Daejeon fish restaurant with kids, holiday wait: Hwadeogeuro Gan

Today I'm introducing a grilled mackerel restaurant in Sintanjin, Daejeon! And it's a brand new spot too! Frying fish at home is tricky because of the smell, right? I really wanted grilled fish with a crispy outside and juicy inside for once, so I visited Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo (화덕으로간고등어, "Mackerel Gone to the Clay Oven") Sintanjin Branch. Here's my detailed review.

Where is Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo Sintanjin Branch, and when is it open?

• 🏘️ Business: Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo Sintanjin Branch
• 🔖 Address: 490 Sintanjin-ro, Daedeok-gu, Daejeon, South Korea
• ⏰ Hours: Daily 10:00–21:30 / weekday break time 15:30–17:00 / last order 20:50
• 🚘 Parking: Free at the dedicated lot in front of the restaurant
• 👶🏻 Baby chair: Available

Even from outside, the place felt pretty spacious and clean! We could park right in front and walk straight in, which was convenient for visiting with kids.

How long is the holiday wait at the Sintanjin branch?

The interior of Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo Sintanjin Branch is spacious too, with generous space between tables, so it's a good atmosphere for a family meal or dining with parents. We visited over a holiday and it was reeeally crowded! Since it just opened, you'll need to accept some waiting on the Table-ing app, but it's worth the wait.

What's on the salad bar and bibimbap corner for kids?

What I especially liked at Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo Sintanjin Branch was the freely-usable salad bar and bibimbap corner! Along with kid favorites like tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), pork cutlet, and japchae (glass noodle stir-fry), you can help yourself to fresh vegetables and a variety of side dishes, and even build your own bibimbap (mixed rice bowl) with whatever ingredients you like — it made the meal feel so much more generous.

Grilled mackerel alone is already delicious, but adding bibimbap makes it a proper full spread! If you love vegetables or want to eat heartily, you'll be even more satisfied. Nice colors too, right? ☺️

The side dishes are so varied and generous! The doenjang chili pepper relish wasn't cut up, so it stayed extra crunchy, and you really have to try the chonggak kimchi (whole radish kimchi) — haha, it's the best kimchi I've had in a while 🫶🏻 The kids devoured the stir-fried potato strips and lotus root salad too! And all of these self-bar dishes are unlimited haha. Plus the rice is unlimited, and even the nurungji (scorched rice) is unlimited!

Braised mackerel with bracken fern and the clay-oven hairtail set

Since we had kids with us, we ordered the grilled hairtail set, and for the grown-ups' taste buds we also tried the braised mackerel with bracken fern.

The mackerel was braised so thoroughly it fell apart at the slightest touch. Mixing it with the radish braise and bracken fern into rice is pure bliss.

I loved that you could choose brown or white rice with the grilled fish set, and the moment it arrived, the savory aroma of the hairtail really hit. Grilled in a high-temperature clay oven, the skin stayed crispy while the flesh inside was moist, not dry at all. Even a light touch with chopsticks flaked off big, plump chunks of fish, and the seasoning was just salty enough that the kids' bowls of rice disappeared in no time.

Why Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo works for a family meal in Sintanjin

This is a great place to visit when you want a proper, easy-on-the-stomach meal instead of something too strong or spicy. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants grilled fish but doesn't want the hassle of grilling at home, or anyone looking for a good restaurant in Sintanjin to bring their parents to. Next time I want to try their other clay-oven grilled fish — they have imyeonsu (atka mackerel), mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and more 🙌

With the main grilled fish plus salad, side dishes, and bibimbap all together, it felt so much more filling and satisfying than just a plate of grilled fish. If you love a variety of side dishes or a generous full spread, the salad bar and bibimbap corner alone will make you happy! Highly, highly recommend.