Eel-kimchi sushi and mentaiko hitsumabushi in Gijang, Busan: Yangsando

Went to Yangsando in Gijang to try the grilled eel rice bowl, hitsumabushi! The eel was so chewy and soft, it was amazing 😋

Parking and first impressions at Yangsando Gijang Yeonhwa Branch

Yangsando Gijang Yeonhwa Branch has a large parking lot, so it was easy to visit by car. When I come to Gijang, I always end up looking for restaurants with plenty of space and a relaxed atmosphere.

From the parking lot alone, the building was big and the garden was nicely landscaped, so even before going inside, it already felt like a proper Gijang outing. This kind of atmosphere is exactly why I come to Gijang haha.

Private seats and garden-view windows at Yangsando

Walking inside, there was a long hallway with private-feeling seats. Most tables had walls on the sides, so you didn't end up making eye contact with other tables much.

Best of all, the window facing the garden showed a lush green view, which I loved.

There were also separate large tables, which looked good for family gatherings or group meals.

Mentaiko hitsumabushi: how was the eel texture?

I ordered the mentaiko hitsumabushi. What's fun about hitsumabushi is that there are several ways to eat it, so one dish lets you enjoy a variety of flavors. Since this one included mentaiko, I was curious and picked it.

The food came out neatly as a full set like this. I tried the eel first — it was really soft with a faint charcoal-grilled aroma, and the outside was chewy, giving it a great texture haha.

What I especially liked was that the eel wasn't just mushy — the outside was chewy while the inside stayed soft. When I eat eel rice bowls I tend to care a lot about the eel's texture, and this was satisfying.

The mentaiko wasn't so salty that it overpowered the eel — it had a subtle mentaiko flavor. Eating it together with the eel, the seasoning wasn't too strong, which I liked. There wasn't much lingering aftertaste either, so it felt clean to eat.

Buckwheat noodles, steamed egg, and the ochazuke finish

In between, I ate the buckwheat noodles and kimchi together, and also tried the steamed egg. Eating eel alone the whole time can feel a bit heavy, but having sides made it easy to switch up the flavors along the way.

True to hitsumabushi style, I finished with ochazuke (rice in savory broth). Pouring the warm broth over it gave a completely different feeling from eating it as plain eel rice at first. Being able to eat one dish in several ways made for a leisurely meal.

Adding salmon sushi and eel-and-aged-kimchi sushi

Since I love salmon, I also ordered salmon sushi and eel-aged kimchi sushi as extras. The salmon was tasty of course, but since it's an eel restaurant after all, the eel-aged kimchi sushi was especially to my liking. The combination of eel and aged kimchi worked really well together — I'd recommend ordering it as a side.

Who should eat at Yangsando in Gijang, Busan?

What I liked most about Yangsando was that it's not the kind of place where you eat and leave right away — the atmosphere is good for lingering. The garden is spacious, and walking a bit further you can even see the sea, so it was great for sightseeing around Gijang after the meal too. The seats are fairly private, so it seems good for both dates and family visits.

Personally, I've also tried a hitsumabushi place that's famous in Busan, but subjectively, I liked the chewy eel texture here even better haha. If you like eel rice bowls, I think it's worth a visit.

• Anyone looking for a restaurant with a great atmosphere in Gijang
• Anyone who likes eel rice bowl hitsumabushi
• Anyone who likes chewy, soft eel
• Anyone who wants to eat in private seating
• Anyone looking for a family gathering or date spot
• Anyone who wants a leisurely meal with sea and garden views

I'd recommend Yangsando in Gijang to anyone like this! 😊