Hidden Gem at Mia Station! Review of Haengbok Susan Omakase - The Ultimate Value-for-Money Sashimi Restaurant

The place my friend kept recommending, I finally visited!

I was curious about Haengbok Susan at Mia Station, which I've seen a lot on Instagram lately! My friend recommended it for the third time, so I finally decided to go. I heard it's also a big hit on YouTube, so I was half-expecting, half-doubting if it would really be that delicious as I set off on a Saturday afternoon~

It's about a 3-minute walk from Mia Station Exit 5, and the sign is big and easy to spot, so it wasn't hard to find. Although it's in an alley, you can easily tell because people are lined up!

Went prepared for waiting...

I was slightly worried about the waiting I saw on SNS, but when I went a little past 7 PM on a weekday, fortunately, we could get in quickly as they just needed to clear the table. But right after us, a line started forming. As expected from a popular restaurant!

The interior is cozy but clean, with quite a few tables for four. The atmosphere isn't noisy, making it good for conversation, and the fish tank near the entrance gives you confidence that the sashimi is really fresh.

Choosing the menu, of course, Omakase!

The basic menu is posted on the wall, and there was a variety of seasonal sashimi prepared. We ordered the Omakase assorted sashimi small (55,000 KRW) without hesitation! They prepare the seasonal sashimi according to the situation of the day, so I was looking forward to it.

The staff kindly explained that the side dishes change slightly each time and advised us to read the notices on the wall carefully. I appreciated this attention to detail!

Continuous surprises from the side dishes

I was surprised by the side dishes that came out while waiting for our order. They were so plentiful that the table seemed to bend, and you could feel the care put into each one.

The basic choco snacks and corn salad were flavors that kids would love, and the potato croquette was freshly fried, making it really crispy and delicious. They said you could order more, so I want to try them again next time.

The white kimchi was particularly impressive, as it was refreshing and paired well with the sashimi. The pufferfish skin salad mixed with citron syrup had a unique jelly-like texture that really whetted the appetite!

Another surprise with the complimentary clam stew

The lettuce and perilla leaves were well-washed, and they prepared ssamjang, peppers, garlic, and wasabi neatly to eat with the sashimi. As I was pouring the chojang and soy sauce on the table...

Oh? Clam stew that we didn't order is coming out? White clams, scallops, and ark shells are complimentary! Dipping them in chojang, I was amazed by such service from the owner.

Grilled tilefish and a feast of seafood

The grilled tilefish was also served, and it was light and not greasy, making it easy to eat. It tasted similar to half-dried filefish, but with wasabi, it had a much richer flavor.

We also received Tongyeong sea squirt sashimi and Wando abalone as a service! Honestly, I usually can't eat seafood with a fishy smell, but when I smelled it, there was no fishy smell at all, and it was so fresh that I ate it all without leaving any.

Perfect palate cleanser with mulhoe broth

They also served mulhoe broth, which didn't contain seafood or sashimi, just broth and vegetables. The broth they made themselves had a cool and sweet taste. You can add sea squirt, abalone, or the ordered sashimi to it!

Such thoughtfulness... If you eat only sashimi, it can get a bit overwhelming, but being able to cleanse your palate with this refreshing mulhoe in between was great.

Finally, the main! Omakase assorted sashimi

Finally, the main omakase assorted sashimi was served! From left to right, there were live mackerel, red snapper, spring flounder, flatfish, salmon, spring flounder, and rockfish, with sweet shrimp and lemon on top, and right below, there was striped beakfish!

The flounder and flatfish had a white color, indicating they were prepared from the belly side, and the red snapper had been treated with masakawa (removing the fish scales and pouring hot water over it). You could see at a glance that it was prepared with great care.

The sweetness of sweet shrimp and the unexpected taste of live mackerel sashimi

The sweet shrimp was sweet and melted away when dipped in soy sauce! They said it might not be available if it runs out since it was a complimentary item. We must have been lucky, haha.

They also explained in detail how to eat live mackerel sashimi deliciously. Put white kimchi on top of seaweed, add live mackerel sashimi, then radish sprouts, and finally a bit of wasabi! Honestly, I was worried when I saw the mackerel sashimi... Wow, there was no fishy smell at all, and it was the best sashimi I've ever had!

Perfect finish with spicy fish stew

After finishing the sashimi, I craved some hot soup. We ordered spicy fish stew (5,000 KRW), and it was almost like a complimentary dish, with a lot of rockfish head and bones, radish, bean sprouts, freshwater shrimp, and other ingredients.

They even provided ramen noodles as a service, satisfying our carb needs. The napa cabbage kimchi that came with the spicy fish stew was also really delicious. Perfect until the end!

Perfect value and service at Haengbok Susan

For 55,000 KRW, the quality and service of this omakase are unbeatable... It's truly the ultimate value-for-money. The sashimi was fresh, the side dishes were plentiful, and the service from the owner and staff was excellent.

It's recommended to call ahead or make a reservation as there might be a wait. Especially on weekends, the omakase might sell out quickly, so it's better to go early!

Honest overall review and intention to revisit

Now I understand why my friend recommended it so much. It was really satisfying for the price, and the owner's generosity and service were particularly impressive. Next time, I want to come with my family and order a larger size.

If you want fresh sashimi and plentiful side dishes near Mia Station, I highly recommend Haengbok Susan! It even received the 2024 Korea Consumer Best Brand Award, so you can trust it. I'm already looking forward to my next visit, haha.

"A restaurant that truly makes you happy, just like its name! I feel like I've discovered a hidden gem at Mia Station 🐟✨"