Grilled fish near Korean Folk Village: after-class set for two, Guigo

Today I heard about a place with a reputation for great grilled fish, so I ran over the second my class ended. This is my visit to Guigo (구이고), a wood-fired grilled fish restaurant near the Korean Folk Village that cooks at 550°C.

Guigo opening hours and basic info

Guigo is open from 11:00 to 21:00, with last order at 20:00 and a break from 15:00 to 17:00. It is closed every Tuesday, and it takes groups, has Wi-Fi and offers parking.

• Address: 220-4 Sangha-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi (761 Jungbu-daero)
• Hours: 11:00–21:00, last order 20:00
• Break time: 15:00–17:00
• Closed every Tuesday
• Groups welcome, Wi-Fi, parking available

Guigo is a premium wood-fired grilled fish specialist, and the restaurant says it stands by five promises.

Promise 1. Fish prepped in-house from whole fish, Guigo's own stubbornness / Promise 2. No re-thawing, so no fishy smell. / Promise 3. A moist bite finished in the wood-fired oven / Promise 4. Flame-grilled bulgogi that satisfies everyone. / Promise 5. A healthy table, guaranteed.

When you crave tidy, home-style Korean food, nothing is quite as welcome as grilled fish. Golden grilled fish with warm rice and a spread of side dishes makes a satisfying meal even when it's nothing fancy.

Where do you park at Guigo?

Guigo has plenty of parking space, so it's easy to park. If it's your first visit, though, watch the approach road carefully. You enter through the self-serve car wash entrance and drive up, so keep an eye on your navigation so you don't miss the sign.

Guigo is at 761 Jungbu-daero, Giheung-gu, Yongin. It's a good pick if you're around Sangha-dong or looking for a meal from the Dongbaek or Giheung side. It's also close to the Korean Folk Village, so it works well for families or friends after a visit there.

Inside Guigo: the dining room

The inside of Guigo is clean and calm, good for focusing on the meal. It looked well suited to a family dinner or a lunch with friends. Grilled fish is easy for all ages, so I thought it would also be fine for a meal with parents.

Guigo's set for two and self-serve side dishes

We ordered Guigo's signature set for two and waited for the food.

The self-serve corner at Guigo was neatly stocked with soup and a variety of banchan (side dishes).

The japchae (glass noodle stir-fry) was warm too, so I grabbed a plate before the meal, haha~

Before the grilled fish I ordered arrived, a variety of side dishes were set out first.

I liked that at Guigo you can fetch whatever side dishes you need from the self-serve corner during the meal, without worrying about what anyone thinks.

What does 550°C oven-grilled fish taste like?

Guigo's signature dish is the wood-fired grilled fish. The photo shows Guigo's oven. The taste and texture of fish change depending on how it's grilled, and the appeal of the oven is that the outside cooks up appetizingly while the flesh stays moist.

Which fish come in Guigo's mixed grill?

Guigo's mixed grill brings several fish: flavorful mackerel, plus mild-tasting flatfish, Atka mackerel (imyeonsu) and cutlassfish. If you visit with a group, I think the mixed grill is a good choice for comparing the different fish.

Flake the golden fish onto warm rice and it's a great meal all by itself. Salty yet nutty fish with a spoonful of rice goes down easily even with no other side dishes.

Finishing with pot rice nurungji

At Guigo you finish by pouring water into the pot rice to make nurungji (scorched rice tea), which wrapped up the meal perfectly.

When Guigo near the Korean Folk Village is a good pick

• When you want a clean, filling Korean meal in Sangha-dong, Yongin
• When you want rice and side dishes built around wood-fired grilled fish
• On days you'd rather have light fish than greasy meat
• When you want a comfortable meal with family
• When you want the fun of trying a variety of fish

I recommend Guigo, a 550°C wood-fired grilled fish restaurant near the Korean Folk Village and a great place to enjoy what grilled fish is all about.