Quick honest review of Sushi Yu (스시유) in Yeouido — a Japanese sushi restaurant in Seoul’s financial district with a bronze plaque from Korean TV to back up its reputation. Short version: we went four people, ordered kaisendon, a 12-piece nigiri set, unaju, and tempura on the side. All of it was good. Left satisfied.
If you’re eating lunch in Yeouido and want actual Japanese food — not a mall food court, not a chain — this is a solid choice.
We visited on a Thursday, lunch service.
What Is Sushi Yu?
Sushi Yu is a mid-to-upscale Japanese restaurant focused on sushi and traditional Japanese set lunches. Think hand-formed nigiri, kaisendon (seafood sashimi rice bowls), unaju (grilled eel over rice in a lacquer box), and tempura. Sit-down service, proper tableware, the kind of place where the miso soup arrives in a lacquer bowl.
Not a conveyor belt. Not a Korean-Japanese fusion place. Traditional Japanese, done seriously.
It’s on the 2nd floor of Brighton Square Yeouido, Room 203. Yeouido is Seoul’s financial district — comparable to Wall Street or Canary Wharf. Home to the Korean parliament (여의도 국회의사당), KBS and SBS broadcasting headquarters, and a lot of corporate offices. Lunch culture here leans toward places that can handle a business crowd. Sushi Yu fits right in.
The SBS Recognition
At the entrance, there’s a bronze plaque from *SBS 생활의 달인* — a Korean TV show called “Masters of Living” that tracks down people who’ve genuinely mastered a craft. The plaque recognizes chef Toshio Matsudo as a sushi master.
This matters. *생활의 달인* doesn’t do paid placements — it’s a production team that seeks out craft excellence and puts it on national TV. Getting featured means the chef was evaluated on actual technique. So the credentials at the door aren’t decorative.
Getting There
Address: Brighton Square Yeouido, 2F, Room 203 (브라이튼스퀘어 여의도 203호)
Subway:
– Yeouido Station (여의도역) — Line 5 or Line 9 — about a 5–7 minute walk
– IFC Seoul complex is nearby if you’re coming from that direction
From Incheon Airport: Around 50–60 minutes. Take the AREX to Gimpo Airport Station, transfer to Line 9, ride to Yeouido Station. Straightforward.
From Myeongdong or Hongdae: 20–30 minutes by subway.
Parking is available in the Brighton Square building basement. If you’re taking a taxi, show the driver this: 여의도 브라이튼스퀘어 203호.
The Interior
The exterior is sharp — dark wood louver panels, illuminated signage with Japanese and Korean characters. It looks like it belongs in a boutique hotel rather than a commercial building.
Inside: refined without being uptight. Dark tones, clean sightlines, proper tableware. The logo table mat is a detail that tells you the restaurant takes presentation seriously. Nothing over-designed. Just done right.
The Menu
Lunch sets range from about 20,000 to 53,000 KRW (~$15–$39 USD). Main options:
– Sushi Jeongshik (스시 정식) — nigiri sushi platter set
– Kaisendon Jeongshik (카이세동 정식) — kaisen sashimi rice bowl set
– Unaju Jeongshik (우나주 정식) — grilled eel rice in lacquer box set
– Hoe-deop-bap (회덮밥) — marinated sashimi over mixed rice
– Sake-don (사케동) — salmon rice bowl
– Daegu-tang (대구탕) — cod soup set
– Kids set (어린이 정식)
Each set comes with miso soup, pickled ginger, and a starter salad. Our group of four spread across the kaisendon, sushi set, unaju, and a shared tempura side.
What We Ordered
Starter Salad
Each set opens with a small seafood and vegetable salad. Nicely plated — pickled ginger on the side, green tea already poured, soy sauce set out. It’s not the reason you’re here, but it’s a proper opener and the presentation is clean.
Fine. Does its job.
Kaisendon Jeongshik
Kaisendon (kaisen-don) is a Japanese seafood sashimi rice bowl — different cuts of sashimi layered over seasoned sushi rice. Sushi Yu’s version comes loaded: tuna, salmon, flatfish (광어/hirame), sea urchin (uni/성게), salmon roe (ikura/이크라), rolled egg (tamagoyaki), and mushrooms.
The uni is what justifies the price point. Fresh sea urchin on a kaisendon in this range isn’t always a given — at cheaper places you either don’t get it or it’s past its prime. Here it was present and it was good.
Sushi rice underneath is properly seasoned. Set includes miso soup.
If you want everything in one bowl, order this.
