Half garlic, half spicy sushi set lunch in Bonghwang-dong: Sushi Hwa

Hi everyone 😄 It's Momonosuke. I visited Sushi Hwa, a place I really want to recommend to anyone looking for sushi on Bongni-dan-gil (봉리단길) in Gimhae. Unlike regular raw sushi, this is flame-seared sushi — the surface is torched for extra smoky flavor — and I came back stuffed.

• 🍣 Sushi Hwa
• 📍 Address｜32 Gimhae-daero 2315beon-gil, 1st floor, Gimhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
• ⏰ Hours｜Daily 10:00–21:00
• 🕗 Last order｜20:40
• 🚗 Parking｜About 3 spots in front; use nearby public lot if full
• 🚲 Bikes｜Bike rack available out front
• 👥 Amenities｜Group seating, takeout, delivery, reservations, Wi-Fi available

Where is Sushi Hwa on Bongni-dan-gil?

Sushi Hwa sits on a Bongni-dan-gil side street in Gimhae, with an eye-catching orange awning marking the ground-floor storefront. There are outdoor tables and a bike rack right in front.

It was an early-autumn day, pretty enough on Bongni-dan-gil to wander slowly and look around. That said, the midday sun was still strong — most people passing by were carrying parasols.

Parking at Sushi Hwa: how many cars fit?

There's parking for about 3 cars in front of the restaurant. If it's full, check the nearby public parking lot or side streets in the area.

Inside Sushi Hwa: seating and atmosphere

Inside, Sushi Hwa felt bright and modern in white and wood tones rather than the traditional Japanese-restaurant look. Little Japanese dolls and plants decorated the window sill, and a full-length mirror on one side doubled as a subtle photo spot.

Behind the partition is an 8-person group table that splits into 4-person tables when there's no group booking. We got a lovely window seat with sunlight streaming in, and there was also a dedicated phone charging spot.

The kitchen was fully visible through the glass, so we could check on how clean things were kept. It was reassuring to see the restaurant holds a 'Very Good' hygiene grade and is designated a Gimhae Safe Restaurant. Lunchtime brought a lot of office workers, plus a steady stream of delivery app notifications and takeout orders.

Sushi Hwa menu and prices

Sushi Hwa's flame sushi sets run ₩15,000 for 10 pieces and ₩38,000 for 27 pieces, with a kids' 5-piece set at ₩8,000. The salmon, tuna, and shrimp flame sushi sets are ₩16,000 each.

• Flame sushi set 10P｜₩15,000
• Sushi Hwa flame sushi set 27P｜₩38,000
• Kids' flame sushi set 5P｜₩8,000
• Salmon flame sushi set｜₩16,000
• Tuna flame sushi set｜₩16,000
• Shrimp flame sushi set｜₩16,000

What comes in the 27-piece flame-seared sushi set

We ordered the Sushi Hwa flame sushi set 27P for ₩38,000. It's a set for two, including 27 pieces of flame sushi, a yuzu cabbage salad, and your choice of two noodle dishes — udon or cold buckwheat noodles.

The lineup was varied — wagyu, beef belly, sweet shrimp, salmon, red shrimp, scallop, squid, egg, and fried tofu — and I especially liked how generous the beef sushi portions were. You can choose garlic sauce, spicy sauce, or half-and-half; we went half-and-half, and ordered one udon and one cold buckwheat noodle.

Torch-seared sushi: how the garlic and spicy sauces taste

Sushi Hwa's flame sushi is quickly seared on the surface with a torch, and you can actually watch the process on the in-store monitor. It's a great way to add smoky flavor while keeping the texture of the ingredients intact. People who find raw fish intimidating should be able to enjoy this comfortably.

The spicy sauce wasn't very spicy, so even people who aren't great with heat should feel fine. The garlic sauce had a deep garlic aroma and rich umami that really suited my taste. Each piece of flame sushi was already so packed with umami that I didn't even need soy sauce, and it was nice getting to try both sauces.

27 pieces sounded like a lot at first, but the rice portions were shaped small like at a proper sushi restaurant rather than mart-style sushi, so it worked well for two people. The rice wasn't mushy or clumped — each grain held together and dissolved smoothly in the mouth.

Wasabi and side dishes you can adjust to taste

Sushi Hwa doesn't pre-mix wasabi into the sushi — instead, you get a full packet of fresh wasabi on the side. Eating it without wasabi first, we could really taste the sauce and smoky flavor; adding as much as we liked afterward brought in that sharp wasabi kick too.

There was plenty of pickled ginger and takuan (pickled radish) too, so we didn't need to ask for extra, and they even brought out aronia berries for dessert at the end of the meal.

Yuzu cabbage salad, udon and cold buckwheat noodles

The yuzu cabbage salad included in the set was tangy, sweet, and fragrant — eating it first perked up our appetite and made the sushi go down even better.

The udon noodles held their shape without going soft, and the broth had that deep umami richness typical of Japanese restaurants.

A light sprinkle of shichimi added a subtle spicy note and aroma, though it was plenty tasty even without it.

The cold buckwheat noodles came with slushy ice floating in the broth, cold and refreshing. Eating it between bites of flame sushi cleaned the palate nicely. Both noodle dishes were served in smaller, set-sized portions, but they were both so good I'd love to try the regular full-size à la carte versions next time. Together, they were surprisingly filling and left us satisfied.

Naver receipt review event at Sushi Hwa

At Sushi Hwa, if you write a receipt review with a photo and show it to staff, you can get either a drink or 2 pieces of sushi. You need to ask for your receipt before writing the review, and it's limited to once per table.

Is Sushi Hwa worth it for a Gimhae lunch?

If you're looking for sushi on Bongni-dan-gil in Gimhae, the Sushi Hwa flame sushi set is a solid choice. You get to enjoy a variety of flame sushi along with udon and cold buckwheat noodles all in one meal, making it a good pick for a Bongni-dan-gil lunch or date.