Siheung Korean restaurant, 2nd-floor window seats: Seolak Chueotang

Today I visited Seolak Chueotang Hwadeok Saenggeongui Mulwang Reservoir Main Branch, a Siheung Mokgam spot known for abalone loach soup and wood-fired mackerel.

Where is Seolak Chueotang, and what are the hours and parking?

• Address: 40 Dongseo-ro 857beon-gil, Siheung-si, Gyeonggi-do
• Hours: Mon–Sun 10:00–21:00, last order 20:00
• Open on Chuseok holidays, Sep 24, 25, 26
• Parking: free, groups of up to 60

I wanted to eat good Korean food with my sister, who's visiting from abroad, so we headed to Mokgam in Siheung.

We both love grilled fish, so picking the menu wasn't hard. The place we found that day was Seolak Chueotang Hwadeok Saenggeongui Mulwang Reservoir Main Branch. To cut to the chase, it was a satisfying meal — moist grilled mackerel and hot abalone loach soup (chueotang) together.

Beyond the food, parking and getting around were easy too, so it's a good spot to visit with family.

Wood-fired mackerel: one moist bite and the rice disappears

What stuck with me most at Seolak Chueotang that day was the wood-fired mackerel. Fish so easily turns dry when it's overcooked, but this mackerel flesh was moist, and honestly delicious. Piling thick flakes of mackerel onto warm rice, I kept reaching for more even without any other side dishes.

It's hard to grill fish often at home because of the smell, so eating it this easily was even better. My sister, visiting from abroad, enjoyed it too, which made me weirdly proud. We both love fish, so between chatting and taking bites, the plate emptied fast. It's a taste I think I'll keep thinking about.

What does the abalone loach soup taste like?

We ordered the abalone loach soup alongside the grilled mackerel at Seolak Chueotang. One sip of the hot broth and it felt like a proper, filling meal.

I especially liked the abalone in the soup. Its chewy texture added richness, and it paired well with the hot broth. A bite of mackerel, a spoonful of chueotang broth, then a bite of rice — that combination was great. If you like both grilled fish and soup dishes, this is a satisfying pairing.

Second-floor window seats and elevator access

We ate on the second floor of Seolak Chueotang, and I personally loved that space.

With lots of large windows, the outside view opened up nicely, and we could enjoy it at a relaxed pace while eating. Having an elevator was also convenient — it takes away the worry about stairs if you're visiting with parents or a young child.

When choosing a spot for a family meal out, these kinds of conveniences quietly matter.

Is parking easy, and when does it get busy?

I drove, and I felt relieved to see how spacious the parking lot was. When I visited, there were two staff members directing parking, and they kindly guided me to a spot, so parking was easy.

That said, it can get busy during lunch hours. If you want to eat without waiting, it's better to arrive a bit earlier than the lunch peak.

Worth returning for: abalone loach soup and wood-fired mackerel

Moist grilled mackerel, warm rice, and chewy abalone in the loach soup all together made for a hearty, satisfying meal. Sharing good Korean food with my sister visiting from abroad became a good memory too. With a spacious parking lot, an elevator, and a view through the big window on the second floor, it also felt like a comfortable place to bring parents.

If you're near Mokgam in Siheung or Mulwang Reservoir and craving hot broth and grilled fish, this place is worth remembering. More than anything, I think the taste of moist mackerel piled on rice with chewy abalone will stay with me for a while.