DAEGU EATS | Date Night: Sushi Last and 스타워즈

Towards the middle of fall we sort of got the blues. Maybe it was the normal progression of living abroad, somewhere between the excitement of living in a new country and realizing we wouldn’t be home for the holidays this year and feeling the tiniest pangs of homesickness because of it. We had explored a good amount of Korea and with the newness wearing off we were now feeling wanderlust to explore other countries. And in between it all there was life: the daily grind of it with the same stresses and worries that follow no matter where one lives.

All this to say we have been in something of a slump and we soon realized that the best way for us to get out of said slump was to get out and explore, to try all the places we’ve been meaning to try…to eat lots of sushi…

Our date nights are pretty predictable in that we always want to eat sushi, especially since compared to the US, going out to eat sushi here doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. There are generally two types of sushi that can be found in Korea: Korean raw fish or hoe (회), typically a few types of chewy fish served sashimi style or Japanese style, served on top of rice. I like Korean style sashimi in small doses but the types of fish Koreans enjoy and they way the fish is cut is not my favorite way to eat raw fish. I’m definitely more of a Japanese style sushi/sashimi person.

Sushi Last has been on our radar for a long time because we heard it was good and cheap. There was always a line in front of the restaurant at all times of the day and at during any weather conditions. Because of this we have avoided eating at Sushi Last.

Until now…

We arrived just after the first seating and waited in line with about 10-12 other shivering people. Based on the lines I had seen in the past ours was relatively short and we were in a pretty good position. After about 15 minutes in line one of the waiters handed us a menu to peruse then returned later to take our order. The menu was entirely in Korean but we could easily make out the “set menus” (just look for this for something like this to find the set menu choices: 세트) and determine the number of pieces per set choice and the price. We went with the 14-pc set menu for 11,000 KRW, or just over $9 USD.

Here’s what we got for $9:

Our meal started with a bowl of hot miso soup which immediately warmed us up after standing outside in the cold. We had barely finished slurping up our bowl when two long 2×4 boards of sushi appeared on our table along with a small bowl of udon soup. The sushi itself consisted of mostly salmon, shrimp, and some chewy white fishes draped over a tiny cherry tomato sized portion of rice. Everything tasted fresh and good and honestly for the price was a bargain. No wonder this place was so popular, especially with the younger crowd.

After dinner we walked to the small CGV movie theater to see 스타워즈 = Seu-ta Wo-jeu = Star Wars.

Sly had been chomping at the bit to see Star Wars. We heard back in the states people bought tickets months in advance but here in Korea (or at least in Daegu) not only did Star Wars premier a day (or two days if accounting for time difference) earlier than in the states, but Sly had no problem getting tickets. And on opening night, the theater wasn’t even filled to max capacity!

It was only our second time at a Korean movie theater. This time we avoided the 4D and just chose regular seats. Sly bought me a bucket of fresh popped kettle corn (I love that you can choose between buttered popcorn and kettle corn) and we took to our assigned seats. Something I didn’t notice the last time we were at the theater was something called a “sweetbox.” Essentially it’s a couch with high walled sides and what looked to be a blanket(?) made especially for two people — no armrest/cup holder in the middle. Weird and awesome. Next time we are definitely springing for the sweetbox.

DETAILS

Sushi Last | 59-4 Gongpyeong-dong, Jung-gu, Daegu , closest metro: Banwoldang | FOOD: Japanese style sushi / sushi set menus | COST: Inexpensive, 10,000-15,000 KRW. | DESCRIPTION: Very small sushi restaurant with lunch and dinner service (with I believe a break in between). We calculated that the restaurant could hold something like 16 people at any given time hence there is always a line out the front. The good news is the line moves quickly — maybe a 20 or 30 minute wait from the time you have reached the left hand window of the restaurant. Once in line your order will be taken and not long after you sit down, you’ll receive your order. Pretty efficient system. In addition to an a la carte menu, sushi sets are very reasonably priced: 7,5000 won (10-piece set); 9,000 won (12-piece set); 11,000 won (14-piece set) etc. If I remember correctly there are 16, 18, and 20 pc sets as well. Most sets come with miso soup and udon. I think the more expensive sets also come with salad. I don’t think I saw anyone not ordering a set menu of some sort of which the 14pc seemed the most popular.  | VERDICT: This wasn’t the best, most inventive, most varied sushi we’ve ever eaten in Korea but on sushi alone it was in between Wild Sushi and Sushi 이로까, the latter being my favorite sushi place so far in Daegu. For what you get it was a great value. If it weren’t for the line we would probably eat here at least once a week.