Saha, Busan Korean restaurant for lotus-leaf rice: Yukganmyeongga

I visited Yukganmyeongga (육간명가) in Saha-gu, Busan. I had a Korean set meal with grilled fish, and it was a great little food find with a well-rounded spread. The restaurant was spacious and had plenty of upscale Korean set menus too, so it looked like a good option when you are considering a restaurant for a formal family meeting.

Yukganmyeongga’s location and parking in Saha-gu

It was located roughly between Sinpyeong Station and Hadan Station on Busan Subway Line 1. The restaurant was on the second floor, while the first floor was dedicated parking, which made it very convenient.

There was space for around 20 cars, so even on a weekend, parking was easy.

Spacious hall and private-room seating

Taking the elevator up to the second-floor restaurant, the first thing I noticed was how large it was. A list of reservations was posted at the entrance, and it seemed like people came here for group gatherings and family meals.

As you would expect from a popular Hadan spot with many longtime regulars, the interior was prettily decorated with flowers, and the restaurant was enormous.

There were both hall tables and private rooms. Even the hall tables had partitions between them, so you could enjoy your meal with some privacy. By the windows, warm sunlight came in and the outside view was lovely.

Private rooms for groups were available too. There were plenty of rooms, from ones for eight people to ones that could accommodate 10 or more. You will probably want to book ahead on weekends.

With Korean course meals and Korean beef on the menu, it looked well suited to formal family meetings or family gatherings.

Even though it was a late lunch around 2 p.m., there were quite a few guests who looked like regulars. High chairs were available, and since I was with a child, a staff member kindly set one up for us.

For after-meal dessert, coffee and ice cream were available free of charge, and you could even make yourself an affogato.

QR ordering and Korean set-menu options

At each table, you could check the menu and place your order using the QR code.

For an easy meal, there were set spreads featuring pork ribs, mackerel, or dried yellow corvina.

There were also three Korean course-meal options. They looked perfectly suited to a formal family meeting. You could add grilled fish, meat, yukhoe (Korean beef tartare), and more à la carte. Cups and small plates were already set at each table.

Lotus-leaf rice and the basic table spread

I think the charm of a Korean set meal is getting to taste so many different foods. Once you order, the table is filled with a whole spread of banchan (Korean side dishes).

Starting with the signature lotus-leaf rice, a variety of side dishes arrived.

It was a neat, unfussy Korean set meal spread.

The rice came wrapped in a lotus leaf. It smelled wonderful from the moment it arrived. Opening the leaf revealed several grains mixed into the rice, making it pretty to look at and delicious too.

The combination was so good that some people order just this dish to take away. With its mix of grains, it had both a lovely aroma and flavor. It was the kind of rice I would want to eat at home every day.

The soup was zucchini tofu soup, and the kitchen auntie’s touch seemed like pure artistry.

The other side dishes did not look overly elaborate, but they were seasoned so well that I kept reaching for them.

Grilled mackerel and dried yellow corvina set meals

I ordered the grilled mackerel set and dried yellow corvina set. One whole mackerel, deliciously grilled in the oven, and one whole dried yellow corvina arrived.

The dried yellow corvina is aged in barley, which is why it commands such a high price. I had never seen one this size before. It was huge and had plenty of flesh.

The mackerel was from Norway, so it was richer and larger than domestic mackerel, making it especially enjoyable.

A staff member personally prepared the dried yellow corvina into easy-to-eat pieces, separating the bones from the flesh. That made it incredibly easy to eat.

They said they use Beopseongpo dried yellow corvina, a fish with deep umami. It was absolutely delicious with the lotus-leaf rice. A separate sauce was served too, so I added a little seasoning to the fish and ate it with rice. You could also pour water over the rice like ochazuke and top it with the fish for a different kind of flavor.

The mackerel was a premium one, with richness practically flowing from the skin.

Because it was oven-grilled, the skin was crisp while the inside was wonderfully rich and fatty.

Some places only give you half a fish these days, but here I could enjoy one big whole mackerel with lotus-leaf rice. Ice cream for dessert!

Weekend lunch verdict

It was such a satisfying and pleasant weekend lunch. I felt even happier because it was a great restaurant I happened upon by chance.

For anyone looking for a good restaurant in Hadan, Busan, I recommend Yukganmyeongga. The food is reliably tasty, and the course meals are well composed, making it just right for anyone seeking a venue for a formal family meeting. How about a full Korean set meal for lunch today? :)