Comparing two corvina rice pot sets, Uiwang fish grill by Baegun Lake

Today I'm introducing a restaurant near Baegun Lake in Uiwang, Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo (화덕으로간고등어) — a place with tidy side dishes and wood-fired grilled fish so good it rivals a full Korean set-meal restaurant. I visited this newly opened spot near Baegun Lake.

It's a premium grilled fish specialist that cooks everything in a 500-degree wood oven. Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo is a chain that's popular across several regions, and I visited the Baegun Lake branch.

Hanok exterior and mountain view at Baegun Lake

I'd never been before, and pulling into the parking lot I got a mountain view paired with a hanok-style exterior — gorgeous, especially with such nice weather. The hanok wood-and-white interior style is trendy right now, and here it comes off both upscale and current, which I loved. Even on a hot day, being at the foot of the mountain made it feel cool just looking out at it. The view of Baegun Lake feels refreshing no matter when you visit.

Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo, Baegun Lake Branch

Address and opening hours

• Address: 148 Neungan-gil, Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Hours: 11:00–21:00
• Break time: 15:00–17:00
• Last order: 20:20

Inside Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo: the window seats

The interior is just as stylish — through the big picture windows, the blooming flowers and lush trees look framed like a painting. I imagine the window seats, where you can eat while gazing at the view, are the popular spot haha.

Menu and ordering rules

At this Baegun Lake favorite, I ordered the barley corvina rice pot set and the wood-fired corvina rice pot set. It's one order per person, and set meals let you choose between white rice and brown rice.

There's also a receipt review event: get a free drink or beverage, your choice of one.

Side dishes and the self-serve bar

As soon as we ordered, the staff brought out the basic side dishes and soybean paste soup.

For extra sides, there's a self-serve corner with things beyond the basics — young radish kimchi, acorn jelly, bellflower root and cucumber salad, and more — so you can help yourself to as much as you like. The variety is generous and you can just grab whatever suits your taste. None of the side dishes were too salty and they had a healthy flavor overall, so this seems like a great spot for families of all ages, from parents to kids.

And here's the wood oven itself where the fish gets grilled. The name Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo (roughly, "the mackerel that went into the wood oven") is a bit sad but also kind of funny haha.

How the barley corvina and wood-fired corvina sets arrive

The barley corvina and wood-fired corvina arrived, both nicely browned. Each set comes with three fish, and the barley corvina pieces were large and looked especially delicious. Grilled in the wood oven, they came out beautifully browned and appetizing.

So savory, tender, and full of flavor. The bones were soft, the flesh generous and tender — I really enjoyed every bite.

Breaking down the big barley corvina

With plastic gloves on, the staff picked the flesh apart into easy bites — and piece after piece kept going straight into my mouth as they worked. So good! Maybe it's the wood oven that makes it taste even better.

Scorched rice from the pot and rice soaked in green tea

The fluffy, well-cooked rice from the stone pot gets scooped out and turned into scorched rice too. And of course, the barley corvina really shines over rice soaked in green tea — it's the ultimate rice thief. I could easily polish off two bowls. I love how chewy and firm the barley corvina is.

The wood-fired corvina has its own charm too, with a softer texture. It felt like it had been ages since I had side dishes and rice that actually suited my taste this well. Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo is the best!

Café discount after the meal

If you bring your Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo receipt to Café Serendipity right above the restaurant, they'll give you ₩1,000 (20%) off a drink — so get your coffee at Serendipity afterward!