Mulgeum, Yangsan grilled sushi for a no-raw-food date: Shirokuma

Can people who can't eat raw food eat sushi at Shirokuma?

Yes — Shirokuma in Mulgeum, Yangsan sells grilled (cooked) sushi, so people who can't eat raw food can come along too. My boyfriend can't eat any raw food at all, so even when he wanted sushi we could never go together. Shirokuma has grilled sushi, so I was finally able to go with him, and I was so happy about that.

It's a great place for people who can't eat raw food like my boyfriend, and it also sells a wide variety of delicious sushi, so it's worth visiting.

Shirokuma location, parking and opening hours

Shirokuma is a sushi restaurant on Hwahap 4-gil in Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan. There's parking for about 2 cars in front of the restaurant, and if it's full you can use the nearby Hwangsan-maeul public parking lot.

• 📍Location | 11-5 Hwahap 4-gil, Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea
• 📌Hours | Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat 11:30–21:00
• Closed every Sunday

There's a standing sign in front of Shirokuma so you can check the menu before going in.

Does Shirokuma fill up right after opening?

We visited Shirokuma with a reservation 15 minutes after opening, and besides the reserved seats, the rest of the seats were already full. By the time we finished eating and left, there was a line of people waiting.

Inside Shirokuma: dining room and table setting

As soon as I walked into Shirokuma, I saw a receipt review event sign. Looked like a good one to participate in.

They also had candy ready to eat after the meal, so we ate some on our way out.

There's a waiting area set up, so you can wait inside if the weather is bad. For reservations, a little name plate like this is placed on the table.

It's gotten chilly out. There are coat hooks too, so you can hang up your outerwear, and the restroom is right next to them.

I liked that they served barley tea instead of plain water.

Since we'd made a reservation, the utensils and cups were already set when we arrived. The spoon and chopsticks were gold-colored, which I liked since I'm a fan of gold.

A clear broth soup and salad came out first, which was nice to nibble on while it whet our appetite.

Each seat had tissues, a plate, soy sauce, pickled radish, and takuan (pickled daikon).

Shirokuma's sushi has 5 special points.

Shirokuma menu and prices

Shirokuma has 9 signature menu items.

• Special shrimp tempura udon set ₩39,900 / ₩49,900
• Special cold udon set ₩38,900 / ₩48,900
• Shirokuma Standard Sushi 8p ₩12,000
• Shirokuma Special Sushi 10p ₩17,000
• Shirokuma Premium Sushi 12p ₩22,000
• Shirokuma Omakase Sushi 14p ₩28,000
• Eggplant sushi 10p ₩15,000
• Popular single-item set ₩22,000
• Brown sugar ice cream ₩2,500

The lunch menu is great, so this is a perfect spot for lunch too.

What comes in the Shirokuma Grilled Sushi Set 12p?

We ordered the Grilled Sushi Set 12p (₩22,000) and the Shirokuma Omakase Sushi 14p (₩28,000). The grilled sushi set had grilled eggplant, garlic shrimp, salmon, and grilled beef sushi.

My boyfriend's grilled sushi — isn't it pretty just from the colors alone?

It was my first time seeing grilled eggplant sushi — it looked cute and didn't have that mushy texture eggplant usually has, so I think even kids would enjoy it. The yellow sauce was sweet while also boosting the umami.

The garlic shrimp was plump and grilled, so the texture was good and it had a nice garlic sauce flavor.

The salmon had a salmon-based sauce on top, and I really liked that sauce.

The grilled beef had onion on top too, so you got to eat the beef and onion together, which I liked.

Everything was arranged neatly and looked really appetizing.

A mini udon came with it too — even though it's called "mini," the portion was actually pretty generous. The noodles were chewy and the broth was light and clean.

Shirokuma Omakase Sushi 14p: pieces and taste

One thing I loved about the Shirokuma Omakase Sushi 14p was how long the slices of fish on the rice were. The salmon seemed aged, melting in my mouth, and the aged cuts of fish had an excellent melt-in-the-mouth texture.

The tuna belly, which can sometimes feel too rich, had sliced garlic in soy sauce on top. The flounder had chives on top and had a soft texture.

The aged fish, scored like a turtle shell and topped with something like yuja (citron) marmalade, had a great texture and a refreshing taste. The aged fish topped with spicy chili was also delicious.

The scallop was soft and had a nice texture. The beef and soy-marinated shrimp had a salty soy flavor — a combo that was seriously good.

The garlic shrimp and grilled eggplant were both delicious thanks to their sauces. The eggplant sushi is special and good, and I'd recommend it to everyone from young kids to adults.

It was my first time eating tuna belly — the soft texture was outstanding, and even though it had a bit of fattiness, it was delicious. The squid had a sauce like gochujang (chili paste) underneath a perilla leaf. I think it's better to eat the tuna belly first, then the squid.

The futomaki (thick seaweed roll) was about the size of my fist, so big that it was hard to eat in one bite — I had to bite it from the side.

By the time we finished the futomaki, it was a truly filling meal. Ending it with a cold Fanta was just right.

Shirokuma in Mulgeum, Yangsan: the verdict

• ✔️Shirokuma in Yangsan is a sushi spot worth seeking out
• ✔️It has a grilled sushi menu, so people who can't eat raw food can enjoy it too
• ✔️The omakase set is varied and generous
• ✔️Good spot for lunch
• ✔️Good spot to visit with family or a partner