Pet-friendly mulhoe restaurant by Yeongildae, Pohang: Ppwang Mulhoe

Ppwang Mulhoe Location: 186-1 Duho-dong, Buk-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do Hours: Mon–Sun 10:30–22:00 Last order: 21:00 Parking: In front of the restaurant, Dumuchi public parking lot (free) Other: groups, reservations, takeout, high chairs Pet-friendly, corkage allowed

A late-summer visit to Ppwang Mulhoe by Yeongildae Beach, Pohang

Even though it's September, the daytime sun has been ridiculously hot lately, haven't you noticed? Just when I think fall's arrived, I walk a little in the midday sun and I'm sweating buckets.

Not long ago I came to Yeongildae in Pohang with a friend, and the weather was so much hotter than expected that I said, no more debating, we're eating something ice-cold with floating ice cubes. So I picked my usual go-to mulhoe spot in Pohang — 'Ppwang Mulhoe.'

How to find Ppwang Mulhoe and where to park

Follow the coastal road along Yeongildae Beach toward Hwanho Park, and on the right side of the road you'll spot the vertical 'Ppwang Mulhoe' sign with a big squid character painted on it. Right across from the restaurant there's a spacious free public lot, Dumuchi, so you can visit without worrying about parking at all!

You can spot it easily from far away thanks to the cute pink squid character next to the 'Ppwang Mulhoe' sign — no wandering around lost.

Free fried squid with every mulhoe order, plus an unlimited self-bar

Here's the thing: order mulhoe and you get 'fried squid' as a free extra! On top of that, you can help yourself to as many side dishes as you want from the 'unlimited self-bar' without feeling awkward about it. That's a perfect value score before you've even sat down, right?

Once I stepped inside, there was first a comfortable waiting area to sit and wait, and on the wall I saw a wall full of autographs from celebrities and public figures who had visited! Definitely a well-known spot around Yeongildae.

Full-window ocean-view seats at Ppwang Mulhoe

Once inside, the space feels much bigger and open on every side, giving it a real sense of openness. The overall interior is clean and modern, and every table has hygiene wrap laid out carefully — it feels spotless from the very first impression.

I always sit by the window. Because that full window view is so refreshing, I love it!

Through the window, the cool blue sea and the Yeongildae coastal scenery come into full view — just looking at it feels like a breath of fresh air, doesn't it? Being able to enjoy delicious mulhoe with this kind of gorgeous ocean view as a bonus — it's a favorite spot where both your eyes and your mouth get spoiled!

High chairs and disposable aprons for diners

For families, high chairs are available, so parents looking for a place to dine out with kids near Yeongildae can visit without worry. And to protect your clothes from the red sauce splashing while eating mulhoe, disposable aprons are provided.

Each table has a tablet menu right beside it, so my friend and I could comfortably huddle and pick our order,

and on one side of the table, sauces and paper cups you can add to your mulhoe to taste were all neatly arranged.

The order I always repeat at Ppwang Mulhoe: squid mulhoe

Honestly, every time I come to Ppwang Mulhoe, there's one menu item I order without even thinking twice, and that's this 'squid mulhoe.' Other dishes are good too, but for my taste, this restaurant's squid mulhoe is genuinely number one, no contest.

So this time too I told my friend we absolutely had to get squid mulhoe here, and we both ordered two servings of squid mulhoe. Squid has gotten so pricey lately it's practically called 'gold squid,' but since this is my regular spot, I trusted the quality wouldn't disappoint, as always.

What the unlimited self-bar holds

After ordering, I headed straight to the 'unlimited self-bar corner' I'd spotted at the entrance! This isn't a self-bar with just a few basic side dishes thrown together — the fridge is packed neatly and hygienically.

In particular, on one side there's spicy-sweet tteokbokki (rice cakes) and crisp, fresh salad, both available to take unlimited amounts of. Being able to pile on freshly, well-managed side dishes without any hesitation made me so happy.

The full table, with a whole jar of icy broth

Finally, the main event I'd been waiting for — the squid mulhoe and the generous full spread — arrived. Looks pretty good, right?

Once I added the various side dishes I'd brought from the self-bar, the table was practically groaning under the weight of the perfect combo. Served in elegant brass bowls, it all looked so appetizing.

Above all, they bring a whole jar of broth full of icy slush to every table, so we could pour in as much refreshingly cold broth as we wanted — that's always the most satisfying part as a regular.

Pouring in the icy broth that cools you down to your core just by looking at it, we officially began our food adventure.

After pouring in a generous amount of bright red icy broth, we mixed everything so the squid sashimi and vegetables blended well! Even while mixing, the cool scent of the broth and the nutty smell of sesame oil rose up, making my mouth water. We were genuinely starving! Hehe.

There were so many delicious side dishes at the self-bar, but we kept things simple and only took as much as we'd actually eat! It's a waste to leave good food unfinished, so I'd recommend everyone take small portions often, thinking of the environment.

How the squid mulhoe at Ppwang Mulhoe tasted

Ppwang Mulhoe's secret broth is seriously amazing! Instead of an artificially spicy taste, it's a golden-ratio blend of subtle fruit sweetness and spicy-tangy flavor, and it snapped my body wide awake after being slightly worn down by the daytime heat. My friend took one bite and started devouring it non-stop too. Glad I brought her along!

I picked up a big chopstick-full of squid sashimi, and you could tell right away how fresh it was from the thin, precisely sliced pieces. Combined with the crisp vegetables soaked in the secret spicy-tangy sauce, a full mouthful was springy and bouncy — no chewiness at all, and the more you chew, the sweet, nutty flavor unique to squid spreads out smoothly. Genuinely delicious!

It's delicious even plain, but pour in the icy broth generously and enjoy it cold, and the heat melts right off you, down to your fingertips and toes. This is truly the number-one mulhoe restaurant near Yeongildae in Pohang — hits my exact taste.

Dogs welcome at Ppwang Mulhoe, including the owner's own

After enjoying a delicious meal and stepping outside, I got to meet the owner's adorable pet dog, sitting quietly in front of the restaurant! So gentle and sweet!

This place is already a 'pet-friendly restaurant,' so it's a perfect stop if you're out walking your dog near Yeongildae — and being able to meet the owner's own cute dog on top of that will win over dog lovers for sure.

My verdict on Ppwang Mulhoe

If you're looking for a can't-miss, genuine local favorite near Yeongildae on a scorching day like this, I highly recommend my regular spot, Ppwang Mulhoe. The combo of chewy squid mulhoe and icy broth, enjoyed with an unobstructed ocean view, always blows the heat away — no matter when you eat it.

Thanks to the free public lot across the street, there's zero parking stress, and you even get to meet the heart-melting resident dog mascot, making the whole visit a happy one. With great taste, service, and convenience all in one place, I strongly recommend stopping by if you're ever at Yeongildae Beach in Pohang.