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Seoul’s Hottest Tuna Spot: Inson Restaurant – Authentic Jeju Tuna Belly in the Heart of the City

Craving premium tuna belly without breaking the bank? Look no further than Inson Restaurant, a tuna specialist that has taken Seoul by storm after making waves in Jeju Island. This hidden gem, nestled in the Huam-dong hills of Seoul, offers top-grade tuna at reasonable prices. Let’s dive into why Inson is becoming a must-visit for tuna lovers in Seoul.

A Cozy Ambience with a Retro Vibe

Inson is located on a charming hill in Huam-dong. If you’ve visited the Yanggogi Omakase spot I introduced before, it’s just a short 10-minute walk away. It’s also easily accessible by bus from Seoul Station or Sookdae Station. What’s truly unique about Inson is its history. This spot operated as a teahouse (dabang) for 45 years, lending it a wonderfully cozy and nostalgic atmosphere. The music playing in the background adds to this retro charm, making your dining experience even more special.

Tuna Belly Heaven and More

As a tuna specialty restaurant, Inson’s menu focuses on, you guessed it, tuna! Their star offerings include the prized tuna belly (baekkosal) and fatty tuna (daebetsal). Beyond tuna, they also offer charcoal-grilled Spanish mackerel (samchi gui), grilled cuttlefish (gapo ojingeo gui), and Jeju specialties like mantis shrimp and egg rolls as side dishes.

Must-Try: Tuna Belly and Fatty Tuna Set

We started our meal with the highly recommended tuna belly and fatty tuna set. As a delightful appetizer, we were served a clear radish soup (muguk). The radish was cooked to perfection, incredibly tender, and the soup had a deep, satisfying flavor – perfect to whet your appetite. Refills are also available, which is a nice touch! To kick things off with drinks, Inson offers Hallasan soju, a Jeju specialty.

The tuna belly and fatty tuna set arrived looking absolutely stunning. Tuna belly, known as baekkosal, is a rare and highly sought-after cut. Despite its name, it’s not actually from the belly but resembles a belly button in shape. It’s celebrated for its crunchy texture and rich, oily flavor, making it one of the best parts of the tuna. Typically, even at high-end tuna restaurants, you might only get one or two pieces of tuna belly per person. Inson, however, offers a generous portion at a very reasonable price. The fatty tuna (daebetsal) was equally impressive. The marbling resembled premium beef, promising a melt-in-your-mouth, rich, and oily experience.

This impressive platter costs ₩79,000 and is perfect for two people to enjoy with drinks, leaving you comfortably full. And, as any food connoisseur knows, good seafood deserves good drinks! Inson boasts an excellent selection of Korean traditional liquors (yakju and cheongju). We decided to splurge and try a few, starting with Pungjeong Sagye Domak Makgeolli, a raw rice wine aged for 100 days. It was, hands down, the best makgeolli I’ve ever tasted – perfectly balanced, not too sweet or bitter, and incredibly smooth. It paired beautifully with the tuna. The owner thoughtfully provided different types of sake cups for each drink, ensuring the flavors weren’t mixed.

Next, we tried Pungjeong Sagye Chu, a cheongju (refined rice wine) that is famously served at presidential banquets in the Blue House (Cheong Wa Dae). One sip, and you understand why. It has a delicate sweetness and a deep, rich flavor that exudes sophistication. The accompanying bell-shaped sake cups added a touch of elegance to the experience, with a clear, ringing sound when we toasted.

Delicious Side Dishes

We also sampled the egg roll (gyeran mari) side dish. It was soft and sweet, topped with a slightly spicy tomato sauce reminiscent of Subway’s chili sauce – a surprisingly delightful and familiar combination. The charcoal-grilled Spanish mackerel (samchi gui) was another winner. Topped with a generous amount of basil pesto, the mackerel was unbelievably tender. Apparently, Inson uses fresh, non-frozen mackerel grilled over charcoal, a detail that clearly elevates the flavor. The dedication to charcoal grilling, rather than gas, is a testament to their commitment to quality.

As we were finishing up our makgeolli, the owner surprised us with complimentary tuna sashimi – another testament to their generous hospitality. Of course, we enjoyed it with a generous dollop of wasabi. We also ordered the grilled pollack roe (myeongnan gui), which paired perfectly with the remaining drinks. With Hallasan soju on offer and the Jeju-inspired menu, dining at Inson truly felt like a mini-trip to Jeju Island.

Overall Impression

Inson Restaurant is highly recommended for anyone seeking high-quality tuna at reasonable prices in Seoul. The cozy, retro atmosphere, delicious food, and excellent drinks selection create a memorable dining experience. If you enjoyed this review, please like and subscribe!

Location: Huam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울 용산구 후암동)

General Rating: Highly Recommended (based on reviewer’s enthusiastic tone)