Gwangju raw fish pub with flounder sashimi for two: Geumho Pocha

• Address: 15 Uncheon-ro 17beon-gil, Seo-gu, Gwangju (1st floor)
• Hours: Mon–Sat 15:30–24:00 (closed every Sunday)
• Parking: 2 hours free at Hoju Building parking
• Main dishes: seasonal raw fish, steamed blue crab, braised pomfret, mixed seafood and more
• Restroom: outside the restaurant, shared
• Meal length: about 1 hour

Today I went to Geumho Pocha (금호포차), super famous in the Geumho-dong eating alley in Gwangju as a place for fresh live fish. In spring they bring out loads of fresh seasonal sashimi. Besides all kinds of in-season fish like littleneck flounder, flounder, black sea bream and rockfish, they apparently have steamed dishes and boiled seafood (sukhoe) too, the kind of food that makes you crave soju. Before it gets too hot, I wanted fresh seasonal sashimi, and this place is already a local favorite you supposedly can't get into without a reservation! So how good is it really? Here's my honest review. Off we go!^^

What do the exterior and fish tanks of Geumho Pocha look like?

The sign is written in a cute font: "Geumho Pocha 754." Sadly... a car was parked right in front, so I couldn't get a proper shot of the whole place T_T But it wasn't blocking the parking entrance, so we could still drive in.

The tanks at Geumho Pocha hold fresh fish for sashimi: flounder, skate (ganjaeri), rockfish, hagfish and more haha. There are tanks both indoors and outdoors. You'd expect some fishy tank smell, but there was none at all, which surprised me!

Inside Geumho Pocha: is it OK for a big group dinner?

Geumho Pocha is divided into rooms, and each room has 2–4 tables. The doors slide shut, so it looked fine for a company dinner or group seating.

We visited on a weekday evening and it was already pretty busy, and almost full while we were eating. The walls are covered in scribbles, so you can tell the restaurant has been around a long time and has plenty of regulars.

Geumho Pocha menu and order: small flounder sashimi for two, ₩10,000 maeuntang to finish

Geumho Pocha is a seasonal restaurant, with all kinds of in-season sashimi and special dishes for each season. We wanted black sea bream, but they had just run out, so we ordered the small flounder sashimi for two (광어 소) and one bottle of soju. The flounder was caught off Tongyeong, so it looked fresh and promising^^

I asked about the finishing maeuntang (spicy fish stew), which isn't on the menu, and they said it's ₩10,000. We decided to taste the sashimi first and order it later.

What side dishes come with Geumho Pocha's meal?

The basic side dishes were braised radish, seasoned cucumber, dongchimi (radish water kimchi), chwinamul (aster greens), dropwort in sweet-sour dressing, quail eggs, sweet corn, makjang (seasoned soybean paste), fresh vegetables, and seaweed soup. The seaweed soup is a star... it was so refreshing and delicious that I ate a whole bowl by myself haha. The chive pancake was so good that I finished it too.

Geumho Pocha's small flounder sashimi for two: portion and taste

Even though it's the small size for two, Geumho Pocha's flounder sashimi comes out in a decent portion, neatly plated. Just look at that shine. It looks so fresh.

They even put the fins on top. It's the real delicacy, so I ate all of it myself (writing this, I realize I'm a greedy one..)

Springy texture! Flounder was once served at the king's table, so there's a reason it's a special dish. I think it's both the most common and the most delicious fish for sashimi.

The slices at Geumho Pocha are a good size and thickness, just right for one bite. I dipped them in makjang, in chojang (sweet chili vinegar sauce), and in soy sauce, and before I knew it the plate was almost empty.. haha

Free sea squirt and boiled conch at Geumho Pocha

Geumho Pocha gave us sea squirt (meongge) and boiled conch (sora sukhoe) as free service. It seemed like every table gets them. Sea squirt with a cool taste of the sea, and warm conch! Both were springy and fresh. Perfect snacks for soju.

Order steamed dishes like blue crab in advance at Geumho Pocha

I heard that when it gets very crowded, steamed dishes at Geumho Pocha come out late unless you order ahead, so it's a good idea to reserve in advance!

Verdict: is Geumho Pocha worth recommending as a flounder sashimi spot in Gwangju?

I think Geumho Pocha is the top flounder sashimi place in Gwangju. The freshness, texture and taste were all excellent. Besides sashimi, it also has seasonal dishes, so you can try a variety. I'd happily recommend this Gwangju sashimi spot for company dinners or meeting up with friends.