Gwangjin izakaya with sashimi and sukiyaki: Ito

After work, I was looking for somewhere in Konkuk University area to have dinner and a drink, so I stopped by Ito (이토), an izakaya. I ordered the Ito Set, which comes with assorted sashimi and sukiyaki.

How close is Ito to Konkuk University Station, and is parking available?

Ito is at the basement level of 22 Achasan-ro 33-gil, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It is about a two-minute walk from Exit 2 of Konkuk University Station on Line 2. Parking at the restaurant is difficult, so if you drive, you need to use a nearby paid parking lot.

Does the interior suit a date dinner?

I went down the stairs to the basement and entered the restaurant.

The interior was generally low-lit. When I visited, the space was not noisy, so I felt it would suit a date involving both dinner and drinks. However, if you prefer bright, casual restaurants, it may feel dark.

What comes in the Ito Set, and how much does it cost?

There were à la carte options, but I chose the Ito Set so I could have assorted sashimi and sukiyaki together. It cost ₩63,000, which was ₩2,000 less than ordering the two dishes separately. The restaurant also sold mille-feuille nabe, mizutaki, and oden nabe.

I also ordered Jinro for ₩5,500 and Cheongha for ₩6,000.

After ordering, edamame arrived first as a complimentary starter.

What was the assorted sashimi like?

After waiting about 15 minutes by feel, the assorted aged sashimi arrived. The plate contained salmon, tuna, flounder, engawa, lightly blanched abalone, ankimo, and sweet shrimp.

The sashimi was cut thickly, and I did not notice any fishy taste while eating it.

Rice was served as well. I liked placing a piece of sashimi on a spoonful of rice and eating it with wasabi and soy sauce.

The sashimi was also good with just wasabi. The abalone came with an internal-organ sauce, so it tasted balanced without adding extra seasoning.

I do not particularly prefer salmon sashimi. The combination of ankimo and wasabi was a nice specialty, and the tuna was soft. Tuna can feel heavy if I keep eating it, but having it in small portions like this suited my taste.

What did the sukiyaki taste like after the sashimi?

The sukiyaki arrived when I had almost finished the aged sashimi. I was told to take out the meat as soon as it cooked and let the vegetables simmer a little longer.

It was a little different from the sukiyaki I had eaten before. Both its appearance and flavor reminded me of Korean bulgogi hot pot, with a sweet and salty broth.

If you like a broth that is sweet and salty like bulgogi hot pot, this may suit you. I liked the combination more than expected: after sashimi, the meal continued with warm sukiyaki instead of maeuntang. Having fish and meat in one meal also made the set feel substantial.

What should you check before using corkage?

Corkage was listed as free. However, you should contact the restaurant before visiting to confirm the detailed conditions, including which types of alcohol are allowed and the bottle limit.

Who would enjoy Ito, and what are the drawbacks?

It suited me when I wanted sashimi and a warm hot pot in a low-lit izakaya. Its location near the station also made it convenient for combining dinner and drinks. On the other hand, it may not suit people who prefer bright restaurants or do not enjoy sashimi and nabe dishes. It is also disappointing if you are looking for a place with convenient parking.