Siheung Baegot mackerel radish stew and gondre rice pot: Hwadogeuro

Hwadogeuro Gan Godeungeo: grilled mackerel, braised mackerel, and gondre hot pot rice

From clean-tasting hearth-grilled mackerel to a not-salty mackerel radish stew, I had a proper full spread. The gondre (dried herb) hot pot rice had a nutty aroma that blended naturally with the rice, and finishing with the burnt rice at the end left me really full. Hwadogeuro Gan Godeungeo was a great spot to enjoy grilled fish, stew, and hot pot rice all in one place.

What kind of restaurant is Hwadogeuro Gan Godeungeo in Siheung Baegot?

Hwadogeuro Gan Godeungeo is a Korean restaurant where you can enjoy hearth-grilled fish alongside hot pot rice and braised fish. Walking in, the tables were spaced generously and the atmosphere was clean overall. Separate from the dining area, there was a long self-bar where you could help yourself to the side dishes you wanted. On my visit I ordered mackerel radish stew, gondre hot pot rice, and grilled mackerel hot pot rice — and I ate the grilled mackerel so thoroughly I even picked the bones clean.

Hwadogeuro Gan Godeungeo Siheung Baegot Branch at a glance

What side dishes are on the self-bar?

On one side there was a separate SELF BAR set up. Seasoned greens, bean sprouts, and radish salad — all good with rice — were laid out, and I also spotted a bibimbap corner. The first spread already came with diced radish kimchi, vegetable side dishes, and spicy radish salad, and it was easy to grab more from the self-bar if anything ran low. Fish dishes can sometimes feel like the side dishes are a bit plain, but with a little of everything, the whole spread felt much richer.

How lean is the hearth-grilled mackerel?

The long-awaited grilled mackerel arrived — a whole fish, plated generously. The surface was browned nicely from the hearth, and peeking through the score marks, the flesh wasn't too dry, staying fairly moist. Most of all, it wasn't overly greasy for my taste. The signature savoriness of mackerel came through even as the outside turned slightly crisp and the inside pulled apart soft from the hearth grilling. I picked the meat off with my chopsticks and piled it on rice, and eventually picked the bones clean too. Looking at the photos again, you can tell exactly how enthusiastically I ate.

Is the mackerel and radish stew too salty?

With that red sauce, I first wondered if it would be too salty, but when I tried it, it was less salty than expected and just right to eat with rice. The fish flesh wasn't dry either, coming apart softly, and the sauce clung well, making it good to pile on rice. The radish in the stew was especially chunky. Poking it with chopsticks, it was tender all the way through and well soaked with the red sauce. When I eat braised fish, I love the radish just as much as the fish itself, and this time too, I couldn't pass up the combo of a piece of radish with a spoonful of rice.

Is the gondre hot pot rice strongly aromatic?

The moment I opened the lid on the gondre hot pot rice, a subtle nutty aroma rose up. If the herb's raw green scent is too strong, it can feel overwhelming, but for me the nutty aroma and green scent blended naturally into the rice. Eating it alongside dishes with clear, strong flavors like the grilled mackerel or the radish stew, the rice itself didn't stand out too much and supported the meal well.

Finishing the hot pot rice with burnt rice and hot water

The finish of hot pot rice really has to be the burnt rice. After scooping out the rice, water is poured in and left to sit, and when I opened it at the end of the meal, the rice grains had softened nicely. After eating my fill of grilled mackerel and radish from the stew, finishing with the burnt rice left me feeling warm all the way through. After the meal, there was also a coffee and drink corner to use, making it easy to wrap everything up in one place. That day really deserved the phrase — ate all the way to the burnt rice and left patting my belly.

Hwadogeuro Gan Godeungeo Siheung Baegot FAQ

Q. Is the grilled mackerel very greasy? When I ate it, being hearth-grilled made it lean more toward clean-tasting rather than overly greasy.

Q. Is the mackerel radish stew very salty? For my taste, the seasoning wasn't strong, and it was just right to eat with rice.

Q. Is the gondre hot pot rice's aroma strong? I could taste gondre's nutty aroma and subtle green scent, but it wasn't overwhelmingly strong.

Q. Can I get more side dishes? On my visit there was a self-bar set up, so I could take additional side dishes as needed.

Q. How should I finish the hot pot rice? After scooping out the rice, pour in water and let it sit, then eat it like burnt rice at the end of the meal for a filling finish.

From hearth-grilled mackerel to tender mackerel radish stew, nutty gondre hot pot rice, and burnt rice, this was a meal that fit perfectly on a day I wanted a proper, filling meal. If you like grilled fish and hot pot rice, this could be a good reference when choosing your menu. I think I'll come back here on a day I'm craving grilled fish or hot pot rice again.