 🥰

Signature eggplant sushi

Personally, the one that stuck with me the most was the eggplant sushi. It's said to be Shirokuma's signature dish, and the outside of the eggplant was slightly crisp while the inside stayed moist and soft. It paired really well with the sauce on top — much more delicious than I expected!

A nice touch — mouthwash was provided in the restroom 💯

Would I go back?

Overall, from the food to the restaurant's atmosphere, this was a satisfying lunch 💯 I get why there's a wait even though there's a crowd. Since you can get sushi through the lunch special, this place will come to mind whenever I'm looking for sushi at lunch in Yangsan, and it's worth checking out if you want to try a wide variety of sushi. I'd like to try other menu items next time, so I think I'll be back 🤗