Songpa seafood market takeaway with live shrimp: Yeongjae Susan

One weekend afternoon, my daughter suddenly said she wanted live shrimp. Live shrimp sashimi has taken over her algorithm lately, so the moment she opens her eyes, she is talking about live shrimp 😅 Over the last few weeks, we had bought some at the E-Mart near home and ordered delivery too, but the freshness had not really satisfied us. Where could we find truly fresh live shrimp...? Then Garak Market, which is nearby, suddenly came to mind! I searched for a good seafood shop at Garak Market where we could take home live shrimp and sashimi for dinner, and we decided to head out right away. They said delivery was available too, but it was our first time buying sashimi at Garak Market. Since it was our first visit, I thought it would be better to see it and choose in person, so my daughter and I headed to Garak Market.

Why I chose Yeongjae Susan

When I searched, I found lots of reviews saying Yeongjae Susan had a busy delivery and takeaway business. It said live fish arrived several times a day and turnover was quick, so I thought it would be a good choice for us too, since we had to travel home after picking it up. Quick turnover means new ingredients keep coming in rather than sitting around for a long time, which was an important point for us taking food home. Our home is more than 30 minutes away, so above all, the live shrimp had to stay fresh! 🍤

Getting to Garak Mall Seafood Market

After getting off at Exit 2 of Garak Market Station, we could see Garak Mall, where the seafood, meat, and produce markets are all gathered together.

We entered Garak Mall Seafood Market through Gate 6, and Yeongjae Susan was immediately on the left. It was right by the entrance, so it was incredibly easy to find—no wandering around needed.

Rows of live-fish tanks stood in front of the shop, with big assorted-sashimi menus and price boards overhead. Looking closely at the menu, the lineup was more varied than I expected. There were standard selections like Korean halibut sashimi, red sea bream assorted sashimi, and bluefin tuna assorted sashimi, all the way up to premium assorted sashimi (special ₩225,000) with bluefin tuna belly and nape meat, large halibut, and large red sea bream. There was a wide range to choose from according to party size and budget. They had everything in one place: king crab, snow crab, abalone, sea whelk, freshwater eel, gizzard shad, and live shrimp. The seasonal horse mackerel assorted sashimi we ordered came in five sizes, from mini at ₩60,000 to extra-large at ₩180,000. Yeongjae Susan has been at Garak Seafood Market since 2009, and a sticker beside the sign showed it is also partnered with the Mermaid Captain Pirates delivery app. We used public transit, but Garak Mall visitors receive a three-hour free parking ticket. After three hours, it costs ₩500 per 10 minutes, so keep that timing in mind if you plan to shop at a leisurely pace.

How we ordered our live shrimp and horse mackerel sashimi

It was just my daughter and me, so we did not need a huge amount. We ordered the mini seasonal horse mackerel assorted sashimi (₩60,000), plus 1 kg of the live shrimp my daughter had been singing about (₩31,000). Our mini horse mackerel platter included striped horse mackerel, large Korean halibut, and large red sea bream. Along with the halibut and red sea bream we often eat, we could try horse mackerel too, making it a great assortment for two people who wanted several kinds of sashimi. The two together came to about ₩91,000. We were happy with the price because it felt manageable for two people to have a hearty meal at home without traveling all the way to the coast. Of the places I looked at, ₩31,000 for 1 kg also felt quite reasonable.

The live shrimp, marked “san sae-u” (live shrimp), were scooped directly from the tank by a staff member. Seeing them wriggling right in front of us, I felt there was no need to question the freshness. It took about 20 minutes to pack everything. While we waited and looked around, delivery orders kept coming in, and riders were picking them up nonstop.

For a shop with fast turnover, the shelves beside the counter were neatly organized by type, even labeled with packing supplies such as ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste), chojang (sweet-and-tangy red chili dipping sauce), soy sauce, and spoons. Seeing the shop continuously bustling with takeaway customers and delivery riders, I could understand why it had a reputation for active delivery and pickup orders.

Ta-da~ It came neatly packed in a tarpaulin bag! There were ice packs inside too, and we could carry it home cleanly without any leaks.

When we opened the package, it was generously put together. Along with the sashimi and shrimp, they included chojang, soy sauce, wasabi, pickled scallions, pickled ginger, and even gim (roasted seaweed). It felt as though everything was supplied so we could set the table immediately at home, which made it hassle-free.

