Pohang crab and sashimi restaurant: Russian bakdal set, 120,000 won

From the moment I started planning my trip to Pohang, all I could think about was crab. When you go to a port city with that thick ocean smell in the air, a trip doesn't feel complete unless you eat your fill of seasonal seafood. So the very first place I headed to was Yeonggwang Hoe Daegae Center (영광회대게센타), famous as a Pohang Jukdo Market must-eat spot. From the entrance of the market a briny, savory ocean smell hit me, and just that smell got my mouth watering. I'd heard there was a whole crab street, so I hurried over, scanning a few places with my eyes before my feet finally stopped at Yeonggwang Hoe Daegae Center.

Where is Yeonggwang Hoe Daegae Center, and where do you park?

Yeonggwang Hoe Daegae Center is at 34 Jukdosijang-gil, Buk-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, on the crab street of Jukdo Market. For parking, just follow your navigation to the lot it points you to, then grab a coupon from the restaurant.

Jukdo Market is such a famous traditional market in Pohang that navigation alone got us there without much trouble. Park at the lot your navigation directs you to and get a coupon from the restaurant! Or you can use a public parking lot near the market, or parking near the crab street.

The crab street itself is huge, with similar-looking shops packed tightly together, so first-timers might get a bit confused. We peered into tank after tank ourselves, comparing which place looked freshest. We ended up stopping in front of Yeonggwang Hoe Daegae Center because the tank water looked unusually clear and clean. The crabs and sashimi fish here clearly looked in better shape than at other shops, so we walked in without hesitation. If you're looking for a Pohang crab restaurant, I'd recommend checking the tank condition with your own eyes like this before choosing.

What the dining room at Yeonggwang Hoe Daegae Center is like

Stepping inside, the first thing I noticed was how much bigger it was than I expected. The signboard is big and bold, so it stands out even on the crab street. A row of tanks lines the entrance, with crabs and all kinds of live fish flapping around, showing off their freshness right there.

Inside, there were quite a lot of tables, but it filled up fast since it was the weekend. Luckily we went around 11am and got seated with no wait, but if we'd been a little later we might have waited a long while. If you're planning a weekend visit, I'd strongly recommend booking ahead. The lighting was bright overall, which made it great for food photos, and the tables were spaced generously enough that we didn't have to worry about the next table over. The market's lively noise mixed with people's chatter actually made it feel even more like a proper trip.

Bakdal Special set price and what comes with it

What we ordered at Yeonggwang Hoe Daegae Center was the Bakdal Special set for two, priced at ₩120,000. You can choose between Russian and domestic bakdal crab only, and going domestic bumps the price to ₩180,000 for two.

Looking at the menu, there were several set options, but we ordered the Bakdal Special set for two without hesitation. It was ₩120,000, and I realized later that this was actually incredible value. Apparently there's normally a ₩5,000 per-person table setting fee, but ordering the Special set waives it entirely — worth keeping in mind. On one wall there was a country-of-origin board, and most of the fish and seafood were domestic. Only the bakdal crab lets you choose between Russian and domestic. We went with Russian; ordering domestic runs ₩180,000 for two, so you can pick based on your budget. With that big a price gap, it was nice having options to suit different tastes and budgets.

The side dishes that kept arriving

Not long after we ordered, the side dishes really just kept pouring out endlessly.

Raw shrimp sushi caught my eye first — the shrimp meat looked glossy and plump. One bite gave a chewy yet soft texture that filled my mouth, with a subtle sweetness lingering after.

The seasoned pufferfish skin had a chewy texture with a spicy-tangy sauce that really perked up the appetite.

The live octopus was as fresh as ever, still wriggling, and the more I chewed the more its nutty flavor came through, so my chopsticks kept going back for more.

The parboiled squid salad had squid blanched soft, tossed well with a sweet-spicy sauce for a savory combination.

The flounder sikhae (fermented flounder) had that tangy, faintly spicy charm of a local specialty side dish, and worked great as a rice accompaniment too.

The mini fried blue crab was crisp outside and moist inside, with that classic fried savoriness, and the fried potatoes made a nice pairing too.

The sea squirt had that fragrant ocean scent that brushed past my nose, leaving a refreshing aftertaste with each bite. The conch had a springy, chewy texture that made it fun to chew — I'd never seen conch that big before.

The Dokdo shrimp stood out for its sweet, plump meat.

The corn cheese helped cut through the richness a bit.

The bangpung (glehnia leaf) was good for cleansing the palate with its fragrant aroma.

Then came seasoned codfish and seasoned mud snails and more — there were so many kinds I could hardly list them all, enough to fill up on the sides alone.

Sashimi, mulhoe and seafood ramyeon

After working through the side dishes for a while, a plate of sashimi showed up. The thickly sliced sashimi had a springy firmness you could feel just by looking at it, and its glossy surface gave it away as freshly prepared. One piece melted in my mouth while still being pleasantly chewy at the same time. The more I chewed, the more a subtle sweetness came through, and my chopsticks kept drifting back to that plate.

The ramyeon (instant noodle soup) that came with the sashimi wasn't just regular ramyeon — it was packed with seafood. One spoonful of the broth and the depth of that rich seafood stock hit immediately, with an excellent, refreshing flavor. The noodles were nicely chewy and paired well with the broth, sliding down like the perfect hangover cure.

Mulhoe (cold raw fish soup) came out too, and it's really different from what you get in the Seoul area. Instead of that gochujang (red chili paste) taste, it had an apple fragrance that blended in wonderfully — my friend Sol's number one pick besides the crab. The sashimi, the abalone, all delicious!

The bakdal snow crab finally arrives

Finally, the star of the day — the bakdal crab — arrived on a huge plate. The moment the shell came off, plump, fully packed meat appeared, and it was already impressive just to look at. Pulling out the meat, it felt springy and moist, and the moment it hit my mouth a subtle sweetness spread through. Each bite carried the ocean's fragrance all the way up through my nose, with a flavor that lingered a long time. On top of that, they threw in clams and shrimp as a bonus, making the spread even more generous. For an extra ₩2,000 they'll turn the leftover roe into fried rice, so we ordered it right away — and that turned out to be a genius move.

Ending with crab roe fried rice and maeuntang

Once we'd eaten enough of the crab meat, the owner fried rice with the leftover roe. That savory crab roe scent had soaked into every grain of rice, and it made my mouth water just looking at it. One spoonful and rich umami and savoriness filled my mouth, drawing out an involuntary sigh of satisfaction. The slightly crisped bits added a crunchy texture, letting us enjoy it fully right down to the last bite.

And to finish, maeuntang (spicy fish stew) arrived — by this point the table was already breaking under the weight of food. The spicy, refreshing broth felt like it cleanly wrapped up everything we'd eaten so far. It came with the whole fish head in it, so there was still fun to be had picking out the last bits of meat. Honestly, it was hard to believe this entire spread cost just ₩120,000.

It was a night when the salty scent of crab lingered and sloshed around in my stomach.

Is Yeonggwang Hoe Daegae Center worth it? Verdict and downsides

The owners were genuinely kind, which made the whole meal a pleasant experience. Whenever a plate got full, they swapped it out for a fresh one right away, so the table always stayed tidy. The portions were also really generous — almost too much for two people — and with freshness locked in on top of that, it was all the more satisfying. Considering the price against what you get, I couldn't help but call it the best value spread around. If I had to name a drawback, it's that it's so popular you might run into a wait. Next time I come back to Pohang, I'd love to try the domestic bakdal crab. That's how confidently I'd put this on any Jukdo Market crab recommendation list. I think it's a place you can recommend without hesitation for a family trip or a couples' getaway alike.