Suwon set-meal restaurant with three japchae refills: Godeungeo

A grilled fish spot in Suwon 🐟🐡 Godeungeo Myeongpumi Doeda, a West Suwon set-meal restaurant

Whenever I'm craving hearty, home-style Korean food, I always end up back at my favorite Suwon restaurant, Godeungeo Myeongpumi Doeda.

The grilled fish here is great on its own, but the side dishes that come with it are all so good that every won feels worth it — this is a truly deserving Suwon restaurant.

This time, after an autumn walk, I wanted a proper Korean set meal, so I went back after a while. 🤗

Godeungeo Myeongpumi Doeda Suwon Branch: hours and parking

🐟🐟 Business info for Godeungeo Myeongpumi Doeda

• Hours: daily 10:40 AM – 10:00 PM
• Group dining available
• Corkage available for a fee
• Free parking available

There's a parking space right next to the restaurant, and true to a popular Suwon spot, it's plenty spacious — no need to worry about parking!

Godeungeo Myeongpumi Doeda Suwon Branch is always busy, so waits happen often, but you can also reserve ahead through CatchTable.

The dedicated waiting lounge with free coffee and tea

There's a separate waiting area right at the entrance, so you can wait comfortably regardless of cold or heat outside.

On top of that, free coffee and tea are provided, so the wait isn't boring — you even get a little moment of relaxation.

The big wood-fired oven in the middle of the restaurant

Walking inside, the first thing that catches your eye is a giant wood-fired oven!

Thanks to the steady stream of customers, you can watch fish being grilled nonstop in the oven. Seeing them grill and catching that savory smell makes you want to sit down and eat grilled fish right away.

Grilled fish restaurants usually have that distinctive fishy smell, but this place is very spacious and clean — maybe thanks to all the plants around purifying the air, because instead of any fishy odor, you get a really pleasant atmosphere.

With bright lighting and floor-to-ceiling windows on the walls, it even feels like a café.

Grilled mackerel, grilled imyeonsu and the basic table setting

What we ordered this day was grilled mackerel and grilled bakdae sole! As soon as we ordered, a table practically buckling under the weight of side dishes was set.

Warm seaweed soup and tasty pork stir-fry!! To think these come as basics... this really is a generous Suwon restaurant.

What matters most is that every single side dish here is genuinely delicious. I remember being impressed on my last visit too, and the taste hasn't changed a bit. Whoever's in charge of the banchan really deserves a raise.

These side dishes were far better and more universally pleasing than what I've had at most other Korean set-meal restaurants in Suwon.

The banchan self-bar: japchae refilled three times

There's also a self-serve banchan bar to one side of the restaurant, where you can refill your favorite dishes without any hesitation!

Everyone seemed to have the same taste — people kept coming back with plates piled high from the self-bar. With how generously they give it all away, I wondered if there'd be anything left, but you really feel the owner's generosity.

The japchae (stir-fried glass noodles) was absolutely delicious... I think I refilled it three times haha. Seriously so good 💛

How does the wood-fired grilled fish taste?

Crispy outside, tender inside 🐡🐟 — true to a well-known grilled fish spot in Suwon, the fish coming straight off the wood-fired oven look distinctly good. The outside is golden brown and the inside stays moist, with a glossy sheen that gets your mouth watering just looking at it.

The grilled mackerel has crispy skin and incredibly soft, moist flesh. The savory fat really comes through, letting you fully taste mackerel's signature rich, clean flavor.

The grilled bakdae sole's flesh is also very tender, holding in the juices so it practically melts in your mouth.

Finishing with sikhye from the self-bar

To wrap things up, you absolutely have to drink the cool, sweet sikhye (sweet rice punch) haha.

This is also unlimited at the self-bar. It's so good I feel like I could drink five glasses by myself alone haha. The perfect Korean dessert to cleanse your palate 👀✨💗

Since my family is gathering for Chuseok this year, I asked whether they'd be open, and they said they'd be operating straight through the Chuseok holidays with no closures! I'm planning to bring my parents back during the holiday and eat until we're stuffed.

If you're looking for a can't-miss grilled fish restaurant or a great Korean set-meal spot in Suwon, I fully recommend Godeungeo Myeongpumi Doeda. 👍