Hwamyeong rice bowl spot: after-work salmon bowl & beer, Shunsaikubo

Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong: a third visit after work

Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong (슌사이쿠보 화명) is a Japanese rice bowl restaurant in Hwamyeong-dong, Buk-gu, Busan, serving eel rice bowls (hitsumabushi) and salmon rice bowls. The summer had suddenly gotten hotter and I figured I needed some stamina food in advance, so after work I headed to Shunsaikubo, a Busan eel rice bowl favorite. It was already my third visit! I always eat so well here and leave happy, which is why it's one of my regular Hwamyeong-dong rice bowl spots.

• Address: 1F Geumsaem Building, 17 Yangdal-ro 4beon-gil, Buk-gu, Busan
• Hours: 11:30 - 21:30
• Takeout, delivery and reservations available

Does Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong have parking and a wait-time perk?

Parking assistance is available, so if you're coming by car, use the dedicated lot.

Maybe because it's such a popular Hwamyeong-dong spot with waits, I heard that guests who wait 45 minutes or more get half a grilled eel as a freebie. Usually a long wait gets you a drink at best, so I was surprised by how generous Shunsaikubo is.

Inside Shunsaikubo: private rooms, group tables, high chairs

We came at 6 p.m. and it was already full of customers, so I couldn't photograph the interior properly, but there were private rooms and what looked like group seating. They also have high chairs, so it's a good Busan eel rice bowl restaurant for families.

Shunsaikubo menu: what is there besides eel rice bowls?

Besides eel rice bowls, Shunsaikubo has salmon rice bowls and a kids' rice bowl. The side dishes to go with drinks and the alcohol list were also more varied than I expected, so it's a good place for a drink with your meal.

We ordered one whole-eel hitsumabushi, one raw salmon rice bowl and Kirin Ichiban draft beer. While we waited for the food, I read the how-to-eat-it guide on the table.

Kirin Ichiban draft beer, sweet potato chips and side dishes

When I ordered draft beer, they brought out sweet potato chips as a snack. It was hot out and I was craving draft beer, so it was thoughtful of them to bring a snack before the meal, and it made the beer even better.

While we enjoyed the beer, the side dishes came out one by one: a salad, tempura and a clear soup. (The tempura is the one that comes with the eel rice bowl.)

It was my husband's side dish, but I stole some, haha. The lotus root tempura was really good...! They do tempura well here too...!

How do you eat the raw salmon rice bowl at Shunsaikubo?

My raw salmon rice bowl came out first. For the price, the Shunsaikubo salmon bowl is generously and nicely put together.

It comes with side dishes, sauce and even seaweed (gim) to go with it, and you can really feel how well put together it is.

It arrives as a neat, tidy set, so it's a good place to treat someone. Above all, the salmon looked so good.

Salmon bowl, way one: salmon on top of the rice

Following the how-to-eat guide, I first put a little salmon on top of the rice. There was no fishy smell at all and the thick texture was sooo good. Anyone who truly loves salmon will like this! I always just eat hitsumabushi, so this was my first time trying the salmon rice bowl, and I was very happy with it.

Salmon bowl, way two: mixed with the house soy sauce

The second way is to break up the prettily stacked salmon and mix it into the rice. The rice is already seasoned as sushi rice (shari), so it's tasty as is, but adding the special soy sauce clearly brought out more savory depth and flavor.

Salmon bowl, way three: wrapped in seaweed

Lastly I wrapped the salmon in the seaweed that came with it, and that was really delicious too. I thought they were only good at Busan eel rice bowls, but Shunsaikubo is a salmon rice bowl place in Hwamyeong-dong too, isn't it?

Why order a whole-eel hitsumabushi instead of a half

Of course we had to try my husband's hitsumabushi too. He first said he'd order a half, but I told him no, here you have to eat a whole eel, and I persuaded (?) him to order one. (It's that good, so a whole eel is the way to go.)

Eel rice bowls are great for recovering your energy, and on a draining hot day like these you absolutely have to eat one for the stamina boost...!

Hitsumabushi has its own ways to enjoy it, so follow the guide. Personally, of the three ways I like ochazuke (rice in broth) best! Everyone's taste is different, so try all three and enjoy it the way you like most.

How the eel tastes as a plain eel rice bowl

It's a Busan eel rice bowl favorite, so first the eel itself, right? The eel at Shunsaikubo has absolutely no fishy smell, and the seasoning is just right.

I tried the eel bowl's original flavor, and the tender eel with the sweet-salty sauce went together so well that the rice just disappeared. If the eel feels a bit too rich, add wasabi or shredded ginger on top for a refreshing finish.

Hitsumabushi topped with rolled omelet

The guide says to mix in the rolled omelet (tamagoyaki), but we put it on top instead, and that was fine too. The fluffy egg texture was so good, you know? haha

Hitsumabushi as ochazuke (rice in broth)

My favorite, ochazuke: pouring in dashi broth and eating it as a soupy rice! My husband doesn't really like rice in water, but he said this one was good.

Yep, it's totally my taste... At Shunsaikubo, the Busan eel rice bowl spot, definitely eat it this way.

We cleared a whole eel.. My husband agreed that a half would definitely not have been enough and that ordering one was the right call.

Matcha pudding and candy for dessert

If you order hitsumabushi at Shunsaikubo, there's a dessert pudding too. It's normally only for the eel rice bowl, but the owner gave me one as a freebie as well! It was matcha pudding and it was so good? I wanted another one.. hahaha

So the rice, the drinks and the dessert were all cleared perfectly at Shunsaikubo Hwamyeong. Even as I paid and headed out, the dessert time wasn't over! They kindly handed me candy too.

The staff were friendly and, above all, the meal was so satisfying at Shunsaikubo, a Hwamyeong-dong rice place. With its neat, tidy set meals it's good for treating someone, and the food is good enough to bring someone special. It's a Hwamyeong-dong rice bowl restaurant I'm happy to recommend.