Sea-view eel and scallop BBQ on Oido's coastal road: Sanhaejinmi

Not long ago, my husband and I took a weekday-afternoon drive around sunset to Sanhaejinmi, a hot new spot in Oido. Just looking at the calm, quiet sea was healing all by itself, and I also got to demolish my beloved scallops.

Where is Sanhaejinmi in Oido, and where do you park?

Sanhaejinmi is a red building you spot as you drive along the Oido coastal road, sitting right in front of the sea. You park in the public roadside parking lot directly in front of the restaurant. The location is just perfect, so it fits nicely into a drive or a weekend outing.

Most people come to Oido by car, right? After the meal I asked the owner whether parking was possible, and he came all the way down and paid the parking fee for us T_T I was so touched by the unexpected kindness T_T Places like this really deserve to thrive haha

Sanhaejinmi's exterior and second-floor sea view

The whole building stretches out boldly, and the "Sanhaejinmi" (산해진미) sign catches your eye even from far away.

Bright congratulatory wreaths greeted us at the entrance, so you could feel the lively energy of a freshly opened restaurant.

The dining room is on the second floor, and the view of the Oido sea from up there is definitely wider and more open than from the first floor. Glass windows on all sides open it up, so we ate while looking at the gently rippling sea as if it were framed in a picture.

One side of the table is neatly set with cups, chopsticks and, thoughtfully, a variety of sauces, so you can eat comfortably without calling staff or going to the self-bar all the time. Love that haha

What's on the Sanhaejinmi menu and how much is it?

Sanhaejinmi runs on a plan where you can enjoy domestic Japonica eel, plump giant scallops and savory domestic cold-cut pork belly (naengsam) in unlimited amounts for ₩45,000. Above all, its strengths are the huge menu lineup and the value for money.

On top of that, you can help yourself to as much ramyeon and steamed rice as you like at no extra charge.

They say both the eel and the meat are domestic, so I felt reassured, and just thinking about stuffing myself put me in a great mood haha

What does the eel, scallop and pork belly 3-tier tower look like?

At Sanhaejinmi, the pork belly, eel and scallops come stacked in layers on a 3-tier tower plate like something you'd see at a fancy dessert café. Wow! Please admire the presentation lol It's really pretty.

I'd never seen a presentation like this anywhere, so I couldn't help gasping haha. The eel even comes out already pre-grilled once in the kitchen, so you don't have to wait long on the table grill,

you just cook it a little more and eat right away, and my husband inhaled it happily lol

Pork belly on the griddle, scallops and eel over the open flame

On the induction griddle at the table, they put well-ripened kimchi, and you grill the dripping-with-oil naengsam pork belly right on it.

On the open-flame grill right beside it, you grill the giant scallops, the pre-grilled eel and a foil tray of savory corn cheese.

The heat was just right, perfect for getting everything golden brown without burning.

My husband really loves eel, and I love chewy, sweet scallops, so each of us took charge of our own favorite and was busy grilling and eating lol

Does the quality hold up on refills at Sanhaejinmi?

When we asked for refills, Sanhaejinmi carefully brought out the same big, fresh giant scallops and thick eel as the first round. At all-you-can-eat places, don't you find that only the first plate looks decent and the quality drops from the refills on?

But at this Oido shellfish BBQ spot, Sanhaejinmi, the quality stayed the same even on refills, which I loved. Piling savory cheese on fresh giant scallops and letting it bubble made the scent of the sea burst in my mouth, and the eel was crispy outside and moist and chewy inside, perfect for a stamina boost.

Sanhaejinmi's self-bar and ramyeon corner

Sanhaejinmi has a self-bar where you can refill the naengsam in the fridge, fresh kimchi and side dishes without feeling self-conscious. There's also a ramyeon corner where you pick what you like, such as Jin Ramen, Yeol Ramen or Buldak stir-fried noodles, and aluminum pots to cook them in.

I boiled Yeol Ramen to cut the greasiness and left after properly cleansing my palate with it.

Who should go to Sanhaejinmi in Oido?

Sanhaejinmi is an Oido shellfish BBQ restaurant where you can enjoy the lovely ocean view of Oido through glass windows while eating unlimited domestic Japonica eel, super-fresh giant scallops and savory pork belly. The clean, pleasant interior makes it a fine date spot, and it's just as good for group gatherings or family meals.

If you're planning a trip to Oido or want a proper seafood-and-meat feast, do drop by Sanhaejinmi!