Sangseok (상석): The Late Night Spirit of Hannam
Hannam-dong is Seoul’s hot spot for all things contemporary. It’s also frequently portrayed in Korean dramas as one of South Korea’s most luxurious neighborhoods. In fact, many celebrities and expats live in one of the three prestigious residential areas of Hannam: UN Village, Nine One Hannam, and The Hill. It’s no surprise that countless trendy cafes, intricate restaurants, and exclusive bars settle here to serve this high-end clientele.
With so many options to choose from, let me suggest Sangseok (상석), a seafood-focused restobar with an understated sophistication. Their royal blue doors welcome you into dimly lit, but charming, atmosphere with gold, cream, and charcoal tones. The vibes are just right. There’s even a little aquarium to accentuate the theme of the restaurant.
Sangseok’s menu is mainly seafood-based and revolves around warm appetizers, freshly sliced fish, and rich stews. Every dish has a radiant and enthusiastic energy thanks to the vivid colors of the ingredients. I also appreciated that the ingredients are all neatly arranged on the plate to the point that it looks organized.
We tried a few things on the menu and you can read more about each of the dishes below. My favorites were the Aged Salmon and Flatfish (연어&광어) along with the Squid and Minari Pancake (오나미전). The food at Sangseok is light, comforting, and spirited so it’s a great place to start your night in Hannam. Whether you begin or end your evening here, Sangseok is surely going to be the highlight of the night.
Cuisine: Korean
Average Price per Person: $20 USD / 25,000 WON (Food Only)
Address:
Recommended:
Aged Salmon and Flatfish (연어&광어)
Squid and Minari Pancake (오나미전)
Cod Roe Cream Pasta (명란 크림 파스타)
Spicy Octopus with Mayo (불낙지마요)
We started with the Onami Pancake (오나미전), which is actually a portmanteau for the Korean words for Squid and Minari. It was fried well and not overly oily. The pancake was made mostly of minari, or water parsley. If you’ve never had this vegetable before, it’s phenomenal. The stem is crispy with nice leafy tops. In terms of flavor, it is herbaceous and peppery.
(18,000 WON)
This is the Spicy Octopus with Mayo (불낙지마요). The octopus was coated with dense, spicy flavor. The mayo below it could have been made with pure garlic. Despite it’s size, the flavor in this dish is quite powerful.
(17,000 WON)
Sangseok has an amazing Cod Roe Cream Pasta (명란 크림 파스타). It has a gentle umami flavor thanks to the cod roe and I really enjoyed how creamy this pasta was. It wasn’t watery or overly oily - it was just right. The chives also helped balance out some of the richness. The pasta is also cooked nicely al dente.
(19,000 WON)
Sangseok offers a variety of hwe platter options including red-banded lobsters (from Jeju island), octopus, salmon, and flatfish. For a more well-rounded option, I suggest getting the Aged Salmon and Flatfish platter (연어&광어) pictured above. It comes with 9 different toppings and condiments.
(43,000 WON)
Ready for 2nd round!