Namyang-eup sashimi restaurant for an after-work dinner: Mulgogijari

What is Mulgogijari Hwaseong Branch, the aged sashimi restaurant in Namyang-eup?

Mulgogijari Hwaseong Branch (물고기자리 화성점) is a sashimi restaurant in the Namyang-eup residential district of Hwaseong, known for its all-you-can-eat aged sashimi. I was wondering what to have for dinner after work and suddenly craved raw fish for the first time in a while, so I searched for sashimi places in Namyang-eup, and that's how I found Mulgogijari and went.

I like sashimi in general, so I went with high hopes, and the spread was much more generous than I expected and the quality was good too. It was a memorable meal.

Mulgogijari Hwaseong Branch parking and opening hours

You can park about 2 cars in front of the restaurant, and there's also a separate dedicated lot on the side, so it looks easy to visit by car. It's in the Namyang-eup residential district, so it's easy to get to! It also looked good for family dinners or get-togethers 👍

• Address: 10-17 Yeokgoldong-ro, Namyang-eup, Manse-gu, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi, South Korea (1st floor)
• Hours: 16:30–23:00 (closed every Sunday)
• Takeout, reservations, groups, parking and local currency available

How much is all-you-can-eat aged sashimi at Mulgogijari? Go before 8pm

At Mulgogijari Hwaseong Branch, you can get all-you-can-eat aged sashimi for ₩40,000 per person until 8pm. If you're planning a visit, there's one thing to remember~ 🤔 Get there before 8pm!

After 8pm, on the other hand, it's a ₩60,000 aged sashimi platter with no refills, so if value matters, I'd definitely recommend going early. ₩40,000 per person? Going by the price alone you might expect just plain sashimi, but the spread is really generous.

The omakase-style course, in order

At Mulgogijari Hwaseong Branch, you start with maesaengi-juk (sea moss porridge), a sashimi salad and miso soup, which were a nice light way to get the appetite going.

After that, dishes like abalone, sea squirt and grilled garlic mushrooms came out omakase-style (chef's-choice courses)~

And then finally the main event, the aged sashimi, arrived. I immediately understood why so many people recommend it as a top Namyang-eup restaurant. It was crazy good, seriously 🥹

Corn cheese, assorted tempura, grilled sea bream head and sushi kept coming after that, and the table filled up in no time! For company dinners or family gatherings, book through Naver Reservation first and then drop by~!

How is aged sashimi at Mulgogijari different from live-fish sashimi?

The aged sashimi at Mulgogijari Hwaseong Branch has a chewier, springier texture than live-fish sashimi, and a nutty savory flavor that builds the more you chew. At a sashimi restaurant, the taste of the fish matters most in the end, right? From the first bite, Mulgogijari's aged sashimi had a different charm from ordinary live sashimi.

Aged sashimi is made by taking fish prepared the same day and aging it at low temperature for a set time. During aging, inosinic acid, which gives umami, increases, so the flavor gets deeper and the flesh firmer, they say.

Trying it, the texture was different from live sashimi right away. It was chewy yet springy, and the nutty savory flavor kept rising the more I chewed.

I eat live sashimi often, but aged sashimi after a long while really had a different appeal. Mulgogijari reportedly uses only top-grade, fully grown fish, and maybe that's why the thickness and texture of the slices were so satisfying.

Mulgogijari's house sashimi soy sauce

The special sashimi soy sauce served at Mulgogijari Hwaseong Branch is different too ☝️ They say it's made by simmering and aging more than 30 ingredients, including bonito flakes and kelp, for a long time. Even when I dipped generously it wasn't salty, and it brought out the flavor of the aged sashimi even more! 🥹 Seeing this, I could see why the place has a reputation as a top sashimi restaurant near Hwaseong City Hall ✨

What side dishes come with sashimi at Mulgogijari Hwaseong Branch?

Even while I was eating the aged sashimi, skidaki (Korean sashimi-restaurant side dishes) like grilled sea bream head, corn cheese and assorted tempura kept coming out 😆

The grilled sea bream head was light and the flesh was tender, and the corn cheese had that sweet flavor everyone loves~!

The assorted tempura was satisfying too. The onion and sweet potato tempura were still crisp, and you could tell the oil was clean.

Overall the seafood was fresh, so there was no fishy taste and I enjoyed it all the way to the end.

All-you-can-eat service without the awkwardness

What I liked most at Mulgogijari Hwaseong Branch was that even though it's all-you-can-eat, I never felt any pressure~ The owner and staff were all friendly and the place was kept clean, so I enjoyed my meal the whole time~

They were kind whenever I ordered more, so I could eat as much as I wanted without any worry!

Is Mulgogijari Hwaseong Branch worth a return visit?

Mulgogijari Hwaseong Branch was satisfying for the quality of its aged sashimi, the generous spread and the relaxed service. If you're looking for a sashimi restaurant near Hwaseong City Hall or want to try properly aged sashimi, I recommend Mulgogijari. And if you want to enjoy the all-you-can-eat at a good price, be sure to go before 8pm. I'd give it a 100🔥 for a return visit!