Gwangalli raw fish bar: butter abalone & sea hare, Gwanganda Jjji

You order once, and the food just keeps coming? At first I thought, "This must be it, right?" But as time went on, new dishes kept arriving and I was stunned.... Visiting Busan and in Gwangalli? Want a proper full-table spread here? Here's my honest review of Gwanganda Jjji, worth a visit at least once!

Where is Gwanganda Jjji in Gwangalli? Hours and parking

Gwanganda Jjji (광안다찌) is on the 6th floor of Sanbada Hoetown, 17-20 Gwanganhaebyeon-ro 344beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan, South Korea. It is open 12:00-22:50, with a break from 14:10 to 16:30, last order at 20:30, and it is closed every Tuesday.

• Parking: available (building's 1st floor) - a bit tight
• There are public lots right next door too!! Subyeon Park Public Parking Lot (1 minute on foot), Subyeon Children's Park Public Parking Lot (3 minutes on foot)
• Facilities: group seating, separate men's/women's restrooms, reservations, Wi-Fi, high chairs, parking

This is the building entrance. It's a spot with a great Gwangandaegyo Bridge view and great raw fish.

There's a dedicated parking lot on the 1st floor of the same building. Parking is supported!

Inside Gwanganda Jjji: first impressions

Right as you step in, there are private rooms on the right and an open kitchen on the left. What impressed me most was how kind the staff were. They greeted us with bright smiles from the moment we walked in, which put me in a good mood from the first impression.

What to know before booking Gwanganda Jjji

When booking, reserve for the number of dachi sets (the set spread) you're ordering. Note that from the 4th grade of elementary school, one order per person is required. Also, no extra tables are provided for guests who aren't eating, so keep that in mind when you reserve.

Parties of 5 or more are mostly guided to a private room, so if you're planning a family gathering or group meal, I recommend booking ahead.

What comes in the Gwanganda Jjji dachi set?

The seafood starters (skidari, the small side dishes served before the main sashimi) were so generous that they were more than enough as drinking snacks with a glass of alcohol. It's not just a sashimi course: a variety of seafood and dishes keep coming, which is probably why I was even more satisfied.

Butter-scented abalone

What I liked most was that the food wasn't just plentiful, every single dish was tasty! The abalone was personally a really memorable one. The moment I took a bite, the nutty aroma of butter spread, and I honestly couldn't help saying, "What is going on with this butter flavor?"

Sea squirt, sea cucumber and sea hare with no fishy smell

Sea squirt, sea cucumber and sea hare also came out, and they were so fresh I couldn't smell any fishiness at all. I love seafood and am a little picky about freshness, but at Gwanganda Jjji there was no need to worry about that.

Seasonal sashimi platter: flounder, sea bream, sea bass and fluke

The sashimi was made up of various seasonal fish, including flounder, sea bream, sea bass and fluke, and the freshness was really good. It was cut thick so the texture was great, and it tasted nuttier the more I chewed.

Soy-marinated shrimp that isn't too salty

The soy-marinated shrimp (saeujang) was a really impressive dish. Saeujang often has a strong soy sauce flavor, but the one at Gwanganda Jjji wasn't salty and the shrimp's own taste came through well.

Abalone porridge to finish

The abalone porridge that came last made me gasp. I was already very full, but with the first bite the rich, nutty flavor of abalone came through strongly, and it went down smoothly and felt really gentle on my stomach.

Crab stew with a clean, refreshing broth

With the crab stew, the moment I took a spoonful I was amazed at how refreshing the broth was. The deep flavor of seafood had been drawn out, and it tasted like something you could eat as hangover soup the morning after drinking, haha.

Braised fish with radish, perfect with the abalone porridge

The braised fish with radish was also better than expected. The fish was soft and moist, and the radish had absorbed the seasoning deeply, making me crave rice. It was a really good combination with the abalone porridge too.

Is Gwanganda Jjji worth it on a Busan trip?

Gwanganda Jjji in Busan isn't just a place to eat sashimi. You can properly enjoy a variety of seafood dishes in one table full of care. If you're planning a Busan trip, I hope you'll visit at least once. You'll understand right away why so many people recommend it once you go yourself!