Fresh Sashimi and Uni Pasta in Yongsan — Baboseom Is Worth the Wait

If you're in Seoul and craving raw fish done properly, Baboseom (바보섬) in Yongsan is the kind of place locals quietly add to their shortlist. It's not flashy. It's not famous on Instagram. It's just consistently good — and that's rarer than you'd think.

What to Expect

Baboseom is a hoe (Korean-style sashimi) restaurant, which means the star of the show is fresh raw fish, sliced clean and served with the classic accompaniments — soy sauce, wasabi, and sesame oil with salt. If you've had Japanese sashimi before, this will feel familiar but different. Korean hoe tends to be cut thicker, and the way you eat it — often wrapped in perilla leaves or dipped in a spicy fermented sauce called chogochujang — gives it a bolder, more layered flavor. Don't overthink it. Just follow the lead of whoever's eating next to you.

What makes Baboseom stand out is the quality of the fish relative to the setting. This isn't a tourist-facing seafood restaurant with tanks in the window and a surcharge for everything. The side dishes (banchan) are genuinely good — well-sourced, well-prepared, and nobody's phoning it in on the small plates here.

One heads-up: portions are on the smaller side for the price. You're paying for quality, not volume. Go in knowing that and you won't feel shortchanged.

What to Order

Uni pasta (성게 파스타) — this is the unexpected standout. Creamy, briny, and deeply savory from sea urchin, it's the dish our curator specifically called out, and it's the reason some regulars come back even when they're not in a sashimi mood. Don't skip it.

Amberjack sashimi (방어회) — if you're visiting between November and February, order this immediately. Winter is amberjack season in Korea, and Baboseom gets good fish during that window. The fat content on properly seasonal amberjack is extraordinary — rich and buttery in a way that leaner white fish just isn't. This is also why winter visits come with a longer wait, so factor that in.

Assorted sashimi platter (모둠회) — solid default if you want to try a range. The quality across the board is consistent, which is the real test of any hoe restaurant.

Atmosphere & Vibe

It's a proper sit-down restaurant — not a pojangmacha, not a standing bar. The space suits a relaxed dinner: good for dates, good for small groups. Ordering is done via tablet at the table, which is convenient and takes the pressure off if your Korean isn't there yet. The drink menu is worth a look if you want to pair something with your fish.

It can get busy, and the wait can be brutal in peak season. There's no reservation system, so timing matters more than planning here. Show up early, or accept that you might be waiting.

Practical Info

• Address: 서울특별시 용산구 한강대로42길 8 / 8 Hangang-daero 42-gil, Yongsan District, Seoul
• Google Maps: Open in Google Maps
• Nearest subway: Yongsan Station — 8-minute walk
• Hours: Check Google Maps for current hours
• Price range: Mid-to-high (expect to spend more than you planned)
• Spice level: Mild — raw fish with optional spicy dipping sauce on the side
• Vegetarian: No
• Halal-friendly: Partial — seafood-focused menu, but alcohol is served
• Reservations: Yes — use them when possible
• Good for groups: Yes

One Last Thing

If it's winter and you're visiting Seoul specifically for food, time a trip here to coincide with amberjack season — that alone is reason enough. And if you're going with a group, make a reservation. The tablet ordering makes splitting and customizing easy, and a group gives you a legitimate excuse to order across more of the menu.

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