Grilled fish with a pork cutlet self-bar in Daejeon: Hwadeogeuro Gan

This time I visited Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo Sintanjin Branch. I was craving grilled fish in Sintanjin, and since this place is newly opened, the store was clean and the parking space was wide. I ordered Yeonggwang gulbi (dried yellow croaker) and mackerel, and the self-bar was so packed with food that I left feeling really full.

• 📍 Location: 396-3 Sangseo-dong, Daedeok-gu, Daejeon
• ⏰ Hours: 10:00 - 21:00
• 🅿️ Dedicated parking lot in front of the store

Parking at Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo Sintanjin Branch: a private lot out front

Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo Sintanjin Branch has a wide dedicated parking lot right in front of the store. I photographed the exterior first, and since it's a newly opened spot, everything looked clean overall.

It was convenient to drive over, so anyone looking for good food in Sintanjin might want to keep this in mind. Not having to worry about parking was a real plus too.

Inside the restaurant: a wide, spotless dining room

Walking in, the store was much bigger than I expected. Since it's newly opened, the interior was clean and the tables had plenty of space between them.

It looked like a good place to come with family, and the overall vibe was bright and pleasant. If you want to eat grilled fish in a clean setting, this is worth checking out as a Sintanjin grilled fish restaurant.

What's on the self-bar? Bibimbap namul, pork cutlet and tteokbokki

One of the things I liked about Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo Sintanjin Branch was the self-bar. There's a separate bibimbap corner, and a wide variety of namul (seasoned vegetable) side dishes were prepped there too.

It was nice not just eating grilled fish but pairing rice with all sorts of extras. The self-bar spread felt richer than expected, which also makes this a good pick for anyone looking for a Korean restaurant in Sintanjin.

The self-bar had pork cutlet and tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) on top of the namul and side dishes. Being able to eat these along with grilled fish makes this a fine spot to visit with kids too. The variety you get for the price felt like solid value.

Getting to watch the fish being grilled in person made me even more excited. Cooked in the clay oven, the outside came out looking delicious and the inside stayed moist. Given that clay-oven grilled fish is the main draw here, the name Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo ("mackerel gone to the clay oven") really fits.

Ordering at the table kiosk: Yeonggwang gulbi and mackerel

Menu items could be conveniently ordered from the kiosk at the table. Several grilled fish options were available, from mackerel to gulbi, and you just pick what you want. We ordered the Yeonggwang gulbi and the mackerel.

• Yeonggwang gulbi
• Mackerel

After ordering, the basic table setting arrived neatly laid out. There were side dishes that paired well with the grilled fish, so it was nice to try them one by one. Being able to grab more side dishes from the self-bar as needed was also convenient. Overall the food lineup felt substantial, and it seemed like a fine spot to come eat in Sintanjin.

I brought over bibimbap ingredients, japchae, and pork cutlet from the self-bar. There were so many kinds of namul that I could mix them into rice however I liked, and adding japchae made the meal feel quite hearty. With pork cutlet and tteokbokki too, I got to enjoy a lot more variety than if I'd just eaten the grilled fish alone. This kind of spread makes it a good choice for anyone hunting for a Korean restaurant in Sintanjin.

How did the Yeonggwang gulbi and grilled mackerel taste?

Finally, the Yeonggwang gulbi and mackerel I ordered arrived. Laid out together, the spread looked more generous than expected. Grilled fish is best eaten hot, after all. With rice and side dishes set out together, it felt like a proper full meal.

I tried the Yeonggwang gulbi first — the flesh was nice and thick, so it went well with rice. The salty flavor paired nicely with the rice and was mild enough to enjoy plainly too. Eating it with the namul from the self-bar felt like a proper Korean full-table meal. Personally, I'd say this kind of spread is a solid option if you're after grilled fish in Sintanjin.

The mackerel was quite plump too. Grilled in the clay oven, the skin came out nicely browned while the flesh stayed moist — really tasty. The fish itself was good, but being able to pair it with self-bar dishes made the whole meal feel like great value. What I especially liked about Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo was being able to enjoy grilled fish alongside such a variety of side dishes.

Final take: who should eat at Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo?

Overall, the store was spacious and clean, plus parking was easy, making it a good pick for a family meal out. Above all, beyond the grilled fish, the self-bar had bibimbap ingredients, various side dishes, pork cutlet, and tteokbokki, so we ate more than enough.

Both the Yeonggwang gulbi and mackerel were delicious, and the spread felt worth the price, so if you're looking for a good restaurant in Sintanjin, this is worth a visit. It would especially suit people who love clay-oven grilled fish or want a filling meal with lots of side dishes. Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo has a clean store, spacious parking, and a well-stocked self-bar, so I'll likely stop by again next time I'm craving grilled fish.