Suwon family Korean restaurant, 6-piece braised mackerel: Godeungeo

If you're looking for a great Korean restaurant in Suwon, here's a place worth visiting at least once: Godeungeo Myeongpumi Doeda Suwon Branch.

I first found out about this place because my parents went with their friends and came back raving about it — since then, we've visited several times whenever the family gets together, so for us it's already a tried-and-tested Korean restaurant in Suwon!

Godeungeo Myeongpumi Doeda Suwon Branch: location, hours, and parking

• 📍 Godeungeo Myeongpumi Doeda Suwon Branch / 1731 Seobu-ro, 1st floor, Gwonseon-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• ⏰ Hours: Daily 10:40–22:00 (last order 20:50)
• 🚗 Parking: Private lot available next to the restaurant

One of the biggest perks of this place is honestly the parking.

There's a spacious private lot, so even during busy hours there's no need to worry about finding a spot. This time too, we parked with zero stress, which made for a satisfying start.

Waiting area, wood-fired oven, and how to check in

Once you step inside, there's a waiting area on the left,

and straight ahead is this wood-fired oven where all the delicious fish get grilled!

If there's a wait, you'll need to register through Catch Table, and for groups of 5 or more, one representative needs to let the counter staff know as well~

The interior is pretty spacious too. The tables are spaced out comfortably so it never feels cramped, which made me think this is a great Korean restaurant in West Suwon for family meals as well as group gatherings or work dinners.

They provide 500ml bottled water, and this small detail felt hygienic — the whole place was kept clean, and it was clear they pay attention to cleanliness.

Basic banchan, self-serve bar, and a taste of gochujang bulgogi

Napa cabbage kimchi and muchim radish aren't part of the basic table setting — you need to grab them from the self-serve bar. If you want them from the start, it's a good idea to bring them over early. The basic banchan (side dishes) are all served neatly, and personally I really loved the doraji muchim (seasoned bellflower root) and chamnamul muchim (seasoned aster greens). All the side dishes were mild, which I appreciated!

If the basic side dishes run low, you can freely refill them from the self-serve bar, so there's no pressure about running out.

This gochujang bulgogi is given as a small taste and also sold as a full dish — to me it barely had any spice and was more on the sweet side, so I think kids would enjoy it!

Why we only ordered braised mackerel and grilled mackerel

The menu has all kinds of grilled fish and braised fish, plus sashimi, so you can pick whatever suits your taste. We didn't even have to think about it — we ordered braised mackerel and grilled mackerel.

Why only mackerel, you ask? Mackerel is my favorite fish, hehe. Other fish are tasty too, but personally I don't think any fish pairs with rice quite like mackerel does.

Ta-da!! The braised mackerel and grilled mackerel arrived. It felt like it came out about 10 minutes (?) after ordering — the wait felt practically nonexistent. Each serving seems to come with about half a fish's worth of mackerel. The portion was quite satisfying too.

Braised mackerel — the aged kimchi and radish are the real treat

Braised mackerel. This is the dish I always order whenever I come here. I really confidently recommend this one. The softly braised mackerel is delicious, but the aged kimchi and radish, simmered down until tender, are the true delicacy.

The sauce is deep and richly infused, so a bowl of rice disappears in no time. It's also my parents' favorite dish, so we never skip ordering it whenever we visit.

A mackerel of this size comes with about 6 pieces.

Grilled mackerel — pairs well with wasabi soy sauce too

Grilled mackerel. The skin was browned nicely but not overcooked, so the flesh inside stayed moist and tender. On a previous visit I also tried other grilled fish, but personally grilled mackerel is still my favorite. So this time, too, I chose it without hesitation.

It's fairly mild in flavor, so it goes nicely dipped in wasabi soy sauce too. If you're a fan of fish, this is a place worth visiting when you're searching for a grilled fish restaurant in Suwon.

Finishing up with sungnyung and sikhye from the self-serve bar

After the meal, we cleansed our palate with sungnyung from the self-serve bar and finished off with a cup of sikhye. A satisfying meal right to the end.

With a spacious dining room and convenient parking, this is a Korean restaurant in West Suwon I'd recommend for family meals, dinners with parents, group gatherings, or work dinners. It's especially satisfying if you visit with parents who love grilled fish.

There's currently a review event running too, so if you're planning to visit, it might be worth joining in. When you're craving a hearty Korean meal in Suwon and looking for a proper grilled fish restaurant or Korean restaurant in Suwon, I recommend Godeungeo Myeongpumi Doeda Suwon Branch!