Cleaning Garak Market live shrimp at home

Once home, I moved the beautifully bagged live shrimp into a stainless-steel bowl and began cleaning them. 🍤🍤

The shrimp were still alive, and when I left them in the sink for a moment, they bounced and even fell onto the floor. They kept springing up like springs, so my daughter and I were screaming and making a complete fuss;; They were so fresh that catching them and peeling them was actually difficult, haha. The live shrimp at the E-Mart near home had been easy to peel, and this alone made the difference in freshness feel huge. It had been such a long time since I had seen live shrimp this energetic 👍 I added a little lemon juice to ice water and kept the peeled shrimp meat chilled in it. It helps remove any fishy smell and makes the live shrimp feel even firmer and chewier.

What it actually tasted like!

We ate the sashimi and live shrimp first, then made the most of the leftover shrimp heads by finishing with butter-grilled shrimp heads rather than throwing them away.

Because the assorted horse mackerel sashimi was a mini size, I first wondered if it might be a little small. But when we received it, the slices were thick, and with the live shrimp it was exactly the right amount for two. It came with shredded radish and baby greens, so the plating clearly had some care put into it too.

I already enjoy halibut and red sea bream, but perhaps because these were large fish, the large halibut and large red sea bream felt even chewier. The striped horse mackerel was pleasantly rich without being fishy, and we enjoyed it too.

Paired with a fresh omija (magnolia berry) soju, the sashimi's sweetness seemed to come through even more.

We dipped the live shrimp into chojang, and their springy texture was still so alive that every bite was satisfying. They were big enough that I had to put a whole one in my mouth at once, haha.

Perhaps because we put them on the table immediately after peeling, the flesh was bouncy with a gentle sweetness.

We gathered the shrimp heads separately, then added butter to a pan and cooked them until golden.

We were full from the sashimi, but the savory butter aroma made us reach for our chopsticks again. With the shrimp meat as sashimi and the heads butter-grilled, we could enjoy them twice, so ordering 1 kg did not feel wasteful at all.

If it is your first Garak Market sashimi takeaway

After visiting for the first time, I noticed a few things worth preparing. First, in summer I recommend bringing a cooler or insulated bag. We went straight home after pickup, but if your journey will be longer, it is reassuring to have a way to keep it cold. Also, when choosing a size for your group, keep in mind that mini or small can still be a satisfying amount for two people, as it was for us. Especially if you are adding other seafood such as gizzard shad, live shrimp, or snow crab, I do not think you need to order a huge sashimi platter. Card payment was possible, and another tip is to allow plenty of time for your visit, factoring in the roughly 20-minute packing time. We briefly looked around other shops while waiting, but the seafood market itself is not as large as Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market, so we ended up taking a walk outside Garak Mall instead, haha.

Yeongjae Susan discount and delivery information

For anyone who wants to use Yeongjae Susan a little more economically, I have gathered the discount and delivery information too.

• 20% discount coupon when ordering through Naver
• Coupang Eats, Baemin1, and Yogiyo: free delivery within a 4 km radius
• Ttaenggyeoyo and Baemin store delivery: free delivery within a 7 km radius
• Mermaid Captain Pirates: long-distance orders available up to 100 km; delivery fee varies by distance

Having such a broad range of options for both pickup and delivery seems to explain why this shop brings in fresh live fish several times a day. Ordering is just so convenient, haha.

A satisfying first Garak Market sashimi takeaway dinner

It was my first time packing up sashimi myself at Garak Market, and it was a far fresher and more satisfying experience than I expected. Watching the live shrimp get scooped right in front of us, seeing the order finished in 20 minutes, and watching delivery riders constantly come and go gave me even more confidence. It seems like a good fit for two people, a family gathering, or a small home party, so next time I am thinking of returning for a slightly larger size. I also want autumn's seasonal gizzard shad and male blue crab so badly that I think we will be back again soon :) If you are looking for a good Garak Market sashimi restaurant or a Garak Market sashimi takeaway spot, Yeongjae Susan may be worth visiting at least once.

If it is your first Garak Market sashimi takeaway, this is a good place to enjoy fresh live shrimp alongside a varied sashimi platter.