Gwangalli waterside Korean restaurant, banchan bar: Hwadeogeuro

A wood-fired grilled fish spread at Gwangalli Waterside Park

I was craving clean, comforting Korean food near Gwangalli Waterside Park, so I went to Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo Gwangalli Waterside Park Branch. It turned into a wood-fired fish grill feast with a view of Gwangan Bridge.

When you think of Gwangalli, raw fish, meat, or brunch spots usually come to mind first, but sometimes you just want a proper, easy-on-the-stomach meal, right?

Grilling fish at home always makes the whole place smell and the cleanup is such a hassle, so honestly I enjoy it more when I eat it out. This place specializes in fish grilled directly over a wood fire, so I went in with high expectations.

🌊 Where is Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo on the Gwangalli waterfront?

Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo Gwangalli Waterside Park Branch has a really great location. It's on the 2nd floor of 147 Millak Suybeon-ro in Suyeong-gu, Busan, making it easy to combine with a walk around Gwangalli Waterside Park.

You can take a stroll along the Gwangalli seafront before or after eating, and being able to look out at Gwangan Bridge and the sea was one of this place's biggest draws. It felt like a good fit not just for tourists but also for anyone looking for a waterside park restaurant to dine at with their parents.

🐟 What is in the 16,000-won wood-fired mackerel set?

Since the mackerel (godeungeo) is right there in the restaurant's name, of course the wood-fired grilled mackerel was the first thing that caught my eye! Based on the menu as it currently stands, the wood-fired grilled mackerel set meal is listed at ₩16,000.

The mackerel came out beautifully browned, the kind of visual that makes you want to demolish a whole bowl of rice on sight. Unlike mackerel pan-fried on a regular stovetop, being grilled over a wood fire seemed to keep the outside crisp while the inside stayed moist and tender! The mackerel's own savory flavor really came through too.

Grilled fish can sometimes be off-putting because of a fishy taste, but this was clean and mild enough that my chopsticks kept going back for more.

🍚 How the mackerel tastes over a bowl of white rice

Personally, I think grilled fish is best with plain white rice. Flaking off a big chunk of the well-cooked mackerel and laying it over warm rice was delicious even with no other side dishes.

Savory on the outside, moist and tender on the inside, it kept the rice going in nonstop! Adding a little wasabi or pairing it with side dishes brought out a different flavor each time, so the meal never felt repetitive.

🥗 What you can take from the self-serve banchan bar

It wasn't just the grilled fish that was good at Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo — the range of side dishes to go with it was great too. I also liked that there's a self-serve bar where you can grab more of whatever banchan you're low on, to your taste.

A bite of mackerel, a bit of seasoned vegetable side dish, another spoonful of rice — even though I was eating out, it felt as hearty as a home-cooked meal. These days a lot of restaurants just serve a single dish, so getting to eat with a whole spread of side dishes like this felt like a proper full table, and it was very satisfying.

✨ Why Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo suits a meal with parents

The first thing I thought while eating was that this would be a great spot to bring my parents. Grilled fish is easy for anyone, young or old, to enjoy, and eating it with a bunch of side dishes and rice seemed like something older folks would especially love.

Beyond mackerel, you can also find grilled fish set meals with hairtail, atka mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and gulbi (dried yellow croaker), so there's plenty to choose from depending on your taste. It's a great option for a family meal out, a meal with parents, or whenever you're craving Korean food on a Gwangalli date.

💙 Eating with a Gwangan Bridge and sea view

The food was great, but the atmosphere that comes from the Gwangalli location can't be overlooked either. Looking out through the big windows at the sea and Gwangan Bridge while eating warm rice and grilled fish made even an ordinary lunch feel a little special.

If you're near the waterside park craving something clean and Korean instead of raw fish or meat, this is exactly the kind of place that comes to mind.

⭐ Final verdict on this Gwangalli waterside Korean restaurant

• 🐟 Savory grilled fish cooked over a wood fire
• 🍚 A hearty meal when eaten with rice
• 🥗 A wide range of side dishes and a self-serve bar
• 🌊 Views of the Gwangalli sea and Gwangan Bridge
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Recommended for family meals and dining with parents

I went looking for a good restaurant near the waterside park and landed on Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo Gwangalli Waterside Park Branch. The crisp-yet-moist texture of the wood-fired mackerel was great, and being able to pair it with a variety of side dishes made for a really filling meal. Most of all, I loved that you can get such a neat, tidy fish grill spread right here in Gwangalli.

If you're craving easy-on-the-stomach Korean food, want to have a meal with your parents, or just want warm rice with a view of the Gwangalli sea, this is worth a visit. Next time, I'd like to try more of the wood-fired grilled fish besides the mackerel.