Incheon City Hall sashimi restaurant: lunch set with hotpot roe rice

There are days when you just crave a bite of unusually fresh, chewy raw fish. Wanting to enjoy briny seafood, neat sushi, crispy tempura and a spicy hot soup all in one sitting, I searched hard for a well-known restaurant near Incheon City Hall — and this time I visited Veteran General Fish Market Incheon City Hall Branch, which has built a word-of-mouth reputation nearby for freshness and generous portions.

This place is already well known among locals and office workers as somewhere to enjoy plenty of fresh sashimi, so I went in with high expectations. To cut to the chase: I left with a satisfaction that exceeded expectations, and a very full stomach. Let me walk you through the honest details of a delicious day out!

Where is Veteran General Fish Market Incheon City Hall Branch, and what is it like inside?

Veteran General Fish Market Incheon City Hall Branch sits on the 1st floor at 120 Guwolnam-ro, Namdong-gu, Incheon — right in the center of the Guwol-dong administrative town — so it was very easy to reach on foot or by public transport. Being close to Incheon City Hall Station also makes it a great spot for meetups or work dinners.

The first thing that caught my eye at the entrance was a large, spotlessly maintained fish tank. The water was clear and the live fish were swimming vigorously, which immediately built confidence in the freshness of the sashimi.

The interior was much roomier and more comfortable than I expected. The tables were spaced generously so conversation didn't feel cramped, and the overall bright, clean atmosphere made it a fine choice for bringing parents or meeting friends.

Self-serve bar: wrap vegetables, white kimchi and seaweed soup

On one side of the restaurant was a neatly arranged self-serve bar. Fresh wrap vegetables (lettuce, perilla leaves), garlic, chili, ssamjang, white kimchi, and warm seaweed soup were all laid out for the taking. You often run short of wraps or garlic while eating sashimi, so being able to help yourself freely without hesitation was a nice touch.

What we ordered: the lunch special and hotpot rice with fish roe

That day we ordered the restaurant's signature and most popular menu, the lunch special, along with a hearty must-have — hotpot rice with fish roe (albap)!

At a raw fish restaurant, ordering just plain sashimi can feel a bit lacking, but ordering everything separately can get pricey. This lunch special solved that problem, arriving like a full course with fresh assorted sashimi, sushi, golden-brown mixed tempura, and refreshing spicy fish stew — an easy, no-brainer choice.

After ordering and chatting for a bit, the basic side dishes arrived first, followed one by one by the main dishes. Watching the table fill up neatly yet generously made my mouth water.

How was the seasonal assorted sashimi and sushi?

First up was today's star: the seasonal assorted sashimi. Served neatly over cool crushed ice, the colors of the fish were simply gorgeous.

The platter was made up of the tastiest fish of the season — at a glance you could see the grain of the flesh was intact and glistening with moisture, a clear sign of freshness.

The slices were an ideal thickness — not too thin, not too thick — so a single bite delivered a satisfying chewy bounce. I first dipped a piece in soy sauce mixed with a touch of wasabi, and the subtle sweetness that spread as I chewed, combined with the springy texture unique to raw fish, was exquisite. The salmon wrapped my mouth in its signature soft, rich savoriness, while the white fish had a firm yet clean umami flavor.

Dipped in vinegared gochujang and wrapped with a piece of pungent garlic in a perilla leaf, the fragrance of the leaf and the savoriness of the fish made it impossible to put down my chopsticks.

The sushi sitting alongside the assorted sashimi was a textbook example of raw fish restaurant sushi. The rice on the neatly arranged pieces had just the right stickiness, and the sweet-and-sour vinegar seasoning struck a golden balance with the fish. This wasn't sushi in name only with a big rice ball and a tiny sliver of fish — the fish generously covered the rice, and each bite was remarkably satisfying.

Crisp tempura and the popping fish roe hotpot rice

The mixed tempura included in the set was the very definition of crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. The batter had a clear, golden-brown color, suggesting clean oil was used. Biting in produced a satisfying crunch, followed by a moist, tender texture inside. Clean and savory without any greasiness, it made a wonderful little treat between bites of sashimi.

And the hidden hero that covered our carb needs that day: the hotpot rice we ordered as an extra!

It arrived at the table still sizzling and crackling in the hot stone bowl. Inside, orange flying fish roe was heaped generously on top, along with crunchy pickled radish, finely chopped stir-fried kimchi, savory seaweed flakes and vegetables, all coming together in a colorful mix.

With the rich aroma of sesame oil wafting up, I mixed it all together with a spoon and took a big bite. The fun popping texture of the fish roe, the spicy-tangy kimchi, and the sweet-salty pickled radish combined for an umami finish. The real highlight, though, was scraping up the crispy, chewy crust that had formed at the bottom of the hotpot — the best part of eating albap. When you're craving rice after sashimi, this dish felt less like an option and more like a must.

The spicy fish bone stew that finishes the lunch special

No matter how full you are, a bubbling spicy fish stew (maeuntang) is the grand finale of any raw fish restaurant meal! As the final course of the lunch special, the stew pot was placed on the burner.

It was packed with fresh fish bones along with fragrant crown daisy, crunchy bean sprouts, and green onion. Once it started bubbling, a spicy, rich aroma spread pleasantly around the table.

When the broth had reduced down nicely, I scooped up a generous ladleful to taste. It wasn't heavy at all — the deep umami drawn from the fish bones and the refreshing, spicy broth felt like it cleared my palate. It was the perfect closer, washing away the oiliness from the sashimi and tempura we'd eaten earlier. I imagine adding ramen noodles or dumpling dough would pair perfectly too.

Is the Veteran General Fish Market lunch special worth the price? One honest downside

If I had to sum up this meal at Veteran General Fish Market Incheon City Hall Branch in one line, it would be: the ultimate in emotional value, beyond mere cost-effectiveness. It wasn't just about quantity — the fresh assorted sashimi, sushi, crispy tempura, hearty hotpot rice, and refreshing stew were all executed at a high level, and I felt genuinely satisfied throughout the meal. Thanks to the freshness of the raw fish and the neat presentation, I felt well taken care of the whole time and left pleasantly full.

Tips for visiting with kids

If you're visiting with young children, I'd recommend pairing the crispy tempura from the set and the warm seaweed soup from the self-serve bar. When ordering the hotpot rice, ask them to leave out the kimchi or mix it without the spicy kick, and kids will be able to enjoy the meal too — worth keeping in mind.

Final verdict: would I go back to Veteran General Fish Market?

Overall verdict: A place with a fantastic balance between a generous, varied lunch special and savory, popping hotpot rice. Thanks to the chewy texture of the fresh sashimi and the well-kept dining space, this is a genuinely great restaurant that pleases both the mouth and the mind.

Would I return: 100%! Next time I'd love to come back for an evening drinking session or work dinner with friends and fully enjoy the seasonal seafood.