Pohang mulhoe restaurant with the 4-step eating method: Ppwang Mulhoe

I got to enjoy a lovely sea breeze while driving out to Ppwang Mulhoe, a Yeongildae mulhoe spot that's earned a strong word-of-mouth reputation among both locals and travelers for its unbeatable value and freshness. Among Pohang's countless raw fish restaurants, this one stood out for letting you taste both chewy live squid and nutty flounder in one half-and-half mulhoe, all year round, plus a self-bar that rivals a proper Korean buffet and a refreshing squid radish soup. Honestly, I was impressed the whole meal through.

Where is Ppwang Mulhoe, and where do you park?

Sitting right in the heart of Pohang's Seolmeori Mulhoe district, Ppwang Mulhoe is directly across the coastal road from Yeongildae Beach, so it has both a great ocean view and easy access. Cross the road out front and you're straight onto a romantic beachside walking path, which makes it easy to pair the meal with a stroll along Yeongildae's coastline before or after eating.

• ✔️ Address — 203-1 Haean-ro, 1F, Buk-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongbuk, South Korea
• ✔️ Hours — Sunday–Thursday 10:30–22:00 (last order 21:00), Friday–Saturday 10:30–23:00 (last order 22:00)
• ✔️ Parking — private lot in front (about 6–8 spots); when full, the free public parking lot at Yeongildae Beach opposite is 1 minute on foot

As soon as I arrived, the white-toned building glowing under soft night lighting caught my eye, along with a bright pink sign featuring a cute squid character and a dynamic LED display visible from far away.

Outdoor terrace, private rooms and a pet-friendly space

The outdoor terrace had a stylish red spiral staircase alongside neatly arranged red outdoor tables. On a cool-weather evening, sitting out here with the breezy Yeongildae night air and an ocean view would be really atmospheric.

Stepping into the lobby, I noticed cute pink baby chairs, perfectly matched to the store's concept, thoughtfully set up for families with young kids.

The seating was spaced generously with an open, airy layout, and there were even fully separated private group rooms and a dedicated pet-friendly space inside — making this a solid choice for a family meal or a date with a loved one.

Tablet ordering: squid mulhoe, the 3-Combo and sea squirt

Once you sit down, a smart touchscreen tablet at each table lets you browse menu photos and prices and order comfortably. We ordered squid mulhoe along with the Ppwang Mulhoe 3-Combo — which lets you enjoy squid, flounder, and seasonal fish all at once — plus fresh mengge (sea squirt).

What's on the unlimited self-bar at Ppwang Mulhoe?

After ordering, we headed to the unlimited self-bar in the center of the restaurant, one of Ppwang Mulhoe's biggest draws.

The neatly maintained multi-tier refrigerated case was stocked with over 10 Korean side dishes — freshly tossed crunchy geotjeori kimchi, japchae, fresh salad, seasoned tofu, stir-fried zucchini, stir-fried seaweed stem, stir-fried anchovies with green pepper, sausage and vegetable stir-fry, and more.

At the warming station, crispy fried chicken nuggets that kids love and spicy-sweet milk tteok-bokki, reminiscent of after-school snack bars, were steaming away.

The squid radish soup, ladled out from a valve on a large thermal container, wasn't just broth for show — it was packed with plump squid legs and body plus crunchy bean sprouts. One spoonful in, I was blown away by how spicy yet deep and refreshing it tasted.

With a neatly portioned plate of side dishes, tteok-bokki, and freely refillable noodles all set beside us, the table looked like a full feast before the main dish had even arrived.

On the table, wet wipes and Ppwang Mulhoe's own hoe-chojang (vinegared chili sauce) dispenser were conveniently set out.

The sea squirt and squid mulhoe arrive

Finally, the fresh mengge we'd been waiting for and a generously piled brass bowl of squid mulhoe appeared on the table.

The mengge glistened a vivid orange and had zero fishy taste, delivering a deep sea aroma and sweetness with every bite.

Dipped generously in tangy chojang (vinegared gochujang), the chewy yet slightly bitter flavor instantly perked up my appetite.

What's in the Ppwang Mulhoe 3-Combo?

Neatly presented in a golden brass bowl, the Ppwang Mulhoe 3-Combo was visually stunning from the first look.

Thin, translucent slices of same-day-catch live squid sashimi and firm, mild flounder sashimi sat side by side in generous portions, surrounded by finely julienned cucumber, cool pear, fragrant chives, seaweed flakes, minced garlic, and the restaurant's secret gochujang seasoning, all in a perfect ratio.

How to eat Pohang mulhoe in 4 steps

Here, following the guided 4-step eating method in order doubles the depth of flavor.

Step 1 · Mix it like hoe-muchim

The first step is to skip the broth entirely and lightly toss the basic seasoning, vegetables, and raw fish together with chopsticks, like a hoe-muchim (mixed raw fish salad). The chewy bounce of the squid, the nutty texture of the flounder, and the crisp sweetness of the pear came together for a deeply savory bite.

Step 2 · Pour in the icy broth

The second step is pouring in a generous amount of the finely iced, red special broth from its own pitcher. As the ice melts, a light, watery broth forms — and one spoonful had a refreshing, tangy-sweet chill that wasn't overly sharp but woke you up from head to toe. It was genuinely excellent.

If you like a bit of a kick, adding a bit of the minced hot chili pepper from the self-bar gives it a cleaner, spicier edge.

Step 3 · Add the somyeon noodles

The third step is stirring in soft thin noodles from the self-bar into the cold broth.

Meeting the icy broth made the noodles even springier, and the tangy, spicy broth soaked into every strand for a really appealing flavor.

Step 4 · Finish Pohang-style with rice

The final, fourth step is the traditional Pohang finish — tipping a bowl of fluffy warm white rice into the mulhoe broth.

As the warm rice grains mixed into the icy broth, coating each grain, the rice's savory sweetness balanced perfectly with the tangy-sweet broth, wrapping up the meal in a satisfyingly filling way.

Is Ppwang Mulhoe worth a visit in Pohang?

Ppwang Mulhoe near Yeongildae Beach delivered both fresh, high-quality mulhoe — where you can enjoy squid and flounder together to your taste — and a well-stocked, Korean-buffet-level unlimited self-bar, fully satisfying on both flavor and volume.

With a sweeping view of the East Sea, plus private rooms, a pet-friendly area, and plenty of baby chairs, this place works just as well for a romantic date as it does for a family meal with parents. If you're planning a trip to Yeongildae in Pohang or want to try a proper mulhoe spread, I'd recommend stopping by Ppwang Mulhoe without hesitation!