For this post, I think I'll just let the photos speak for themselves. I can confidently say... that this is the best sushi I have had in Korea! Recently, a friend introduced me to this sushi haven at the Shilla hotel-Ariake. We were fortunate to dine at the sushi bar, and the experience was just pure joy. A few things that I have never tried before-like the squid sashimi with yuzu zest-wow. I'm personally not a huge fan of squid, but the way Chef Song prepared it almost paper thin, with the texture so rich and buttery-I'm converted. I thought they marinated it in something profound, but soon found out that it was just the pure quality of the squid, haha. The toro & uni were exceptional, and I observed some techniques that were truly quite unique & refined at Ariake. Perhaps you can only see this kind of sophistication at hotels like the Shilla and of course Japan? Haha. Oh do I hope to visit again soon~
Preparing the dashima.
Marinating fluke on dashima.
Chilling the sake.
Filleting squid, paper thin!!!
Preparing yuzu zest.
Slightly marinating blue fin in soy...apparently this is the traditional way they used to do in Japan.
To die for!!!
Fresh mackerel, yum!
Octopus to the left, fresh crab on rice to the right.
Uni (sea urchin) my absolutely fave!!!
Slightly grilled unagi (fresh water eel)
Oh-toro (fatty tuna), just look how juicy the flesh looks!
Chef Song photographed above who provided the amazing meal! He was laughing at me the whole time trying to get close up shots of the sushi. I practically hovered over the sushi bar the whole time! Haha. What can you say, I was a bit too excited:)
Ariake Japanese Restaurant (Shilla hotel)
Jung-gu, Jangchung-dong 202; 2-ga Seoul, Korea 100-856/서울시 중구 장충동 2가 202번지, 우100-856
+82.2.2230.3356
Subway directions:
Dongguk university station line 3, exit 5. Walk out to the right and go up the hill. You can't miss the Shilla hotel building that rests on top of the hill.