Haeundae izakaya with aged sashimi and tarot readings: Minikomi

What kind of izakaya is Minikomi in Haeundae?

Minikomi is an izakaya on Haeundaehaebyeon-ro 221beon-gil in Haeundae that serves fresh sashimi and a wide range of Japanese dishes, and you can even get a tarot reading with your meal. I was looking for a slightly special izakaya in Haeundae and ended up at Minikomi, and the tarot turned out to be the fun part.

It turns out the chefs here trained at the Osaka Tsuji Culinary Institute. The place is said to have started near Busan City Hall, moved through Marine City, and now sits in Haeundae, and it already has plenty of regulars. Years of cooking experience plus the owner's own taste give it a charm a little different from an ordinary izakaya.

Minikomi opening hours and how to get there

• Address: 13 Haeundaehaebyeon-ro 221beon-gil, Building B, 1st floor, Haeundae-gu, Busan
• Hours: Mon–Sat 17:00–01:00
• Closed: every Sunday
• Getting there: about 594 m from Exit 1 of Dongbaek Station
• Reservations: available via Naver Reservation

What is the atmosphere like at Minikomi?

The place is cozy and warm, and you notice that feeling the moment you walk in. It's calm and comfortable overall, a nice spot to eat and chat with your group.

On the wall hang diplomas in Japanese cooking, a chef's license and a sake sommelier certificate. You can see the expertise in sake as well as Japanese food, which explains why Minikomi stocks so many kinds of sake.

Beyond sashimi, the menu has plenty of grilled and fried dishes, such as mackerel bar sushi, futomaki (thick sushi roll), motsunabe (offal hot pot), soy-grilled meroh and lotus root and shrimp hasami, so you can pick to your taste.

Can you get a tarot reading at Minikomi?

Unlike a typical izakaya, Minikomi offers tarot readings, and there's even a separate space set up for it. Haha.

I had my reading while waiting for the food. I'm always curious about what's coming up, and I'd wanted to try it once, so I went in light-hearted, but it was more interesting than I expected, haha. Some of what I heard matched my own thoughts and situation, which was pretty amazing.

It's less about predicting the future exactly and more a different kind of time to look at where you are now and think about what's next. I never expected to get tarot at a restaurant, haha, but it made the visit more memorable 😊

Honestly I started out casual, but twice I got goosebumps at how spot-on it was. I don't think tarot predicts the future exactly, but it explained things I'd been thinking so well that it made me reflect again, and it was fun, haha. If you're interested in the tarot at Minikomi, I'd suggest asking ahead.

How was Minikomi's assorted sashimi for two?

We started with the assorted sashimi for two. The drinks list is broad too, from many kinds of sake to soju and wine, so you can choose to your taste. The menu had lots of variety.

Minikomi puts together its sashimi so you can taste several kinds of fish at once, and comparing the different textures and flavors was part of the fun.

Assorted sashimi plated with carrot butterflies

The plating was really pretty. The many kinds of sashimi with colorful vegetable garnishes made it vivid, and you could feel the care in every item. It felt like a little party had been set up for us.

I especially loved the delicately carved carrot butterflies and flowers. They told us all the vegetables used in the plating are edible too. The butterfly was so pretty that even knowing I could eat it, I couldn't bring myself to touch it. How do you eat something this pretty? Haha. Each slice of fish was neatly arranged, and even the side vegetables were carefully prepared.

Taste and texture of the aged sashimi

The white fish in the assortment was appealingly clean-tasting and chewy,

while the oilier fish got nuttier and richer the more I chewed. Alternating soft fish with firm, springy fish made the differences even clearer.

With aged sashimi, the freshness and preparation of the fish matter, and Minikomi's sashimi was clean with no fishy taste, which I was happy about. I liked tasting several kinds instead of just one, and it was so good that I got curious about other dishes and ended up adding the mackerel bar sushi.

What does Minikomi's mackerel bar sushi taste like?

Mackerel bar sushi (bongchobap) is Japanese-style sushi where mackerel and vinegared rice are shaped into a long bar, mixing rich fish flavor with the tang of the rice. Minikomi's had tight scoring cuts across the mackerel skin and a lightly seared surface that looked delicious. It came neatly cut into bite-size pieces, and the mackerel was quite thick.

The nutty flavor of the mackerel hit first, and the soft fish with the tangy rice was a great combination. The nuttiness of the lightly seared skin brought out the mackerel's character even more, and

I was happy with the assorted sashimi, but the mackerel bar sushi was better than I expected, haha. Personally, it's something I'd definitely order again next time 👍

A complimentary home-grown melon

During the meal they also brought out a melon as a free extra.

The melon was a treat in itself, haha. They said they grew it themselves, and sure enough it was a bit different from the melons I usually buy. The rind was surprisingly thin, and the flesh was juicy and sweet, really delicious! It's been a while since a melon tasted this good, haha. Even a small gesture like this stays with a guest for a long time.

Is Minikomi in Haeundae worth a return visit?

The staff at Minikomi were so kind that the place felt comfortable and pleasant. Not just the food but the space, the people and the special tarot experience stayed with me, and if I'm back in Haeundae I'd love to stop by again.