Jongak Station izakaya lunch set with chicken nanban: Suksseong Susan

It was a softly rainy day. Honestly it rained more than I expected and the trip into Seoul felt long, so the weather was a bit of a letdown — but I had a long-overdue lunch date with two friends in Jongno. Being a rainy day, warm soup did cross my mind, but fresh sashimi and seafood won out. So I headed to Suksseong Susan, a well-known spot near Jongak Station, for their lunch special.

Where is Suksseong Susan Jongno Main Branch, and what are its hours?

Suksseong Susan Jongno Main Branch sits on the 3rd floor of 16 Samil-daero 19-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, an easy walk from Jongak Station. Hours are Mon–Fri 11:00–01:00 and Sat–Sun 15:00–01:00.

It had been a while since I'd been to Jongak, and the area always feels fresh whenever I come back. It's close enough to Jongak Station that even on a rainy day it was easy to find. A great spot for office workers' lunch in Jongno, but just as good for meeting friends.

Private rooms that feel more izakaya than sashimi restaurant

Stepping inside Suksseong Susan Jongno Main Branch, the vibe was a bit different from a typical sashimi restaurant. Done up in calm wood tones, it felt like a stylish izakaya in Jongno.

It was nice for talking privately and comfortably with friends over a meal. I imagined enjoying a tidy meal here at lunch, then coming back for aged sashimi and drinks at night.

Since I'd made a reservation, the table was already set up when we arrived, which was nice. Ordering at Suksseong Susan is done via a kiosk at the table. Deciding where to eat lunch near Jongak Station can be tricky, but with its lunch specials, Suksseong Susan is a great, quiet choice for meeting up.

Free side dishes: pea tofu with bonito flakes

The banchan included kimchi, pickles, and a fun little pea tofu dish. Soft tofu piled high with bonito flakes and shredded cabbage underneath — healthy but still tasted like a proper izakaya snack in Jongak.

All three of us are married, and two of us have kids, so evenings out are pretty much impossible — so we figured we'd have a light drink at lunch instead haha. The Suntory highball wasn't too strong and had a nice sweetness to it.

Even just the banchan alone would make a great pairing for beer or a highball.

Chicken nanban set: the pick for friends who don't eat raw fish

Given the restaurant's name I was hoping we'd all get kaisendon, but one friend isn't a big fan of raw fish, so she ordered the chicken nanban set. Crispy fried chicken generously topped with a smooth, savory sauce — crunchy outside, tender and juicy inside.

I stole a bite — the tangy, savory sauce kept it from tasting too greasy despite being fried. Shredded cabbage was served underneath the chicken. With neatly plated rice and side dishes plus a fish cake soup, it made for a hearty lunch spread.

Lunch-special teuk kaisendon dipped in egg yolk sauce

My pick for the lunch special is the teuk kaisendon (premium seafood rice bowl). A single bowl lets you enjoy a wide variety of sashimi. It looked gorgeous, too — a great choice for a special lunch near Jongak Station.

It comes with a fresh egg yolk that works like a dipping sauce for the sashimi, mixed with soy sauce.

My friend spooned the sauce right onto her sashimi. Mixed in with the rice, she said it was amazing! Girl knows her food haha.

The fatty tuna belly was soft and savory, with a melt-in-the-mouth texture and deep umami. The seasonal fish was chewy yet clean-tasting.

Each fish had its own flavor and texture, so it was fun trying one after another. All the seafood was fresh overall — clean, with no fishy taste, which even my sashimi-loving friends appreciated.

The sashimi was delicious on its own, but eating it with rice made it even more filling. The seasoning wasn't overdone, so the natural flavor of the fish still came through. This would suit anyone who wants to taste a variety of sashimi and seafood in one sitting.

Suksseong Susan's kaisendon really was built with looks in mind — such pretty colors!

Is Suksseong Susan worth it for a friends' lunch near Jongak Station?

At Suksseong Susan Jongno Main Branch we got to enjoy both the fresh umami of the teuk kaisendon and the savory flavor of the chicken nanban together. The private room made it easy to relax and chat with friends for a long time over the meal. Eating good food together made for a happy time. The dishes came out clean and neat, and the atmosphere was comfortable. It's a great spot for a quiet conversation or a lunch gathering with friends — makes me want to come back for a nighttime visit sometime too haha.

If you're after fresh aged sashimi and seafood rice bowls, I'd recommend Suksseong Susan, a sashimi restaurant near Jongak Station. It's a place where you can enjoy a hearty lunch with the teuk kaisendon and chicken nanban set.