Seobuk-gu, Cheonan fish grill: japchae self-serve bar, retro snacks

I wanted a proper, hearty meal with Mom for the first time in a while, so we went to Hwadeuro-ganggodeungeo Cheonan Main Branch (화덕으로간고등어 천안본점), a well-known fish grill in Cheonan! I like fish in general, but Mom really loves grilled fish, so we come here from time to time. They grill the fish in a wood-fired oven, and since it's hard to do grilled fish well at home, we end up coming back whenever the craving hits.

What's the lunchtime atmosphere at Hwadeuro-ganggodeungeo Cheonan?

The hall is spacious and clean, which makes it a good pick for a family meal or for taking your parents out. We arrived around 12:30 and the tables were already almost full.

They had just launched a 10th-anniversary Boyang (stamina) set, so Mom and I came to try it. The first thing you notice when you walk in is how roomy and tidy it is. It's an easy place to bring parents, so the customers were of all ages. Cheonan's fish grill pick really is "Hwagan-go" (the regulars' nickname for the restaurant)!

There are plenty of seats, so it looked fine for group gatherings or company dinners too, and they say over 100 people can eat at once. Tables turn over quickly, so the wait isn't long, but I'd suggest slightly avoiding the lunch peak.

What's at the self-serve bar?

The big plus here is the self-serve bar. Besides the basic side dishes, there's white rice, scorched rice (nurungji), tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), japchae (glass noodle stir-fry) and bibimbap ingredients, so you can help yourself to whatever you like.

Basic side dishes come to the table, so you only fetch more of what you run out of, which keeps you from overeating and wasting food. It's not just grilled fish; it's fun to add this and that like a Korean buffet. Mom went back for japchae several times. The tteokbokki is something kids can eat too, so it's nice if you come with children.

10th-anniversary Boyang set for two: what's in it and the price

We ordered the 10th-anniversary Boyang set for two (₩43,000). The lineup was really generous.

• Domestic sea eel
• Domestic Atka mackerel
• Norwegian mackerel
• Domestic deokja (pomfret), braised

The table full of food looked satisfying from the first glance. Maybe because the fish comes out of the oven, the outside is golden and the inside is moist.

They say Hwadeuro-ganggodeungeo seasons good-quality fish with salt aged for over 10 years (with the brine drained out) and grills it in a 500℃ oven. There's almost no fishy smell, and the flavor stays mild yet nutty.

The best bite: oven-grilled sea eel

What I enjoyed most was the domestic sea eel. Perhaps because it's grilled in the oven, it was chewy outside, tender inside, and clean-tasting. Mom said she couldn't believe eel could be this mild, and she ate it with relish 🙂

How were the Atka mackerel, mackerel and braised pomfret?

The Atka mackerel was soft and moist and went well with rice, and the mackerel was the reliable favorite as always! The salty seasoning had soaked in nicely. The braised deokja pomfret wasn't harshly seasoned, so you could taste the fish itself, and its soft texture seems easy for parents to eat too.

We also wrapped the fish in lettuce. While eating, Mom and I naturally started saying we should come back with the whole family next time. I often struggle to decide where to eat out these days, so it was even nicer to get a healthy meal.

Self-serve bibimbap with brown rice

You can make bibimbap yourself here too. Mix brown rice with gochujang (red chili paste) and perilla oil and it's really good.

The dessert corner and things to look at after the meal

Near the exit of Hwadeuro-ganggodeungeo Cheonan Main Branch there's a dessert corner where you can freely help yourself to old-fashioned Korean snacks, puffed corn snacks, plum tea and coffee. Leaving after a good meal, it was a nice way to finish it off.

One wall displays a feature from the TV program Saengbangsong Today and celebrity autographs. So many people have visited!

Who is Hwadeuro-ganggodeungeo Cheonan recommended for?

If you're craving grilled fish, want a healthy meal with your parents, or are looking for a family dining spot, I recommend Hwadeuro-ganggodeungeo Cheonan Main Branch, a fish grill in Cheonan. It was a day of eating well and happily with Mom, and next time I plan to come back with the whole family.

Fish really is best from an oven rather than grilled at home. If you're thinking of crispy-outside, moist-inside grilled fish, give it a visit. A healthy table is waiting for you :)

• Address: 46-5 Handeul 2-ro, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan (Baekseok-dong 100)
• Parking available
• Hours: daily 11:00–21:30 (last order 20:50)
• Break time: 15:30–16:50, none on weekends