Mulgeum, Yangsan sushi spot at opening time: giant futomaki, Shirokuma

One of the foods you crave in hot weather is definitely sushi, but the good-quality kind — not the stuff at the supermarket — can be hard to justify price-wise. So it ends up being something you save for special occasions.

Well, I found a sushi restaurant in Mulgeum, Yangsan that's reasonably priced and still high quality. I went right at opening time and the seats filled up fast — a real local favorite. Let me introduce it.

Where is Shirokuma? Hours and parking in Mulgeum, Yangsan

• Address: 경남 양산시 물금읍 화합4길 11-5 1층
• Hours: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM
• Break time: 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
• Last order: 8:00 PM
• Closed: Every Sunday / Chuseok holiday
• Parking: Hwangsan-maeul parking lot (free)
• Corkage: Free
• Baby chairs available
• Wheelchair-accessible entrance and seating

What the Shirokuma storefront looks like

There are so many good restaurants near Busan University in Yangsan that the streets are packed with cars. I wanted to get a nice shot of the exterior but hahaha, there was a car parked right in front so I couldn't.

By the time we finished our meal and left, there was already a waiting line forming. You can reserve ahead through Catch Table, right by the door.

They also have waiting chairs set up. Now that the weather's cooling down, sitting here to wait wouldn't be so bad.

The opening hours and parking info were clearly posted,

and there was also a note explaining what makes this place special.

Inside Shirokuma: seating and partitioned tables

This sushi spot near Busan University in Mulgeum, Yangsan had a really cozy feel. The dining room wasn't huge, but there were more than 10 tables.

To the right of the entrance was a half-open kitchen, where the chefs were hard at work making sushi.

We also grabbed a seat on one side.

This Mulgeum, Yangsan sushi spot felt cozy, but there were also private seats divided by partitions like this. Because we arrived right at opening, we managed to snag a great spot.

Plenty of people also came in with reservations already made.

There were coat hooks too, so in cold winter weather you can hang up your outerwear.

As a customer, it's always nice to see a place with real philosophy behind its food. I thought the sushi quality was great for the price, and it seemed like that came from the owner's food philosophy.

What we ordered: 14-piece omakase sushi and 10-piece special sushi

You can browse the menu through the kiosk at each table. We chose the 14-piece omakase sushi and the 10-piece special sushi. At lunchtime, soba or udon comes included too — such a great deal.

Ginger is set out at every table, so you can help yourself,

and they bring out a cabbage salad with delicious perilla sauce along with a light broth.

The dressing wasn't overpowering, just sweet enough — really tasty.

Our order at Shirokuma, a sushi favorite near Busan University in Mulgeum, Yangsan, was finally ready. It looked so good.

This is Shirokuma's 14-piece omakase sushi. I was blown away by the size of the futomaki haha.

The 10-piece special sushi looked incredibly appetizing too.

I don't know the names of all the fish, but true to its reputation as a great sushi spot in Mulgeum, Yangsan, every piece was delicious.

Looking at these photos again, I want to eat it all over again haha.

They even changed the sauce on top of each piece of sushi, so thoughtful.

The toppings on top were also chosen carefully to pair well with each fish.

Every single piece was delicious. Anyone looking for a great lunch spot in Mulgeum, Yangsan will definitely love this place. It seems to already be quite well-known — by the time we finished eating and left, a little past noon, there was quite a long waiting line.

What makes Shirokuma's sushi different, and how big the giant futomaki is

This sushi spot near Busan University in Mulgeum, Yangsan. What sets their sushi apart is the unusual toppings placed on top of the fish. The fish itself was fresh and tasty, but the harmony between the toppings and the fish really elevated the flavor of the sushi even more.

And the futomaki was seriously huge haha.

My hands are on the bigger side, and it was almost the same size as my fist haha. I think even people with big mouths would choke trying to fit it in one bite haha. It was really that big. We ended up cutting it in half to eat it.

The soba and udon that come with lunch at Shirokuma

It was nice that noodles came included at lunchtime like this.

The cold soba was tasty,

and the hot udon was delicious too.

Is Shirokuma worth a visit? Final thoughts

If you're looking for a great-value sushi restaurant near Mulgeum, Yangsan, you should definitely check this place out. The sushi was delicious and the quality was excellent for the price. Some people get hungry again in the afternoon after eating sushi, but here, the noodles served at lunch left us completely full instead. Definitely a place I want to visit again.