Hyoseong-dong mulhoe restaurant with sashimi rice bowl: Muirang

These days, whenever the weather turns cool and crisp, or I'm craving something clean and tangy-sweet, the first thing that comes to mind is cold mulhoe (spicy raw fish salad soup) and a savory raw fish rice bowl.

This time I went with my family to Muirang Mulhoerang Hyoseong Direct Branch, a spot known for its fresh seafood. I already enjoy seafood dishes regularly, so I went in with high expectations — and they were more than met, with excellent flavor and freshness that made for a very satisfying meal.

Where is Muirang Mulhoerang Hyoseong Direct Branch, and what is the restaurant like?

Muirang Mulhoerang Hyoseong Direct Branch sits in Hyoseong-dong, Gyeyang-gu, so it was very easy to reach. Walking in, the clean, well-kept interior caught my eye right away, and the friendly staff greeting us got things off to a good start.

Why is one wall covered in volleyball players' autographs?

Looking around the walls, I noticed something interesting — signatures and visit traces from well-known athletes covered the space. It seemed to be a favorite spot for Korean Air volleyball players in particular, with several autographed photos on display, fun to look through. When a restaurant is a regular haunt for big-appetite pro athletes, that's basically a guarantee of both quantity and quality, so my expectations went up even more.

Ordering the assorted mulhoe and live-fish sashimi rice bowl

We sat down and ordered the signature mulhoe and raw fish rice bowl. Waiting for the food, I looked around and saw why this place has such a strong word-of-mouth reputation among Gyeyang-gu raw fish restaurants — packed with families and neighborhood regulars alike. From the basic side dishes to the quality of the main dishes, everything felt systematically and hygienically managed, a real standout among Hyoseong-dong raw fish restaurants.

How does the assorted mulhoe taste, and how big is the portion?

The mulhoe arrived first. Ice flakes floated on a spicy-tangy broth, topped generously with thick slices of seasonal raw fish, sea squirt, abalone and more. The bowl itself was huge — plenty for several adults to share.

Mulhoe

Stirring it with chopsticks and taking a bite of fish with the broth, the fresh sea aroma and the tangy-sweet broth came together beautifully.

It wasn't just an artificial, punchy broth flavor — the natural sweetness of fruit and the deep umami of the broth itself blended so well that I kept eating without getting tired of it. The fish itself had great chewy, springy texture too, which made every bite satisfying.

Dipping the thin wheat noodles that came with it into the cold broth was a treat in itself~

How the live-fish sashimi rice bowl is served

The rice bowl that followed didn't disappoint either. The bowl was piled high with fresh raw fish, generously topped with crisp vegetables, roasted seaweed flakes and sesame seeds. Drizzling on the special vinegar-chili sauce from the table and mixing it all together, the freshness of the vegetables and the savory fish struck a perfect balance. The rice was kept at just the right temperature, not too hot, so the fish stayed fresh-tasting the whole way through — a thoughtful touch.

The nutty sesame oil aroma and the flavor of the fresh raw fish came together more and more with each bite, and I ended up cleaning the bowl in admiration down to the last spoonful. Looking at the menu, there were seasonal seafood dishes beyond mulhoe and rice bowls too. Once the weather gets a bit chillier, they apparently do grilled live prawns, a signature favorite, so I made a mental note to try that on my next visit ♥

Just thinking about plump raw prawns grilled over salt is already making my mouth water. Living up to its reputation as a seafood spot, everything tasted as if it had been sourced that very day, and I felt at ease throughout the meal ♥

Clam noodle soup from the review event too

Muirang Mulhoerang Hyoseong Direct Branch wasn't just a place to grab a meal — it was a place where you could truly taste seafood made with good ingredients and real care. Whenever a cool, clean mulhoe or a hearty, fresh rice bowl is calling, I'd want to come back. If you're looking for a restaurant with fresh fish, generous portions, and friendly service all in one, I'd recommend visiting without hesitation ♥

Even cup mulhoe!!!

It was a satisfying time enjoying healthy, delicious seafood and making good memories with family. Next time I'm thinking of trying other seasonal seafood dishes. It was so fresh and delicious :)