Sushi Jeongshik — 12-Piece Nigiri
Twelve pieces of nigiri: tuna, salmon, flatfish, shrimp, yellowtail (방어/buri), sea urchin, and anago (saltwater eel). The platter looks exactly like what a proper sushi set should look like.
Each piece is hand-formed — you can tell by the shape and the way the rice holds together. The shari (sushi rice) has good texture: slightly firm, properly vinegared. Fish quality is consistent across the board.
Best pieces: uni, anago, yellowtail. The shrimp is fine but the least interesting item on the plate. Skip obsessing over it and just eat the eel first.
Unaju Jeongshik
Unaju is grilled freshwater eel (unagi/장어) over rice, served in a jubako — a lacquer box that’s kind of the Japanese equivalent of a bento box but fancier. The eel is glazed with tare sauce and grilled until caramelized on the outside.
Okay, here’s the thing about unaju in Seoul: a lot of places get it wrong. Either the eel is undercooked and soft in a bad way, or the sauce is too sweet and cloying. Sushi Yu’s version uses thick cuts, proper caramelization on the glaze, and the sauce is balanced — not a sugar bomb.
This is probably toward the higher end of the menu price-wise (closer to 45,000–53,000 KRW / ~$33–$39), but if eel is your thing, this is the version to order.
Tempura
Shrimp and asparagus tempura, served with tsuyu dipping sauce.
The batter is light — airy rather than thick and greasy. Shrimp stays juicy inside. Asparagus is a solid choice for tempura; it holds up to heat better than most vegetables and gives you something different from all the raw fish. Good shared side for the table.
Stuff Tourists Should Know
English menu? The menu is in Korean and Japanese. Menu boards have photos — pointing works. Translation apps handle the rest without issue. Staff English is limited.
Card payment? Cards accepted. Foreign Visa/Mastercard should work, but having a small amount of cash on hand doesn’t hurt.
Tipping? No. Korea has no tipping culture. Don’t leave extra money on the table — it can actually cause awkwardness.
Vegetarian options? Limited. This is a seafood-focused restaurant. Vegetable tempura might be available — confirm with staff. Not the right spot if you don’t eat seafood.
Halal/Kosher? Not certified.
Kids welcome? Yes — there’s a dedicated kids’ set on the lunch menu. Relaxed atmosphere during lunch hours.
Solo dining? Should be fine for the counter or smaller tables.
Date spot? Yes. Interior quality and food level make it work for a nicer lunch.
Reservations? Recommended for groups of 3 or more. Yeouido has a big lunch crowd on weekdays — don’t assume walk-in availability.
The Verdict
Should you go?
Depends on what you’re doing in Seoul.
– If you’re in Yeouido for business or just passing through the area — yes, this is one of the better lunch options around. Get the unaju or the sushi set.
– If you only have 3–4 days in Seoul and haven’t eaten Korean food yet — hold off. Do Korean BBQ, bibimbap, or samgyetang first. Come back to Japanese on a longer visit.
– If you’re a sushi person and want to benchmark Seoul’s Japanese food scene — yes, Sushi Yu is worth it. The SBS recognition isn’t decorative.
– If budget is a concern — it’s not cheap. Lunch runs 35,000–50,000 KRW per person (~$26–$37). Worth it, but not a casual drop-in.
Four people, four different sets, all good. No weak links across the table. The food matched the credentials on the wall.
FAQ
Where exactly is Sushi Yu in Yeouido?
It’s on the 2nd floor of Brighton Square Yeouido, Room 203. The nearest subway is Yeouido Station (Line 5 or Line 9), about a 5–7 minute walk.
How much does lunch cost at Sushi Yu Yeouido?
Lunch sets range from about 20,000 to 53,000 KRW (~$15–$39 USD) per person. Budget around 35,000–50,000 KRW for a solid set with nigiri, kaisendon, or unaju.
Do I need a reservation at Sushi Yu?
Recommended for groups of 3 or more. Walk-ins for 1–2 people may work on weekdays, but it’s a popular lunch spot in Yeouido so don’t count on it.
Is there an English menu at Sushi Yu?
The menu is in Korean and Japanese. Some menu boards have photos — point and order works fine. Translation apps handle the rest. Staff English is limited.
Is Sushi Yu good for families or kids?
Yes — there’s a kids’ set on the lunch menu, and the vibe is relaxed enough for a family meal during lunch hours.
What is the SBS 생활의 달인 recognition at Sushi Yu?
It’s a certification from SBS “Masters of Living,” a Korean TV show that features artisans who’ve mastered their craft. The plaque recognizes chef Toshio Matsudo as a sushi master — it’s editorial recognition, not advertising.