Soy-marinated shrimp sushi in Buldang-dong, Cheonan: Ganghan Sushi

Ganghan Sushi Cheonan Buldang Branch (강한초밥 천안불당점) is a great pick when you're craving sushi in Buldang-dong, Cheonan, and this is already my second visit! You can enjoy lots of different kinds of sushi at once, and with udon and a croquette on the side, the meal felt really filling. This time I ordered two sets: the Ganghan Special 12P and the Ganghan 12P.

Where is Ganghan Sushi Cheonan Buldang Branch, and where can you park?

The restaurant is on the first floor of First Plaza in Buldang-dong, Cheonan, and you can use the building's basement parking (2 hours free per the posted info). It's in an area packed with shops, so it's easy to stop by for a meal, and fairly convenient if you're driving.

If it's your first time, head toward the pedestrian walkway inside the building and you'll find it a bit more easily.

When you want sushi for lunch or dinner in Buldang-dong, it seemed like a good place to enjoy a wide range of sushi without going far.

Inside Ganghan Sushi Cheonan Buldang Branch

The interior has a clean wood-tone look centered on wooden tables. The warm color of the wood makes the whole place feel cozy, and every table has a tablet for ordering, so browsing the menu and ordering is easy.

It's comfortable whether you're eating alone, coming as a pair, or having a casual meal with family. There are also high chairs, so keep that in mind if you're bringing a little one.

What we ordered: Ganghan Special Sushi 12P and Ganghan Sushi 12P

• Ganghan Special Sushi 12P – ₩17,000
• Ganghan Sushi 12P – ₩14,000

After we ordered the sushi, miso soup, mini udon, a croquette and more came along with it, so the table ended up quite generous.

With udon and a croquette on top of the sushi, you lack nothing.

Ganghan Sushi 12P (14,000 won): solid basics

The Ganghan 12P is an easy choice when you want to try a variety of sushi. It includes egg sushi and inari sushi (sweet tofu pouch sushi), plus shrimp, spear squid, tuna, white fish and more.

Look how colorful it is, all yellow and red. Isn't it pretty? Food that looks good tastes good, and my appetite kicked in the second I saw it!

This lineup suits people who like tasting a little of everything rather than just one kind. The yellow egg sushi looks appetizing from the color alone, and the inari sushi was a familiar flavor to go with the rest. With familiar items like egg and inari mixed in among the fish and seafood, picking by your own taste was fun too.

You can dip the sushi lightly in soy sauce or add wasabi to taste, so everyone can enjoy it their own way. I felt the Ganghan 12P is a good choice when you just want a decent range of sushi. The wasabi was spicy, so I put on just a little at a time. I also liked that the wasabi comes served separately.

Ganghan Special Sushi 12P (17,000 won): variety is the draw

The Ganghan Special 12P is ₩17,000, a bit higher than the regular Ganghan. It has a wider mix of sushi, so it catches your eye when you want even more variety.

One plate holds white fish, tuna and soy-marinated shrimp, plus sushi with gamtae (a type of seaweed) and anki-mo (monkfish liver) sushi. Each piece has different toppings and shapes, so picking them one by one was fun, and the colors were varied too, so the whole table looked appetizing.

You can alternate between mild pieces and more unusual combinations, so even one plate felt colorful. If you love sushi and want to taste lots of kinds, the Special is worth a look.

Is there anything for kids to eat at Ganghan Sushi?

There are fairly familiar items like egg sushi and inari sushi, and sides like mini udon and a croquette, so there's some range to choose from. When you're picking a sushi place with a child, whether there's something they can eat matters, right?

How were the sides and the sushi?

Soy sauce, gari (pickled ginger) and rakkyo (pickled shallots) are set out on the table, so just take what you like onto your plate. With so much to pair, you can enjoy lots of different flavors. They also bring seasoned kimchi, and putting it on top of the flounder makes a whole different kind of sushi.

The white fish was firm, with a really great texture.

For shrimp, soy-marinated is the way to go. It was nicely salty, just right for my taste.

You rarely see anki-mo in a set menu, so having a special item like this is another feature of Ganghan Sushi. Maybe that's why so many people come, weekday lunch and dinner alike?

Verdict: Ganghan Sushi when you crave sushi in Buldang-dong, Cheonan

At Ganghan Sushi Cheonan Buldang Branch, I ordered the Ganghan 12P and the Ganghan Special 12P together and got to taste many kinds of sushi. With mini udon, a croquette and miso soup on the side, it was a solid, filling meal. The clean wood-tone interior and tablet ordering make it easy to use, and parking is available, so it's a handy reference when you're looking for a place to eat in Buldang-dong.