Sintanjin fish restaurant, mackerel & hairtail sets: Hwadeogeuro

I love hunting down newly opened restaurants 😆 This time I visited Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo (화덕으로간 고등어) Sintanjin Branch, newly opened in Sintanjin 🐟 I like grilled fish, so I went with high hopes, and the meal was way more satisfying than I expected 💕 The flavor of the fish from the clay oven was great, and the self-bar was packed too, so I was in a good mood the whole meal 😊

Hwadeogeuro Gan Sintanjin Branch: easy to find, and is there parking?

This is a newly opened branch in Sintanjin, so it felt clean from the outside ✨ The sign is easy to spot, so even first-time visitors shouldn't have trouble finding it 😊

There's parking in front of the restaurant, which made it easy to come by car 🚗 Not having to worry about parking was a nice plus 👍

A grilled fish place, so what about the smell? Interior and high chairs

The first thing I noticed inside was how bright and tidy it was 🌿 Best of all, even though it specializes in grilled fish, I could barely smell that typical fishy-grill odor, so the meal was really pleasant 😊 I think that's a big plus for a family meal out

There were also high chairs for families visiting with kids 👶 You can tell they've thought about the details, which made it even more comfortable

Table-side ordering, and a choice of white or brown rice

Ordering is simple with the table-side ordering device 📱 There's no need to wait for staff, and you can take your time choosing what you want

One thing I liked while ordering 😊 You can choose between white rice and brown rice 🍚 It's a small thing, but being able to pick to suit your taste or diet made me happier

The heart of Hwadeogeuro Gan is, of course, the clay oven 🔥 Grilled quickly at high heat, the fish is said to come out golden outside and moist inside. I can see why clay-oven grilling is so popular 😊

What's at the self-bar? From namul to tteokbokki and french fries

The self-bar is one reason I'll remember this as a good Sintanjin spot 😍 You can help yourself to side dishes without holding back, and the lineup was more varied than I expected

Namul (seasoned vegetables) and several side dishes were neatly laid out, and you could take as much as you liked, so no pressure 🥬 I found my hand reaching for more again and again 😊 They also had tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and french fries, which surprised me a little 🍟 It felt different to get those at a grilled fish restaurant 😄

Bibimbap made with self-bar namul

The self-bar also had ingredients for making bibimbap (mixed rice) 🥗 If you like namul, you could build yourself a hearty bowl

I made my own bibimbap too, and it was more satisfying than I expected 😋 Eaten with the grilled fish, the whole Korean meal felt even fuller

Clay-oven mackerel set and hairtail set: how did they taste?

The side dishes that come with the set were each neatly plated 🍽️ Doenjang-guk (soybean paste soup) came too, nice and warm on the side, and the whole table felt well balanced

We ordered the clay-oven grilled mackerel set and the clay-oven grilled hairtail set 🐟✨ Seeing the table so full, I had to take photos first 📸 Not just the fish but the side dishes were generous, so I was looking forward to a satisfying meal

Clay-oven mackerel: crisp outside, moist inside, almost no fishy smell

The mackerel fresh from the clay oven made my mouth water just looking at it 🤤 The oil sizzling away looked so tempting that I had to record a video too

The outside was crisp while the flesh stayed moist ✨ It kept the mackerel's rich, nutty flavor yet had almost no fishy smell, so it was easy to enjoy. Eaten with rice, I immediately understood why people call grilled fish a "rice thief" (밥도둑, a dish that makes you finish your rice) 😄

Clay-oven hairtail: mild flesh that flakes along the grain

The hairtail was also better than expected 🥢 The flesh flaked softly along the grain so it was easy to eat, and its mild taste was appealing. The seasoning wasn't heavy, so I enjoyed it to the last bite without getting tired of it

Who is Hwadeogeuro Gan Sintanjin Branch for?

If you like grilled fish, I think Hwadeogeuro Gan Sintanjin Branch is worth a visit. Besides the clay-oven fish, there's a clean interior, a self-bar you can refill freely, and the thoughtful white or brown rice choice, so plenty adds to the satisfaction. It's an easy place if you're looking for a good Sintanjin restaurant, want a hearty Korean meal with family, or need a place to eat in Daedeok or Sangseo-dong 😊 It was a meal that reminded me how varied and full a grilled fish meal can feel 🐟🍚💛

Location and hours

• Location: 490 Sintanjin-ro, Daedeok-gu, Daejeon
• Hours: Daily 10:00–21:30
• Last order: Daily 20:50
• Break time: Mon–Fri 15:30–17:00
• Closed days: Check with the restaurant