# Eel rice bowl and matcha pudding in Hwamyeong-dong, Busan: Shunsaikubo - By Juwon (https://superchart.com/en/@cafe-noticeboard/) - Written Sep 21, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Buk-gu, Busan - Sponsored: This is a visit where the meal was provided by the business. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@cafe-noticeboard/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@cafe-noticeboard/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/index.md) ## In short Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong is a Japanese restaurant in Hwamyeong-dong, Buk-gu, Busan that serves hitsumabushi, the authentic Nagoya-style grilled eel rice bowl. Arriving at noon on a weekday, the writer found Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong nearly full, and ordered a whole eel hitsumabushi at 39,000 won and a half portion at 27,500 won, eaten course-style from the pre-meal tempura and chawanmushi through the four suggested ways of eating it to a homemade matcha pudding dessert. The unatama with rolled egg and the yakumi-and-wasabi mix were the best bites, making Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong an easy recommendation for eel rice bowl in Hwamyeong-dong. ## Good to know - **Location**: 1F Geumsaem Building, 17 Yangdal-ro 4beon-gil, Buk-gu, Busan - **Hours**: 11:30–21:00 (break 15:00–17:30, last order 40 minutes before closing) - **Hitsumabushi, whole eel**: 39,000 won - **Hitsumabushi, half eel**: 27,500 won - **Parking**: 1 hour covered with orders over 50,000 won; Hwamyeong public parking lot about 400 m away - **Waiting perk**: Free half portion of eel if you wait 45 minutes or more - **Also good to know**: Kids' menu available; salmon rice bowl, conger eel cutlet and alcohol also served - **Price reference**: ₩39,000 ≈ $28 · ₩27,500 ≈ $20 (2026-09-21) *as written by the visitor on Sep 21, 2026* ![Full hitsumabushi eel rice bowl spread at Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong](https://img.superchart.com/images/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo-01-1mniq-1200.webp) I actually found a really good eel rice bowl spot...! Some of you may already know it as a Hwamyeong-dong favorite with 8 straight years on the Blue Ribbon Survey and 3 straight years in the Michelin Guide, but if you knew and still hadn't gone, you have to go!! And if you didn't know, you really have to go!! Let me introduce this Hwamyeong-dong eel rice bowl spot where everything — service, food, dessert — was perfect :) ## What kind of restaurant is Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong? Location, hours and parking Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong is a Hwamyeong-dong favorite serving authentic Nagoya-style eel rice bowl (hitsumabushi), made with top-grade Japonica freshwater eel brushed with eel tare sauce and grilled over binchotan, the finest quality charcoal. - Location: 17 Yangdal-ro 4beon-gil, Geumsaem Building 1F, Buk-gu, Busan, South Korea - Hours: 11:30–21:00 (break 15:00–17:30 / last order 40 minutes before closing) - Parking: 1 hour supported with orders over ₩50,000. About 400m from Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong — search "Hwamyeong Public Parking Lot" in your navigation. ![Exterior entrance of Shunsaikubo in Hwamyeong-dong](https://img.superchart.com/images/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo-02-vdygj-966.webp) ![Store signage at Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong](https://img.superchart.com/images/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo-03-7rn1e-966.webp) ![Empty room seating photographed to avoid other guests at Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong](https://img.superchart.com/images/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo-04-16x4l-966.webp) ## Nearly full at noon on a weekday, with a free half eel for 45-minute waits Opening time is 11:30, so I rushed over around noon, but the place was already almost full..!! I snapped a photo of an empty room, careful not to disturb other guests. There was already a waitlist by the time I finished eating — if it's like this on a weekday, weekends and holidays must have a long wait! They give a free half eel serving to anyone who waits over 45 minutes in the waiting area, so even the wait seems like it'd be enjoyable at Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong!! The customers there were mostly on the older side, and seeing this place win over adult tastes too made me think — this really is the real deal. (No wonder it's a Hwamyeong-dong favorite) ![Interior view of Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong](https://img.superchart.com/images/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo-05-17bev-966.webp) ![Waiting area at Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong](https://img.superchart.com/images/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo-06-13tqz-966.webp) ![Hitsumabushi menu board at Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong](https://img.superchart.com/images/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo-07-d8yus-966.webp) ![Rice bowl menu page at Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong](https://img.superchart.com/images/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo-08-evb4e-966.webp) ![Side dish menu board at Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong](https://img.superchart.com/images/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo-09-11yr0-966.webp) ![Drinks menu board at Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong](https://img.superchart.com/images/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo-10-b41zt-966.webp) ![Kids' menu signage at Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong](https://img.superchart.com/images/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo-11-d6rdk-966.webp) ## What's on the menu at Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong, kids' dishes included This is the Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong menu. They sell eel rice bowl, salmon rice bowl, and various other items plus alcohol, and there's even a kids' menu — so I'm thinking of coming back with my kid next time haha! ![Signboard explaining how to enjoy hitsumabushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo-12-em548-966.webp) ![Table-side guide explaining the order for eating hitsumabushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo-13-10t6l-966.webp) ## The meal starts with salad and tempura After ordering, I was checking out the guide for how to enjoy hitsumabushi properly when they brought out a pre-meal salad and tempura!! ![Pre-meal salad and tempura at Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong](https://img.superchart.com/images/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo-14-185d6-966.webp) ![Plate of crispy pre-meal tempura](https://img.superchart.com/images/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo-15-rrkgw-966.webp) Wow,, what am I supposed to do if even the pre-meal tempura is this good. My expectations are shooting up haha! The tempura was super crispy — crunch crunch!! — and moist inside ㅠ They also sell conger eel cutlet, which now has me curious. ![Full table setting of the half-portion hitsumabushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo-16-1av6q-966.webp) ![Full table setting of the whole-portion hitsumabushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo-17-npkrh-966.webp) ## Whole eel at 39,000 won vs half at 27,500 won: what's the difference? I ordered one hitsumabushi whole portion at ₩39,000 and one half portion at ₩27,500. Wait, is there even a difference between the half and the whole? Looking closely, even the plate size is a bit different. The eel rice bowl arrived neatly plated, and they said dessert would be prepared after I finished eating :) Let's dig into the eel rice bowl quickly. Here's the visual of the half-portion eel rice bowl~ Pretty generous and hearty looking, isn't it?!! ![Close-up of the half-portion eel rice bowl](https://img.superchart.com/images/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo-18-19767-966.webp) I'm going to eat it properly following the recommended way to enjoy hitsumabushi :) ![Whole-portion hitsumabushi packed onto a large plate](https://img.superchart.com/images/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo-19-1ftc4-966.webp) (Before eating, take a look at the whole-portion hitsumabushi visual!! A slightly bigger plate packed full with eel rice bowl) Really! Before eating, let me have the pre-meal chawanmushi haha. Soft like silken tofu, sliding right down ㅠ So tasty~ Okay, let's really eat now :) ## How to eat hitsumabushi in four parts > 1. Divide the hitsumabushi into four parts, take one quarter into a bowl and enjoy the eel and rice's original flavor as is. ![One quarter of the divided eel rice bowl in a bowl](https://img.superchart.com/images/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo-20-15ci4-966.webp) ![Eel and rice tasted plain as is](https://img.superchart.com/images/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo-21-vojid-966.webp) ![Cross-section of eel with charcoal aroma](https://img.superchart.com/images/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo-22-18384-966.webp) > 2. Take half the dashimaki tamago (rolled egg) and mix it with eel to make "unatama," then taste. ![Unatama made by mixing in dashimaki tamago rolled egg](https://img.superchart.com/images/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo-23-1i7ev-966.webp) ![Bowl of rolled egg mixed with eel](https://img.superchart.com/images/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo-24-l0eei-966.webp) > 3. Take another portion into the rice bowl, add yakumi (chopped scallion, perilla leaf, seaweed flakes, wasabi) and eat together. + You can also add ochazuke dashi with the yakumi and eat it as a soupy rice dish. Finish the meal however you liked best out of all the methods! I tried all four parts exactly as instructed, and the second method with the soft egg lingering in my memory, and the third method mixed with sharp wasabi, were the tastiest! Eating my way through it, I understood why Shunsaikubo gets recommended as a Hwamyeong-dong favorite :) The eel was boneless and soft, with a subtle charcoal aroma soaked in — it was so delicious. ## Dessert: Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong's homemade matcha pudding Dessert was a pudding they said they made themselves. The slightly bitter matcha pudding cleanly reset my palate, making this a Hwamyeong-dong favorite that satisfied me from start to finish at Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong :) Fully deserving of 8 straight years on the Blue Ribbon Survey and 3 straight years in the Michelin Guide. (Not that my opinion counts for much~ but I approve~ still, I approve haha) If you're looking for a Hwamyeong-dong eel rice bowl spot, I'll recommend Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong without hesitation!!! ## Where it is - Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong (슌사이쿠보 화명) - 17 Yangdal-ro 4beon-gil, Geumsaem Building 1F, Buk-gu, Busan, South Korea - 부산광역시 북구 양달로4번길 17 금샘빌딩 1층 - 35.2408944, 129.0147104 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%8A%8C%EC%82%AC%EC%9D%B4%EC%BF%A0%EB%B3%B4%20%ED%99%94%EB%AA%85/@35.2408944,129.0147104,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@cafe-noticeboard/hwamyeong-hitsumabushi-lunch-shunsai-kubo/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt