Incheon sushi shop engawa and sea urchin roe omakase: Minyeong Hwareo

Today's <Restaurant Hunt> takes us to Moraenae Market in search of something good to eat. While wandering the market, checking out all the tasty snacks and food stalls, I stumbled on a Japanese restaurant that people rave about — Minyeong Hwareo Gongjang Moraenae Market Branch. Here's how my visit to this sushi spot, packed with all kinds of delicious sushi, went.

Where is Minyeong Hwareo Gongjang in Moraenae Market?

Minyeong Hwareo Gongjang Moraenae Market Branch sits inside the market, a 6-minute walk from Exit 3 of Moraenae Market Station. The outside has that classic market feel.

There are plenty of shops around with big signs, but this one caught my eye with its shine, so it was easy to spot. The menu board and price list posted outside were a nice touch too.

Picking your own sushi from the display trays

Minyeong Hwareo Gongjang Moraenae Market Branch has a display case with all kinds of sushi laid out so you can see everything at a glance. Each piece has its name and price labeled.

Some of the popular items were mostly sold out already. I liked being able to see the sushi's condition myself before choosing. Just pick what you want, then pay.

Mulhoe (cold raw fish soup) is on the menu too

Mulhoe (cold raw fish soup) — perfect for cooling off on a hot day. While browsing the sushi, something else caught my eye.

Turns out Minyeong Hwareo doesn't just have sushi — they also have refreshing mulhoe. Good to know for a hot day.

Free ice pack and soup stock concentrate

Buy sushi at Minyeong Hwareo Gongjang Moraenae Market Branch and you get an ice pack to keep it cold on the way home, plus soup stock you can cook up yourself. A nice touch that helps you enjoy the sushi even more.

The ice pack especially comes in handy on hot days when you're carrying sushi home. Being able to bring it back cold and fresh really showed the owner's thoughtfulness.

The soup stock came in a form you mix at home — just stir it into a cup of hot water — and eating it alongside the sushi felt just like being at a real sushi restaurant.

Can you pay with Onnuri gift vouchers?

Minyeong Hwareo Gongjang Moraenae Market Branch accepts a range of payment methods — Zero Pay, Onnuri gift vouchers, Ieum Card, bank transfer, and more.

Markets are usually cash-only in my experience, so I was glad I could check out easily thanks to all these payment options.

How the sushi is packed for takeout

Everything comes neatly packaged along with an ice pack. The bag held my ordered sushi, the ice pack, and various side dishes.

The packaging was so clean you'd never guess it was market sushi, which made carrying it home feel great. The insulated bag kept everything fresh and cold.

Honest review of the engawa sushi and omakase pack

What comes in the basic side dish kit

A kit with pickled ginger to eat alongside the sushi. Every sushi purchase comes with this kit of essential sides.

The kit had single-serve soy sauce in a fish-shaped bottle, wasabi, and soup stock concentrate. The soup stock was especially nice since you can just mix it with hot water right away. It was nostalgic to see that carp-shaped soy sauce bottle again.

Engawa (flatfish fin) sushi

Engawa sushi packed with that rich, fatty flatfish fin flavor. I've always loved flatfish fin, and the display had a pack loaded with it, so I grabbed the last one left.

The engawa was fatty and tasted amazing. If you love fin cuts, this is a must-grab. The chewy texture of the engawa was just perfect.

Omakase sushi pack, piece by piece

A pack loaded with all kinds of sushi. I always find it hard to pick just one type, so I was happy to find an omakase pack where I could try a little of everything.

Here's what was in the omakase sushi pack:

• Sea urchin roe gunkan
• Salmon roe gunkan
• Sweet shrimp sushi
• Tuna sushi
• Salmon sushi
• Salmon tataki sushi
• Eel sushi
• Engawa sushi
• Flatfish sushi
• Soy-marinated shrimp sushi

+) I really recommend the omakase sushi. I got to taste pretty much everything on Minyeong Hwareo's menu, and it felt like eating a fancy omakase course.

Is Minyeong Hwareo Gongjang worth a trip to Moraenae Market?

• Recommended if you're looking for good sushi near Moraenae Market
• Recommended if you're looking for affordable, good-value sushi in Guwol-dong
• Recommended if you're looking for a spot in Guwol-dong that accepts Onnuri gift vouchers