Pohang crab restaurant worth a return after a full house: Yeonggwang

Why I picked Yeonggwang Hoe Daegae Center in Pohang's Jukdo Market

Yeonggwang Hoe Daegae Center (영광회대게센타) was a raw fish and snow crab place inside Jukdo Market where customers never stopped coming and people even waited in line. There was a reason this place was so busy.

You can't visit Pohang without eating snow crab (daegae)! On this trip I walked around Jukdo Market trying to decide where to eat. There are so many restaurants selling raw fish and crab that it wasn't easy to choose, but one place stood out, with customers constantly going in and a waiting line. That was Yeonggwang Hoe Daegae.

📍Parking assistance available

It was full, so I sadly had to leave and came back the next day. Once I actually ate there, I understood right away why it gets so many customers.

Yeonggwang is located inside Jukdo Fish Market and is said to have kept going for 50 years. They run their own distribution network and have long offered good ingredients at reasonable prices, and the claim that most of their customers are regulars didn't feel like empty talk.

On my way out I noticed the owner was someone who appeared on SBS's "Master of Masters" (달인)!!

What does the basic spread of the Red Snow Crab Special for 4 look like?

What I ordered at Yeonggwang Hoe Daegae Center was the Red Snow Crab Special for 4. Before the crab came out, the table was set with raw shrimp sushi, pufferfish skin salad, sea squirt, turban shell and mulhoe (cold raw fish soup).

The spread was already generous before the main food arrived. At crab restaurants the crab is usually the star and the side dishes tend to be simple, but here even the basic setup was very satisfying.

First came the raw shrimp sushi, pufferfish skin salad, sea squirt, turban shell and mulhoe. Tasting the fresh seafood one by one naturally made me even hungrier.

The raw shrimp sushi in particular had that sweetness shrimp is known for, and the sea squirt and turban shell were fresh too, so I could really enjoy the scent of the sea.

The mulhoe was really satisfying as well. The sweet-and-sour, cold broth was perfect for a hot day, and it was packed with fresh raw fish, so the meal started on a great note.

The owner's generosity: free live octopus and sashimi

What made Yeonggwang Hoe Daegae Center even more memorable was the owner's generosity. While I was eating the mulhoe, live octopus (sannakji) came out as a free extra, followed by a small mixed sashimi platter.

Around the time I was eating the mulhoe, the owner suddenly brought over live octopus as a free extra. It was unexpected, so it felt even better, and the way the owner kept looking after us, saying "eat plenty," felt warm.

While I was happily eating the octopus, the small mixed sashimi platter followed. It felt like a sashimi course on top of the crab rather than a crab-only meal, which made it even more satisfying.

Mixed sashimi

The sashimi was cut thick with a great texture, and paired with fresh wasabi, the kind high-end Japanese restaurants use, and a special soy sauce, the savory flavor of the fish really came alive.

How was the red snow crab at Yeonggwang Hoe Daegae Center?

The red snow crab came out just as we were almost done with the sashimi, and when I opened it, it was packed full. The meat was sweet and moist.

When I opened the crab it was truly packed full. The meat was sweet and moist, and I understood why you have to eat crab when you come to Pohang.

Just look how full it is! The meat is sweet, so sweet 😋

Many people think of Yeongdeok crab first, but I hear a considerable share of snow crab is actually caught in Pohang. So enjoying fresh crab on a Pohang trip seems like a good choice.

Finishing with crab shell fried rice and spicy fish stew

After the red snow crab, I finished the meal with Yeonggwang Hoe Daegae Center's crab shell fried rice and spicy fish stew (maeuntang).

The crab shell fried rice had a rich, nutty flavor, and with the savory depth of the crab innards added, I enjoyed it down to the last spoonful. The spicy fish stew was impressive too, with a cool, clean broth that wasn't heavy or muddy.

An owner who remembered me from the day before

The owner of Yeonggwang Hoe Daegae Center remembered me from the previous day, when I had walked past the shop while browsing the market. What stayed with me most was, once again, the owner's kindness.

He greeted me warmly, and thanks to that, the free extras were generous too. The food was excellent, but this warm welcome made the meal even more enjoyable.

Why I recommend Yeonggwang Hoe Daegae Center as a Jukdo Market raw fish restaurant in Pohang

Pohang has plenty of crab restaurants, but if you're looking for a raw fish restaurant in Jukdo Market, I'd recommend Yeonggwang. The generous basic spread, fresh sashimi and crab, free extras and kind owner made it a very satisfying place.

Parking assistance is available too, so those driving to Jukdo Market can eat without worry. If you want proper raw fish and crab on your Pohang trip, give Yeonggwang a visit. It was a satisfying meal where I felt first-hand that a crowd always has a reason.