Hwajeong Japanese lunch for two: sushi and black cod, Min Cook Dasima

My husband and I went out for a meal near Hwajeong Station for the first time in a while! 🤍

This time we went to Min Cook Dasima, a Hwajeong Station favorite — I go there a lot, you know?

It's been around since 2001, and it's a place where you can enjoy all kinds of Japanese dishes in one spot — not just sushi and sashimi, but pork cutlet, rice bowls, udon, and grilled black cod too. This time we specially ordered the sushi set special and the grilled black cod set!

Min Cook Dasima: 25 years in the same spot near Hwajeong Station

Min Cook Dasima opened in 2001 and has been steadily loved in Hwajeong ever since 🤍

In 2024 it was even selected as a Hundred-Year Store, and honestly, just knowing a place has run this long in one spot makes me curious about it! They especially care about good ingredients — using rice that hasn't been sitting around since milling —

and they cook the rice fresh on-site too. I think that's the kind of thing customers notice right away, don't you?

It's also well known as a Goyang tourism-recommended restaurant with plenty of certifications 🤍 With sushi, sashimi, pork cutlet, udon, soba, rice bowls, and grilled fish all on the menu, it seemed like a solid option for lunch near Hwajeong Station too. The interior is clean, set up as individual full-table settings,

which made it comfortable for my husband and me to eat together, and with such a varied menu it'd be just as easy for a family gathering or dining with little kids! I bet a lot of people pick it as a meeting spot too. The interior is spacious with all kinds of seating — I loved it!

What comes with the premium sushi set at Min Cook Dasima?

Ordering is really convenient these days... just scan the QR code on your phone, read through the menu, and order! Isn't it great how easy it's gotten?

I love the pre-meal porridge they serve at Min Cook Dasima. Our kids love it too — this time we polished it off in no time.

What we ordered first was the lunch special sushi set — 9 pieces of sushi plus a generous serving of salmon sashimi...🤍

It's not just sushi on its own — it comes as a full set meal, so it really feels like a proper meal. And the sweet pumpkin fritter here is so good... you really have to try it!

The sushi rice isn't overly large or thick, so it's totally my style...

The balance between the toppings and rice was good, so each piece was easy to enjoy.

Min Cook Dasima also serves a variety of other Japanese dishes alongside sushi — salmon rice bowl, sake-don, and more — so if you love sushi, there are quite a few options to choose from. It's especially the kind of place that comes to mind when you're looking for sashimi- or sushi-focused food near Hwajeong Station.

The grilled black cod set: mild and tender

And then the grilled black cod set we ordered together! I love grilled fish, so whenever there's a black cod dish on the menu, my eyes drift toward it.

There aren't many places that serve black cod, and I'd been craving it for a while 🤍 The fish's distinctively soft, moist texture came through well, along with the savory aroma that comes up from grilling.

The outside was browned nicely while the flesh flaked apart softly, which made it perfect to eat with rice.

If the sushi set felt light and fresh, the grilled black cod set felt a bit heartier and more comforting, so ordering both together made for a good combination.

Why Min Cook Dasima has been a Hwajeong favorite for so long

Min Cook Dasima felt less like a flashy new Japanese restaurant and more like the neighborhood regular's spot that's been quietly serving meals in the same place for years. Being able to choose between sushi, rice bowls, or grilled fish depending on your mood is a plus, and since they run a separate lunch special, it also seemed like a good option for a meal near Hwajeong Station. It's also nice to do what we did — order two different set meals and share them!

This time we tried the sushi set special and the grilled black cod set, but next time I'd like to try one of the other rice bowls or the pork cutlet! The weather's so nice for an outing that I'm thinking of getting a sushi bento to go next time 🤍

Min Cook Dasima Q&A

Are there menu options besides sushi?

Yes! There's a wide variety, including pork cutlet, rice bowls, udon, soba, and grilled fish.

Is Min Cook Dasima worth visiting for lunch?

They run a lunch special on weekdays from 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM.

Is parking available near Min Cook Dasima?

Parking at Hwajeong E-mart gets you a 1-hour parking voucher.

Does Min Cook Dasima work for a family meal or group gathering?

It's a Japanese restaurant that serves neat, full individual set meals, so it seemed like a good spot for a group meal too.