Charcoal-grilled merou fish and mentaiko onigiri: Tansaeng, Changwon
In short
Tansaeng Sangnam Branch is a charcoal-grilled fish bar on the 2nd floor of a building next to a Hollys Coffee in Sangnam-dong, Changwon. On a repeat visit, the writer ordered charcoal-grilled merou (Patagonian toothfish), whole grilled squid, and mentaiko onigiri with soju, and the merou's flesh broke apart softly with juices spreading through it. With everything from bar tables to private rooms, it works for solo drinking as well as group gatherings.
Good to know
- Charcoal-grilled merou
- ₩34,000
- Squid (1 serving)
- ₩14,000
- Mentaiko onigiri
- ₩6,000
- Chamisul soju
- ₩5,500
- Location
- 2nd floor of the building next to Hollys Coffee in Sangnam-dong, Changwon, in the alley beside Sangnam Market
- Seating
- 4-person tables, bar table, group seating, private room (6-8 people)
- Parking
- No dedicated lot, no parking support — use a nearby public lot
- Reservations
- Private bookings and reservations available
as written by the visitor on Sep 8, 2026
This is the charcoal-grilled fish bar I fell in love with after one visit, where every single snack is delicious — I went back to Tansaeng Sangnam Branch for round two. Here's my honest review 🙌
Location and parking at Tansaeng Sangnam Branch
It's on the 2nd floor of the building next to Hollys Coffee in Sangnam-dong, Changwon, right in the alley beside Sangnam Market, so it's easy to get to. There's no dedicated parking lot and they can't help with parking, so I'd recommend using a nearby public lot!
A solo-drinking-friendly interior and seating
The inside of Tansaeng Charcoal House was stylish and pretty. They have everything from 4-person seats to bar tables, group seating, and private rooms. It's not noisy and it's a good atmosphere for conversation, so it works great for dates and blind dates, but it's also perfect for drinking solo!
Private bookings and reservations are available too, and with group seating and rooms for around 6-8 people, it's also a solid Sangnam-dong spot for group get-togethers and company dinners.
What's on the menu
Tansaeng Sangnam Branch specializes in charcoal grilling — fish grilling in particular. It's a bar where fresh fish is grilled over charcoal the moment you order it. Everything comes out with a subtle smoky charcoal aroma and it's genuinely delicious.
Main menu — fish, pork, lamb
They have charcoal-grilled large Spanish mackerel, charcoal-grilled salmon, giant red snapper, charcoal-grilled red seabream, charcoal-grilled merou, charcoal-grilled black cutlassfish, charcoal-grilled freshwater eel, flower snapper, Jeju charcoal-grilled pork, and premium raw lamb ribs.
Side menu — seafood, onigiri, soups
Whole grilled octopus, squid (hanchi variety), squid, tiger shrimp, Hokkaido scallops, Wando abalone, mackerel sushi rolls, cod soup, blue crab soup, onigiri, tomato — beyond fish, there's a wide range of seafood dishes and side dishes to go with your drinks!
What I ordered 🧾
- Charcoal-grilled merou ₩34,000
- Squid (1 serving) ₩14,000
- Mentaiko onigiri ₩6,000
- Chamisul soju ₩5,500
They're also running a Naver receipt review event. It's a great chance to get a free Hokkaido scallop dish, so be sure to join in and enjoy the meal even more!
How the merou, squid, and onigiri tasted
For basic side dishes, you get seasoned cucumber, seasoned seaweed, and seasoned gungchae (sea lettuce). I liked that there were three different basic side dishes. I kept reaching for the clean, refreshing cucumber and the salty gungchae!
Soon after, the charcoal-grilled merou arrived. It came with grated radish, pickled olive-oil cheongyang chili, spinach pesto, seasoned omandungi (a type of sea squirt), and wasabi to pair with it.
Since it's grilled over charcoal the moment you order, the deep charcoal aroma hit me as soon as it arrived. The golden-brown look was gorgeous, and I loved how plump and generously sized it was.
When I tore off a big piece, the merou's distinctive richness and oiliness filled my mouth. The flesh broke apart softly with the juices spreading through it, and it was truly delicious. I kept saying it was the best merou I'd ever had. If you're looking for a great grilled fish spot in Changwon, I fully recommend Tansaeng.
Order the squid and you get a whole one, uncut. It was grilled whole rather than sliced first, so the presentation alone stood out! When they cut it with scissors, it was still steaming fresh off the grill. It wasn't chewy at all — it was tender and springy, and genuinely delicious.
The mentaiko onigiri (rice ball) is lightly torched on the surface with a blowtorch, making it look even more appetizing. A generous, creamy heap of mentaiko (seasoned cod roe) sits on top of the onigiri — you mash it with a spoon and scoop up the rice and mentaiko together. Between the saltiness of the mentaiko and the nutty flavor of the lightly charred rice, it made a perfect simple meal or side dish!
There's dental floss set out at the counter. Even the finishing touches were perfect — I recommend Tansaeng Sangnam Branch, a bar in Sangnam-dong, Changwon!
I recommend Tansaeng Sangnam Branch, a grilled fish spot in Sangnam-dong, Changwon, that also makes a great solo drinking spot 💓
Where it is
1 Madimi-ro 31beon-gil, 2nd floor, Unit 202, Seongsan-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea경상남도 창원시 성산구 마디미로31번길 1 2층 202호
