Family mackerel table set at a Haeundae seafood restaurant: Haneobuui

Looking for somewhere to eat with family in Haeundae, I wanted to try mackerel sashimi, something I don't get to have often, so I headed to Haneobuui Godeungeosarang Haeundae (한어부의고등어사랑 해운대). Since I could try real Busan-style mackerel sashimi here, plus everything from live sashimi to grilled and kimchi-stewed versions, I ordered the godeungeo hansang (mackerel table set).

Haneobuui Godeungeosarang Haeundae hours and parking

• Hours: Daily 11:00–22:30
• Break time: 15:00–17:00
• Parking: Available, in front of the restaurant

How to get there from Haeundae Station Exit 7, outside and inside

It's close to Haeundae Station Exit 7, a good spot for anyone browsing Haeundae raw fish restaurants who wants to try something a little different.

Walking in, the vibe was different from what I pictured for a raw fish restaurant. It's decorated in bright wood tones throughout, with tables and seating neatly arranged, making it a comfortable place to eat with my mom.

The tables are somewhat divided into separate spaces, which seemed like it would work well for family meals or group gatherings.

Live mackerel in the tank and the wood-fired oven

On one side of the restaurant, I spotted mackerel swimming around, alive. I usually only see mackerel grilled or braised, so watching them swim in a tank felt unfamiliar enough that I ended up watching for a while.

There's also a wood-fired oven set up on one side for grilling mackerel. I was told the grilled mackerel in the godeungeo hansang actually comes out of this oven, which made me look forward to it even more.

What comes with the set: the side dishes

The basic side dishes were kimchi pancake, salad, bite-size buckwheat soba, and a taster mulhoe (cold raw fish soup). There was already plenty to try one by one before the mackerel table set even arrived, so the spread felt generous from the start.

What is in the godeungeo hansang (mackerel table set)?

What I ordered that day was the godeungeo hansang. It's a course-style menu you work through in order: live mackerel sashimi first, then bong-sushi hand rolls, soy-braised pomfret, wood-fired grilled mackerel, and finally mackerel kimchi stew.

Live mackerel sashimi: barely any fishy taste

First up, the mackerel sashimi! They make dry ice smoke rise around the sashimi plate, which looked pretty impressive. The sashimi was sliced into thick pieces with a glossy sheen on the surface, looking appetizing right away.

Mackerel is a fish I usually eat grilled or braised, but eating it as sashimi had its own charm. Honestly, what worried me most going in was the fishy taste, since this was my first time having mackerel sashimi. Once I tried it, I could barely detect any fishiness at all — what stood out was the fatty, nutty flavor mackerel is known for, and a chewy texture. If you've wanted to try mackerel sashimi but hesitated over worries about a fishy taste, from what I tasted, it was easier to enjoy than expected.

Following the staff's suggestion, I piled mackerel sashimi and the special seasoned chives generously onto gamtae (dried seaweed) and ate it that way. The nutty flavor of the mackerel combined with the chive seasoning, and with the aroma of the gamtae at the end, it tasted completely different from eating the sashimi plain.

Bong-sushi hand rolls

The bong-sushi (hand rolls) that came alongside were not to be skipped either. Eating rice together with the mackerel felt a bit more filling than the sashimi alone, and it was so good I added an extra piece of mackerel sashimi on top of the roll. If you like mackerel sashimi, I'd recommend trying it this way too.

Soy-braised pomfret

As I was finishing up the sashimi, the soy-braised pomfret arrived along with preparations for the main dishes. Softly cooked pomfret and radish soaked through with soy seasoning — having a warm dish in between the sashimi courses kept the flow of the meal nice.

Wood-fired grilled mackerel

The grilled mackerel from the godeungeo hansang. It came out golden brown from the wood-fired oven, appetizing from the skin alone. Pulling the flesh apart, the inside was moist and the meat was fairly thick. Put a piece of mackerel on warm rice and honestly, you didn't need any other side dish.

Mackerel kimchi stew

Next came the mackerel kimchi stew. The well-fermented kimchi had naturally absorbed the mackerel's flavor, spicy with good savory depth. Piling a leaf of kimchi and some mackerel flesh onto warm rice, I kept eating more rice even though I'd already had plenty by that point.

Is the mackerel table set worth it for a family meal?

Haneobuui Godeungeosarang Haeundae is a memorable spot for anyone trying Busan-style mackerel sashimi for the first time, or looking for something a bit different from a standard assorted sashimi platter in Haeundae. The mackerel sashimi in particular barely had the fishy taste I worried about, and its nutty, chewy texture stood out. If you're looking for raw fish restaurants in Haeundae and want to try live mackerel sashimi, the godeungeo hansang, which also lets you enjoy the grilled and kimchi-stewed versions, is worth considering.