Sashimi B course for two in Guwol-dong, Incheon: Soraepogu Haenam

I wanted a sashimi course at a Guwol-dong spot with a good atmosphere in Incheon, so I visited Soraepogu Haenam Guwol branch (소래포구해남수산 구월점). It's a private-room restaurant in Guwol-dong, so we could enjoy it in privacy, and the course was a feast for both the eyes and the mouth.

Where is Soraepogu Haenam Susan Guwol branch, and is there parking?

Soraepogu Haenam Guwol branch is at 39 Mirae-ro, Namdong-gu, Incheon. If you come by subway, it's close to Incheon City Hall Station. The exterior looks exactly like a sashimi restaurant, and it's easy to find if you turn on Naver Map.

There's parking space in front of the restaurant. As I walked past the parking area toward the entrance, I saw a standing sign for large amberjack. Oh, so large amberjack season is already coming!

Inside the Guwol-dong sashimi restaurant: private rooms

Soraepogu Haenam Guwol branch is a bright sashimi restaurant in Guwol-dong, Incheon, and it was nicer than I expected. When you think of a sashimi place, you're used to something worn-down and full of years. But here the interior was so clean it looked newly opened, and there was no fishy smell inside at all.

There are lots of private-room spaces, so it seems like a good choice if you're looking for a private-room restaurant in Guwol-dong, Incheon.

I had booked on Naver in advance, so we were guided to a private room.

What comes in the 48,000 won B course?

What we ordered at Soraepogu Haenam Guwol branch was the B course at ₩48,000 (*2 people). There was a budget course and a pricier one too, and we decided to go with the middle option.

Starter porridge and seaweed soup

I think it was maesaengi (fine seaweed) porridge. It wasn't strongly seasoned, so it was easy and comfortable to eat.

I'm a total seaweed soup fanatic, and I barely got to eat any. Because just when I thought, shall I try it?, the dishes after it came out in an overwhelming wave. If you visit a sashimi restaurant in Guwol-dong, Incheon, you need to choose and focus. Please note that lots of delicious seafood dishes are waiting behind it.

Cuttlefish mulhoe (cold raw seafood soup)

The cuttlefish mulhoe (cold spicy raw fish soup) came out. The cuttlefish had a rich, creamy flavor. The cuttlefish sashimi tasted so good that I thought, if possible, next time I should order the cuttlefish sashimi.

Grilled fish and corn cheese on a hot plate come out too. They're the regulars of any sashimi restaurant.

Seafood side dishes served with dry ice

Suddenly a spectacular dish arrived: the seafood skidari (assorted starter dishes).

It arrived with dry ice, which makes it look even more upscale and showy. The dry ice trick lasts only a moment, but the high spirits it gives you last through the whole meal.

There was octopus, sea squirt, abalone, cream shrimp, horned turban (spiral-shelled sea snail), and (a rare one...) another sea squirt. There were two kinds of sea squirt, so what's the orangey one?

There were also sweet shrimp, grilled eel, raw scallop and even live octopus. And right after that, flatfish sushi came out too.

In a way, it feels like a budget-friendly sashimi place in Guwol-dong. The portions were generous, more than I expected, and I liked that. And of course soju can't be left out. Soju and seafood are the ultimate pairing. We already love seafood, and with this many kinds coming out, the two of us were thrilled at this Guwol-dong sashimi restaurant in Incheon.

Fried enoki mushrooms

It was fried enoki mushrooms. Crispy and really delicious. It was like a Chinese dish. I wish fried enoki mushrooms were everywhere!

Abalone, sea squirt, scallop, eel and horned turban

The abalone was really fresh. No fishy smell, and the texture was genius.

What kind of sea squirt is this? Silk sea squirt? It had the scent of the sea just as it is. I like the aroma of sea squirt so much that after eating it, I tend to leave a longer gap before the next dish. I want to enjoy the aroma lingering in my mouth a bit more.

The scallops were on the small side. They serve them with seasoning on top. Sweet and tasty, as expected. I think scallops taste best as sashimi.

My friend raved about this eel so much. Come to think of it, doesn't this friend not even like eel?

The horned turban was so, so, so delicious. The crunchy texture was wonderful. Is it horned turban season now? If I can get it, I'll go find it and eat it again.

Since this Guwol-dong sashimi restaurant in Incheon uses fresh fish and seafood, everything we ate was fresh. The flatfish in the sushi was chewy and soft too, and the sushi rice (shari) was just right.

Which fish are in the sashimi at Soraepogu Haenam Susan?

The B course sashimi was sea bream, amberjack and flatfish. Once again they made a showy entrance. Maybe the dry ice is a cliché, but it's true that it gets me excited every time I see it.

The in-season large amberjack was delicious. It had a crispness. Personally I'm picky about amberjack and sensitive to its smell. But this is a large amberjack specialist in Guwol-dong, Incheon. There was none of the smell I hate, and it was really fresh.

Having a drink with all kinds of seafood and all kinds of sashimi made me simply happy.

The other fish were chewy and tasty too. I thought the matsukawa-style (skin-blanched) sea bream would be out of this world, but plain sea bream and flatfish were both so good that it was a party with no way to pick a winner.

Spicy fish stew, fish roe rice and a fried finish

The course at Soraepogu Haenam Guwol branch includes maeuntang (spicy fish stew) too. I was so full I almost gave up on it, but it would have been a disaster if I had. Surprisingly, sashimi restaurants that do good maeuntang aren't common. But this one was spicy and sharp, a proper hangover-soother.

For the meal, egg rice (albap, rice with fish roe) comes out too. The crunchy, popping texture is great, and even though you're full from seafood and sashimi, carbs still find room.

My head wanted to shout "enough now," but my mouth didn't agree.

I was definitely full, but delicious food always finds room. Maybe because it's winter, the sweet potato was really sweet. The fried sweet potato was the best.

Verdict: is the Soraepogu Haenam Susan B course worth it?

This was a sashimi course at Soraepogu Haenam Guwol branch, a Guwol-dong spot in Incheon with a good atmosphere. The portions and the lineup were so good that it even felt like a budget-friendly drinking place in Guwol-dong. I'm definitely coming back, and there was nothing I found lacking.