Sushi Soukai in Dongdaemun, Seoul, South Korea.

Sushi Soukai is so popular that you need to book a table as soon as Catch Table's reservation system opens, especially on weekends. In Korea, sushi is often the go-to meal for special occasions because the 'omakase' course offers great value for money, and it's always a joy to share delicious sushi with loved ones. We had initially tried to book a table at a popular Italian restaurant featured on Netflix, but it was fully booked in an instant. At Sushi Soukai, the chef asked about the size of the rice portion after serving the first piece of sea bream sushi. Since we were getting quite full, we asked for smaller portions of rice, which the chef kindly accommodated. The sushi was absolutely delicious. Each piece was perfectly seasoned without the need for soy sauce. The flounder was paired with sudachi, the scallop with yuzu and salt, and the horse mackerel with shiso. The rice was tender and fell apart beautifully. The bluefish was tightly marinated, the grilled eel was fluffy and aromatic, and the chirashi roll topped with salmon roe was delightful. All this for just 60,000 won (about 6,000 yen) is quite a bargain. To our surprise, we were the only ones at the 10-seat counter who ordered alcohol during lunch! It was a Saturday, after all. We couldn't help but wonder why no one else was drinking. Instagram @sushi_soukai Next to Travelodge Dongdaemun Hotel