Beomgye day-drinking sashimi lunch, a parenting break: Namhae Mulgogi

I met a friend in Beomgye on a weekday lunch and we went to Namhae Mulgogi Anyang. We both love raw fish, so we went looking for a good spot, and I was way more satisfied than I expected, so here's my review. I was also looking for a place where I could have a beer in the daytime to blow off some parenting stress, and Namhae Mulgogi was perfect. It opens at 11:30, so it was great for an easy lunch, and the atmosphere was lovely too. I came away properly refreshed.

Where is Namhae Mulgogi Anyang?

Namhae Mulgogi Anyang is on the 4th floor of the building right next to the center of the Beomgye fountain. If you come to Beomgye often you'll find it quickly, and first-timers shouldn't have trouble getting there either!

It already had a certain mood right at the front door, and I was excited before we even went in, haha.

What is the atmosphere like at Namhae Mulgogi?

The moment you walk into Namhae Mulgogi Anyang, you feel the old-fashioned interior. It felt like a Korean-style pub, not a Japanese izakaya~!

You can see green trees by the window, so it was even prettier and more soothing in the daytime.

The tables are spaced well too, so it never felt cramped, and it was just right for a slow chat with a friend over a meal. It looked perfect for a drink in the evening as well!

What's in the sashimi omakase set for two?

We ordered the Namhae Mulgogi sashimi omakase set for two. The course came with a starter porridge, appetizer, assorted aged sashimi, seasonal dishes, a fish dish, fried dishes, and a hot pot. Since it's course-style, the food came out one dish at a time, which made it fun to eat, and they told us the lineup can change with seasonal ingredients, which made me look forward to it even more. Overall it was more substantial than I expected, and the portions were quite satisfying.

Honest review of the sashimi omakase dishes

Starting with mulhoe and perilla seed porridge

The first dish in the omakase set was mulhoe (cold raw fish soup). But it was a bit different from the usual mulhoe I had in mind. It had sprouts, raw fish, onion, and broth, and the broth tasted really refined and clean. It was cool yet full of savory depth, so I loved it from the very start.

The perilla porridge that came next was good too. The rice grains were so soft and nutty that it settled my stomach. With a warm dish going in first, the start of the course felt more filling.

Which fish come in the assorted aged sashimi?

The assorted aged sashimi at Namhae Mulgogi came with flatfish (gwangeo), herring, salmon, sea bream, cuttlefish, sweet shrimp, and Jeju deokppak shrimp, so it looked generous and fun to look at. Ankimo (monkfish liver) and shiitake wasabi came alongside, which was a nice thing to pair with it.

The aged sashimi was really tender. The staff said they age it with kelp to bring out the savory flavor and take away any fishy smell, and when I dipped the white fish in soy sauce first, it melted in my mouth. My friend and I both said the same first thing: "Wow, this is really chewy and delicious."

I had a beer, but one beer was far too little. Namhae Mulgogi sells a wide variety of drinks, so keep that in mind.

The cuttlefish was chewy yet tender, and the sweet shrimp and deokppak shrimp were so sweet!

If you love raw fish, you'll surely be satisfied. I went full sashimi-killer mode that day too. My friend gave up a lot to me, haha.

Futomaki and soy-marinated shrimp sushi

The omakase set also came with futomaki (thick sushi roll) and soy-marinated shrimp sushi. The futomaki was packed with fillings, and each piece was quite big. It was hard to eat in one bite, so we split them, and with so much stuffed inside, it filled me right up. And the soy sauce shrimp sushi, what can I say? Just a delicious combination.

Vongole pasta and yuringi (fried chicken in soy-vinegar sauce)

Vongole pasta and yuringi (fried chicken with a tangy soy-vinegar sauce) followed, and it felt like we'd moved to a different restaurant for round two!

The vongole pasta noodles were chewy and satisfying to bite into, and the yuringi was clean-tasting, with a sauce that wasn't too salty and a crispy coating.

Grilled fish

I liked that the grilled fish came out warm. The seasoning was just right, it tasted clean, and the flesh was thick, so I enjoyed it a lot.

Shabu-shabu hot pot to finish, with extra udon

The last hot pot of the Namhae Mulgogi omakase was shabu-shabu, and the broth was rich, like a real health boost. Eating it with fish cake skewers and meat left me full and warm, which I loved.

We added udon noodles too, and the chewy noodles were very good.

Is Namhae Mulgogi Anyang good for day drinking and group dinners?

Overall, I could feel the care in every dish at Namhae Mulgogi Anyang, and the course was substantial, so I was very satisfied. It's great for a lunchtime drink, and with the variety of alcohol, it seemed like a nice place to enjoy an evening with some atmosphere.

So I'd recommend Namhae Mulgogi as a sashimi restaurant near Beomgye Station, and I thought it works well as a Beomgye spot for gatherings with friends or group dinners. On days you just want a casual drink, it would fit as a Beomgye pub too.

By the way, they say you get salt gimbap if you write a Naver receipt review, so you may want to grab that too. Next time I'd like to come back at night and take my time enjoying it with drinks.