Yeongbyeon in Seocho: Best & Priciest Sekkoshi
Because of COVID, we had been limiting our team dinners to lunch. But after someone asked, "What's really the difference between a lunch and dinner gathering?", the idea of an evening team dinner cautiously came up. A teammate looked for a place that wasn't too far away and had spacious seating, and our final choice was Yeongbyeon.
Rather than looking like an old, traditional restaurant, the exterior didn't suit a raw fish place at all. Everyone pretty much gave up before we even walked in, thinking, "Tonight's team dinner is doomed :)". I had so little expectation that I didn't even bother taking a picture of the storefront.
Once inside, the first thing that surprised me was the sekkoshi (bone-in sliced raw fish) sold in individual portions. The sekkoshi we usually eat is divided into small, medium, and large platters, not sold by the single portion. At Yeongbyeon, you have to order per person, and everyone eats with their own plate of sashimi in front of them. In the COVID era, this actually has the advantage of not sharing plates.
The next surprise was the price. I figured selling by the portion was just how they did business, but I had never heard of sekkoshi costing 35,000 KRW for one serving. Order one sekkoshi and drink a bottle of soju, and you're immediately at 40,000 KRW. If four people eat, that's 140,000 KRW—enough to get a large platter of the best sashimi at most raw fish restaurants.
The sekkoshi came out. You wrap the sashimi and the shredded radish underneath it together in lettuce or perilla leaves, adding ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste) or chogochujang (vinegared gochujang). Depending on your preference, you can add garlic or chili peppers. It was definitely called sekkoshi, but the bones weren't chewy at all; it was incredibly soft. Yet, it wasn't completely boneless sashimi either. The shredded radish was also very soft and fresh, giving it a refreshing crunch. But above all, the ssamjang and chogochujang were the absolute highlight. They were so delicious, it tasted like they added honey. When I asked what was in it, the staff said it was a patented secret. I don't know if it's actually patented, but everyone nodded in agreement that it was a worthy trade secret.
Because of the 35,000 KRW price tag, it became a "sekkoshi that absolutely must not taste bad." When I actually ate it, it was truly delicious. For that price, it naturally should be good, but the moment you erase the cost from your mind, it becomes a sekkoshi that's hard to find anywhere else.
While the sekkoshi was really delicious, the 5,000 KRW meal course at the end was really disappointing. Both the regular kimchi and kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) were unique, but in an unappetizing way.
I'd like to come back a few times, but I'm quite hesitant because of the price. It seems unlikely that I'll visit more than three times and move this place to my "frequently visited and recommended" category. However, if you want to try a real delicacy with a glass of soju regardless of the cost, I highly recommend it.