Cheonan sashimi restaurant, stew too big for fried rice: Donghae Bada

You know those days when you're just craving sashimi? Something fresh, in a nice big slice. I was meeting a friend in Dujeong-dong and it happened to be exactly that kind of day, so Donghae Bada Hoetjip (동해바다횟집) was the obvious pick. The sign said it specializes in direct-from-port seafood, which somehow made me trust it right away haha.

Where is Donghae Bada Hoetjip, and its hours and parking

Donghae Bada Hoetjip is at 충남 천안시 서북구 늘푸른6길 5-11 1층. It's open 11:30–22:00, and parking is available in the lot right in front of the building. Reservations and takeout are both possible.

• Address: 충남 천안시 서북구 늘푸른6길 5-11 1층
• Hours: 11:30 – 22:00
• Parking: available in front of the building / reservations available / takeout available

Pricing was based on the sashimi platter + seafood stew set for two, and given what we got, the value felt pretty fair.

Inside Donghae Bada Hoetjip: partitioned tables and a private room

Inside, Donghae Bada Hoetjip has plenty of table seating, lightly divided by partitions. There's also a separate private room, which looked great for group dinners or family gatherings.

The blue sign catches your eye from the building exterior right away. It's got "seafood stew, seafood jjim, angler fish stew" in big letters, the kind of place you'd notice just walking by.

Once you step inside, the space is pretty spacious. Tables are generously arranged and lightly separated by partitions, so you don't have to worry much about the next table over.

The brick walls and soft lighting made for a decent atmosphere too.

There's a separate private room too, which seemed perfect for group dinners or family gatherings. Parking is right in front of the restaurant, so it's easy to get to!

What comes with the 110,000 won sashimi and seafood stew set for two

We ordered Donghae Bada Hoetjip's sashimi platter + seafood stew set for two, ₩110,000. Before the mains arrive, a full spread of side dishes gets laid out first — and it's more substantial than you'd expect.

We went with the sashimi platter + seafood stew set for two (110,000 won)!

Warm seaweed soup, nicely browned grilled fish, pajeon (scallion pancake), coleslaw, and braised silkworm pupae — the table was already filling up haha.

The pajeon was crispy outside and moist inside. That nutty pancake smell drifted up and my hand reached for it before I even thought about it. The grilled fish had skin browned just right too — looked good enough to eat whole, no rice needed.

How was the tuna, flounder and amberjack sashimi trio?

Donghae Bada Hoetjip's sashimi platter comes out on a wooden tray divided into sections. Pink tuna, translucent flounder, and slightly pink-toned amberjack — the color contrast alone made it a fun plate to look at.

The sashimi platter came out right at the start. You can't visit a sashimi restaurant in Dujeong-dong and skip this. Pick up a piece and the thickness really shows — a completely different chew from places that slice it thin.

The tuna melts softly, the flounder is chewy with a clean flavor still intact, and the amberjack has a slightly nutty, oily richness.

A touch of wasabi really brings out that distinct sashimi aroma, and wrapping a piece in seaweed gives a completely different flavor. "Is this real?" I actually said out loud. Every piece tasted different, so it was fun picking through them.

The spicy seafood stew — and the fried rice we never ordered

Donghae Bada Hoetjip's seafood stew arrives on a huge plate piled high with octopus, shrimp, crab, and mussels. The sashimi alone felt like it could fill us up, and then the stew showed up too — the table was completely packed.

The moment it landed, the vivid red sauce grabbed my eyes first, and the smell followed right after haha. Lifting a piece of octopus with the tongs, it stretched on and on — the portion was no joke. The spicy sauce had soaked well into the seafood, so the shrimp, crab, and mussels were all great eaten right along with the sauce.

Going from the clean flavor of the sashimi to a spicy bite of the stew — the combination worked way better than expected. We kept alternating so neither dish got old, and before we knew it, the whole thing was gone. The seafood was so fresh and generous, and the spicy sauce tied it all together so well that the portion for two ended up being huge — we should have ordered the fried rice but just couldn't fit it in. Way too much food. Next time, fried rice for sure!!

Final verdict on Donghae Bada Hoetjip

Between the banchan spread, the sashimi platter, and the seafood stew, you leave with a proper full table — and the price felt justified for what you get. If you love seafood, this deserves a spot on your list when you're looking for sashimi restaurants in Dujeong-dong.

If you're stuck deciding on a group dinner spot in Dujeong-dong, Cheonan, the private room and on-site parking make it an easy pick for bringing a crowd. Solid recommendation for a family meal out too :)