Yeonsu-dong sashimi restaurant: live octopus and spoon worm lunch set

I now have a go-to place whenever I want proper sashimi in Incheon. A friend recommended this well-put-together, great-value sashimi restaurant in Yeonsu-dong, and I went without hesitation. It turned out to be even better than expected, so here's my write-up.

Where is Veteran General Fish Market Incheon Yeonsu Branch, and where do you park?

Veteran General Fish Market Incheon Yeonsu Branch sits on the 3rd floor of Yeonsu Plaza, inside the CGV building, so it's very easy to find. If you're taking public transit, it's just 109 meters from Yeonsu Station exit 4 — about 3 minutes on foot, excellent access.

Veteran General Fish Market Incheon Yeonsu Branch 3F, 202-1, Yeonsu Plaza, 106 Beotkkotro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, South Korea Daily 11:00–23:00

No worries if you're driving either — there's ample parking from basement level 1 to 3, and you get a generous 3 hours free, so you can enjoy your meal at a relaxed pace.

Inside the restaurant: private rooms and seating

My first impression walking in was 'wow, this is really spacious and clean.' I understand this Yeonsu branch is the largest among the various Veteran General Fish Market locations, and seeing it in person, the open, airy feel was striking. There are well-appointed private rooms, perfect for family gatherings, company dinners, or any kind of event. The regular seating is also generously spaced and varied, so you never feel cramped, and best of all, the open kitchen lets you see everything at a glance — very reassuring hygiene-wise.

Menu lineup and what's at the self-bar

One of this place's biggest draws is the wide, great-value menu. The lunch menus in particular are famous for being so packed with food that many regulars come specifically for them, and you can order them any day, weekday or weekend. Looking at the menu board, the categories were split into live fish sashimi, mixed sashimi, set menus, seafood, sushi, fried food, king prawns, blue crab, cold raw fish soup (mulhoe), rice and stew dishes, and various sides — an overwhelming amount of variety. With such a broad range, it's the kind of place that can satisfy any group with differing tastes, making it a great pick for gatherings.

The self-bar tucked in one corner adds a small extra joy. Kimchi pancake batter is neatly set out so you can fry up as much as you like yourself, and fresh vegetables and salad are there for the taking without any hesitation.

What comes with the lunch special sashimi set (Mi)?

This time we ordered the lunch special sashimi set (small) and a mixed seafood platter.

The lunch special sashimi set (small) arrived first — sashimi, sushi, fried food, spicy fish stew (maeuntang), egg rice (albap), and basic side dishes all served together, and my jaw dropped just looking at the table. It was so generously loaded that the table practically groaned, and I instantly understood why it's so popular.

You could see the freshness of the sashimi just by looking at it, and one bite revealed a chewy texture and rich umami flavor that filled my mouth the more I chewed. It was also plated neatly and elegantly, adding visual pleasure to the meal.

The side dishes of spicy raw fish salad (hoemuchim) and salad that came with it were crisp and fresh, refreshing the palate between bites, and the seaweed soup (miyeokguk) was loaded with dried pollock, giving it a clean, savory broth. The crispy fried food, the pleasantly popping texture of the egg rice, and the umami boost from the pollock roe all came together perfectly. The maeuntang that closed out the meal had a deep, spicy, tangy broth so good that even though I was already full, I finished it without leaving a single drop.

What's on the mixed seafood platter?

The mixed seafood platter that came out next was served on an enormous plate that drew another gasp. It was like a full gift set of seafood — live octopus, shrimp, sea cucumber, sea squirt, spoon worm (gaebul), abalone, whelk, and scallop.

From the lively wriggling of the live octopus to the crunchy freshness of the abalone and sea cucumber, the bitter oceanic tang of the sea squirt, and the sweet chewiness of the spoon worm and whelk — nothing was lacking. Just tasting a single piece of any of it was enough to tell how top-quality and fresh the ingredients were.

Kimchi pancakes and dessert to finish

To wrap up the meal, we fried up a golden kimchi pancake at the self-bar for a savory finish, and topped it off with the cool ice cream and warm coffee available for dessert — the perfect way to cleanse the palate.

Generous portions, top-quality freshness, and friendly service — Veteran General Fish Market Incheon Yeonsu Branch, my favorite sashimi restaurant in Yeonsu-dong, delivered on every front. I'd strongly recommend it to anyone who wants proper sashimi and seafood at a great price — this is the sashimi restaurant in Yeonsu-dong I'll think of first whenever I'm craving fresh sashimi.