Cheonan fish grill in Baekseok-dong: wasabi soy hairtail and mackerel

Today I'm sharing an honest review of a famous grilled fish restaurant in Baekseok-dong, Cheonan, where everyone from kids to grandparents can enjoy a satisfying meal — Hwadeuro-ganggodeungeo Cheonan Main Branch. This place grills fresh fish at high heat in a hwadeok (wood-fired oven), delivering that crisp-outside, moist-inside perfection. Let me walk you through it!

What is Hwadeuro-ganggodeungeo Cheonan Main Branch like inside? A wide hall and an open wood-fired oven

Hwadeuro-ganggodeungeo Cheonan Main Branch sits on Handeul 2-ro in Baekseok-dong. Walking in, the first thing you notice is the wide-open floor plan and generous spacing between tables. The overall interior is clean and comfortable, so you feel relaxed the whole time you're there.

Especially on weekends and at mealtimes, there were plenty of family tables, including quite a few with three generations sitting together. Since the menu and space suit everyone from kids to grandparents, it really struck me as an ideal spot for a family meal out.

By the open kitchen there's a massive wood-fired oven, and you can watch the staff grill the fish the moment it's ordered — which only added to the sense of trust in the food.

Banchan and self-bar at Hwadeuro-ganggodeungeo: japchae, lotus root salad and bibimbap greens

Hwadeuro-ganggodeungeo Cheonan Main Branch is also well known for banchan on par with a hanjeongsik restaurant, not just the grilled fish itself. The basic spread fills the table with neat, flavorful dishes like japchae, lotus root salad, doraji namul, crunchy pickled radish, and kkakdugi.

You can refill any banchan you like at the self-bar on the side of the restaurant. The real highlight of this self-bar, though, is the bibimbap fixings!

There's a fresh selection of namul, so you can pile rice and greens into a big bowl and mix up your own bibimbap. On top of that, there's tteokbokki, which everyone loves, and comforting nurungji, rounding out the meal nicely.

How do the grilled Spanish mackerel and hairtail taste? Crisp outside, moist inside, fat rendered off

Finally, our main order arrived — the grilled Spanish mackerel and grilled hairtail. As you can see from the photos, these are huge portions, grilled at high heat in the wood-fired oven so all the excess oil is gone, leaving only clean, savory flavor.

Pulling the flesh apart with the tongs, you can see thick, white fillets packed with juicy moisture, just like in the photos.

Grilled Spanish mackerel with wasabi soy sauce

The skin is crisp and savory from the oven, and the thick flesh underneath is tender, never dry. It's clean-tasting yet deeply flavorful — dip it in the wasabi soy sauce and you'll let out an involuntary sigh of satisfaction.

Grilled hairtail, boneless and tender

Beneath the shimmering silver skin, the moist, tender flesh bursts with hairtail's signature umami. Pick out the big bones and pile a chunky piece over a bowl of white rice, and it's basically rice-thief material.

Thanks to the oven's powerful heat, there's no fishy smell at all — just the fish's natural savory flavor and rich texture, maximized from first bite to last.

Where is Hwadeuro-ganggodeungeo Cheonan Main Branch in Baekseok-dong?

Hwadeuro-ganggodeungeo Cheonan Main Branch is located at 46-5 Handeul 2-ro, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do. If you want a healthy, delicious meal for the whole family in a spacious, comfortable setting, be sure to check out this Baekseok-dong, Cheonan favorite!