Sushi Wada: Affordable Sushi Near Korea University
There are a lot of things missing around my neighborhood near Korea University (KU). The most glaring omission is a truly "good restaurant." Every college town usually has a famous spot or two, but for some reason, it feels like all they sell around KU is tonkatsu (pork cutlet). I was pretty bummed about the lack of dining options compared to my old neighborhoods, but I finally found a place that makes up for it a little.
Ever since I moved here a year ago, there was this mysterious place with a banner claiming a hotel chef was opening a sushi restaurant. They spent the entire year under construction without actually opening. Well, that place finally opened its doors recently, and it's the spot I'm introducing today: Sushi Wada. It's a sushi franchise with about four locations in Seoul. Rather than being a high-end Japanese restaurant like Sushi Hyo, it targets the mass market with affordable sushi. Given the large population of students with relatively light wallets around here, it seems like a solid strategy.
Since it's right in front of my house, I'll probably keep updating this post. When I first had the udon, I thought,
"Whoa! How is this only 5,000 won?"
I was so impressed. Then, just in case, I ordered the 6,000 won soba and was surprised again, thinking,
"Wait, why is there raw shrimp in a 6,000 won dish?"
Word hasn't spread much yet, so it doesn't get fully packed even during lunch hours, but I have a feeling people will be lining up to eat here soon. The only issue is that it's a bit far from the main gate of Korea University, but I think the price and taste more than make up for it.
It's a small shop, but there are actually three people in the kitchen. With the server included, a total of four people are working, so it seems like they are trying hard to maximize table turnover. However, the food comes out so incredibly slowly that their efforts feel almost pointless. If you order sushi, in particular, it takes more than just a long time—you will inevitably end up asking, "When is it coming out?" at least once. When the place is full and most tables order sushi, it's not uncommon to hear complaints about when the food will arrive. I suppose it's proof of how much care they put into the preparation. So, if you're alone, I recommend leisurely browsing your phone or reading a book, and if you're with someone else, be prepared to chat up a storm. Honestly, there's no other solution. It would be nice if they kept some comic books around, though.
I have high expectations for this place—I feel like its true value will shine if I can convince a friend with a good paycheck to treat me to sashimi and sake here in the evening. If the menu and food quality are uniform across all locations, I imagine the other branches are pretty good too.
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