Yongsan Korean restaurant dinner with sliced raw fish: Joseonmakhae

While looking for a place in Samgakji for both dinner and drinks, I visited Joseonmakhae (조선막해), a restaurant specializing in makhoe (mixed sliced raw fish). I paired wild-caught makhoe with charcoal-grilled bulgogi and kimchi albap (kimchi fish-roe rice), and it was satisfying as both drinking food and a full meal.

Where is Joseonmakhae, and what is the seating like?

The address is B1, 45-17 Hangang-daero 62-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Although it is on a basement level, the restaurant appeared after only a short walk downstairs, so it felt almost like the ground floor to me.

Inside, there was wood-toned table seating. The tables and tableware were clean, and there was also a separate room-style space. It had a warm atmosphere that I thought would suit meeting friends or a date.

What did I order, and how much did it cost?

After sitting down, I ordered by QR code. Since we had not eaten dinner, I chose makhoe along with a meat dish and a rice dish.

• Fresh wild-caught Joseon makhoe: ₩23,900
• Crispy charcoal-grilled bulgogi: ₩12,900
• Kimchi fish-roe rice: ₩5,000

What was the wild-caught makhoe like?

The wild-caught makhoe arrived first. I was told that it was fish caught that day, and it tasted fresh to me. For my taste, it was drinking food that paired well with soju.

The owner briefly explained how to eat the makhoe. There was also written guidance, so I could refer to it while eating.

I tried it following the guidance as well. Of the dishes we ordered, the makhoe was especially memorable.

Can you have dinner with charcoal bulgogi and kimchi fish-roe rice?

The crispy charcoal-grilled bulgogi was tasty, with a smoky charcoal flavor. Eaten with the makhoe, it was enough for dinner even for us, who had arrived without eating.

The kimchi fish-roe rice felt generously portioned for ₩5,000. I was happy with the taste as well, so it seemed like a good dish to add if you are also having dinner.

The atmosphere also suited a second or third round of drinks, but if you pair makhoe with bulgogi and fish-roe rice as we did, it also works well for a first-stop dinner. The dishes we had felt generously portioned for the price, so I would like to return for a gathering with friends or a date.

What are the opening hours and parking details?

The opening hours listed in the original post are Tue–Thu 17:00–24:00, Fri–Sat 16:00–01:00, and Sun 16:00–23:00. Last orders are 23:00, 00:00, and 22:00 respectively. Parking is not available, and the restroom is inside the restaurant.