Pohang mulhoe restaurant with whole squid sukhoe: Ppwang Mulhoe

Today's story is about Ppwang Mulhoe, a Pohang favorite. You can't come to Pohang without having refreshing mulhoe (cold raw fish soup)! From the clean interior to the packed self-bar and the main dishes, everything was so satisfying that I had to share it, haha.

Where is Ppwang Mulhoe? Near the seafront on Haean-ro, Pohang

Ppwang Mulhoe sits near the coast on Haean-ro in Buk-gu, Pohang. As you pass by, the big, stylish sign catches your eye right away! The building itself is kept very tidy, so it's easy to spot from a distance, and parking and walking in were both really convenient.

What's on the menu at Ppwang Mulhoe

Looking at the menu, they had a wide range of dishes — from the signature Ppwang mulhoe to squid mulhoe, flatfish mulhoe, plus steamed whole squid and fried items! We went with the Ppwang mulhoe and the whole squid sukhoe (parboiled squid).

Seating at Ppwang Mulhoe: window seats, a private room, outdoor seats

Walking into Ppwang Mulhoe, I was greeted by spacious, comfortable table seating. The window side was wide open and airy, perfect for a meal without feeling boxed in.

They also had a private room for a more intimate meal and an outdoor area with great atmosphere! The private room looked perfect for family gatherings or group dinners, and with the weather this nice these days, enjoying a bowl of mulhoe at an outdoor table with a cool breeze sounded ideal too 🐙

The self-bar: tteokbokki, kimmari, vegetable tempura and squid soup

I checked out the self-bar set up on one side of the restaurant, and it was genuinely well stocked. Plenty of basic side dishes, plus warm tteokbokki (stir-fried rice cakes), crispy kimmari (fried seaweed rolls) and vegetable tempura, and even a spicy, refreshing squid soup — all help-yourself.

Before the mulhoe arrived, we grabbed tteokbokki, fried snacks, and side dishes to whet our appetite, and it was surprisingly good for self-bar food. The squid soup in particular had a rich broth that warmed us right up 🔥

Ppwang mulhoe's slushy ice broth comes in a bottle you pour yourself

The main event finally arrived! The brass bowl was piled high with sliced raw fish and toppings, seaweed flakes, and sesame seeds, with the icy mulhoe broth served in its own bottle to pour in as much as you like.

Pouring in the broth, a layer of cool shaved ice settled over everything, completing a really appetizing look!

The raw fish was really fresh and generously portioned. Every bite with the chopsticks had fish and vegetables together, and the texture was.. 🫢 But most of all, the broth's flavor was perfect..! Not an artificial broth that's just aggressively sour or overly sweet — instead it had the natural sweetness of fruit, the spicy-tangy kick of chogochujang (vinegared chili paste), and the savory taste of the raw fish, all balanced into something deep. With the ice crunching in every bite and that coolness wrapping around your whole mouth, it felt like the heat and fatigue just melted away 🩵🩵

How tender is the whole squid sukhoe at Ppwang Mulhoe?

The whole squid sukhoe (parboiled squid) at Ppwang Mulhoe was also a real treat. Squid tends to turn tough if boiled too long, but this one stood out for being tender and moist with every bite.

Dipping it lightly in chogochujang, the savory, sweet flavor unique to squid spread through my mouth, and it paired really well with the mulhoe! One bite of the cool, spicy mulhoe, then a warm, savory piece of squid sukhoe — the balance of flavors felt like enjoying a full Korean course meal.

Who Ppwang Mulhoe is best for

Between the mulhoe and squid sukhoe, plus unlimited side dishes, tteokbokki, and warm fried snacks from the self-bar, Ppwang Mulhoe 🐙 delivered on both value and satisfaction. The restaurant is spacious with nice extras like the private room and outdoor seating, so if you're visiting Pohang or just want a full, delicious mulhoe spread, definitely stop by. Another great meal today!