Wood-fired mackerel and marinated crab set for two, Uiwang restaurant

The weather cooled off, so we headed out toward Baegun Lake for some fresh air. I've been noticing a lot of wood-fired fish grill places lately. Fish is always a hassle to grill at home because of the smell, so when I want fish, eating it out means no worrying about the smell afterward. That's why we went to Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo Baegun Lake Branch for some wood-fired grilled fish.

Hours, parking, and main menu

• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:00, last order at 20:20 (break time 15:00–17:00, none on weekends)
• Parking: Large lot right in front of the restaurant
• Main menu: grilled fish, marinated crab, gorgonzola pizza, seasoned raw squid, tteokgalbi — each set comes with a rice pot or steamed rice

The hanok exterior by Baegun Lake, and the parking lot

It's an elegant, old-fashioned hanok (traditional Korean house) restaurant. The older I get, the more I love this kind of hanok. Against the blue sky and green trees in the background, the exterior looks like a painting.

The parking lot is so spacious you won't have to worry about parking at all. We went on a Friday afternoon around 2pm so it was even quieter, but the lot is generously sized in general. It's nice that just a short drive outside the city center gets you a restaurant with plenty of parking.

That day, the clear blue sky and white clouds went perfectly with the beautiful hanok — like a scene straight out of a painting. If you sit on the wooden bench out front for photos, it's a great photo spot.

The ink-wash mackerel painting and calligraphy sign at the entrance are stylish too.

A restroom that looks like a gallery

This gallery-like space is actually the restroom. You'd never guess it belongs to a grilled fish restaurant. Grilled fish places tend to have an image of being old and a bit fishy-smelling, but this interior shatters that assumption and leaves a great impression.

The restroom is spotlessly clean inside too. With multiple diffusers and solid deodorizers, they've really nailed the scent. Even the restroom gets a 💯.

The traditional Korean patterns on the entrance ceiling add to the old-fashioned atmosphere.

What are the room seating and overall vibe like?

The space is extremely clean and spacious. There are plenty of large rooms, perfect for family gatherings, company dinners, or any group meal. It also looks great for a quiet conversation. Every room has large windows, giving it an open feel and a good view.

Every space is very roomy. There are plenty of tables, spaced far apart, so it's a good place for a quiet meal. The clean atmosphere is a plus too.

Surrounded by nature on all sides, the view through the big windows was really pretty. It's a great spot for a quiet meal surrounded by greenery.

We took a seat by the window inside. Outside, a small garden with traditional earthenware jars and green trees added a fresh touch.

Fish grilled over a wood fire — how good could that be? They seem to use good rice too. When we tried the rice pot, the rice was glossy and chewy.

The exposed roof beams and lighting are stylish too.

At the self-serve bar, there were various unlimited-refill side dishes ready to go.

Menu and the basic table setting

Here's the basic table setting — neatly plated side dishes in tidy bowls. The napa cabbage doenjang (soybean paste) soup was clean-tasting, and every side dish was delicious.

Since both of us ordered the rice pot sets, we were each served a basic rice pot.

Wood-fired mackerel rice pot set, ₩21,000

My husband ordered the mackerel set. The flesh was plump, grilled to a golden brown in the wood-fired oven — it looked delicious and tasted nutty and savory. My husband, who loves fish, really enjoyed it. We don't grill fish much at home because of the smell, so we make up for it by eating it out.

Look at how plump that flesh is! If you love mackerel, you're definitely going to like this.

West Sea marinated crab rice pot set, ₩23,000

My beloved marinated crab 🦀 Just look at that gorgeous color and form. Looking at the photo again is making me hungry. It's genuinely delicious. 👍

Put on gloves, squeeze firmly, and the sweet flesh pops right out~ And the sauce is so good too. The crab looked fresh as well. I demolished the whole thing by myself. Crab shells take up more than half the volume, so it's not exactly a huge portion, but I was so absorbed in eating that my rice pot and scorched rice tea (sungnyung) both disappeared. A true rice thief! 🤣

I think it's blue crab caught in the West Sea. Sweet, meaty, and with a savory sauce to match — this place is the real deal. It's known for grilled fish, but it's also a marinated crab spot. If you love marinated crab, you have to try this.

Who should visit?

Delicious mackerel and marinated crab in a beautiful hanok restaurant! It's a great place to bring your parents for the upcoming Chuseok holiday. Great atmosphere, great food, and great scenery around Baegun Lake in Uiwang — come to Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo Baegun Lake Branch! I'd recommend it as a spot that hits parents' taste exactly right. 🤗 🦈🐟🐠🦀🦑