Anchovy mulhoe restaurant in Gijang: rainy-day set for 2 at Namhang

A typhoon passing Japan gave Busan a mix of clouds and rain this weekend. When the weather is too bad for outdoor activities, we head to indoor places like art museums, museums and libraries. Today we had a delicious anchovy sashimi set in Daebyeon Port in Gijang, home of the famous anchovy festival that people from other regions know too, and then went to the library ^^ My family loves seafood, and we enjoyed our meal so much at Namhang Hoetjip, a Gijang anchovy sashimi specialist, that I wanted to introduce it.

Parking and reservations at Namhang Hoetjip Gijang Daebyeon Port

There is a big free parking lot right across from the restaurant, so no parking worries. I booked through Catchtable first, got directed on the 1st floor, and was seated right away at a reserved table on the 2nd floor.

Namhang Hoetjip, the Gijang anchovy sashimi specialist, has steadily earned Blue Ribbon recognition and has appeared on TV several times. It's a well-known eatery in Daebyeon Port.

Second-floor seating: ask for a window seat when you reserve

The second floor is spacious with lots of tables. See the burners and tableware already set up? Soon that spot will be packed with a tour group of over 20 people, haha.

Besides groups, a lot of guests came with reservations. I had reserved, so I got a window seat, but some people who didn't get one looked disappointed, so if you want a window seat, say so when you book ^^

Anchovy mulhoe set price and what's included

The anchovy sashimi set is ₩22,000 per person. Compared with other places where a set for 2 costs around ₩50,000, it seems cheap. We ordered the anchovy mulhoe set for 2. On a cloudy, muggy, hot day when tempers run short, an icy, chilled mulhoe is the answer ^^

The view out the window from our seat was wide open, which was nice. The food was set out without a long wait. Reserving means the food doesn't take long even when it's busy, which is great.

The whole table fills up. Even at ₩22,000 per person, you get anchovy mulhoe, grilled anchovies, anchovy stew, rice and lots of side dishes, so it feels like great value.

Ask for separate small plates, one for the mulhoe and one for the stew, each with its own ladle. The table is so full it makes my mouth water, haha.

The side dishes were all tasty too, with not a single one left untouched. Let's try this good-value Gijang anchovy set, from the main dishes to the sides ^^

How does the anchovy mulhoe taste? Not spicy, cool and savory

The mulhoe comes in a very large, heavy ceramic bowl. The slushy icy broth looks so fresh and tangy-spicy. Vegetables, broth and anchovy sashimi are all piled on generously. It looks like a lot.

The anchovy sashimi is well prepared and very tender, and there are lots of crunchy vegetables plus thin wheat noodles (somyeon), so the textures are well balanced. Mix it up well before eating. With so much broth and so many ingredients, tossing it is fun too.

After mixing, it looks like even more. The thinly shredded vegetables go well with the soft anchovy sashimi that melts in your mouth.

The cool, tangy broth isn't overly spicy, just pleasantly mild-spicy, so even people who can't handle spice can eat it without any pressure. It never makes you think "ah, spicy!", and you'll find yourself reaching with your chopsticks nonstop for that cool, savory flavor. With the noodles in it, it's delicious even without putting it on rice.

Grilled anchovies: a treat you eat bones and all

Daebyeon Port in Gijang is famous for its anchovy festival, so the anchovies are very big and fresh. They have thick flesh and taste great, which is why many people eat them grilled too. These grilled anchovies were an unexpected delight, haha.

They're not greasy but clean-tasting, the flesh is nutty, and you can even smell the toasty aroma of an oily blue-backed fish. Dip them straight into wasabi soy sauce and eat them bones and all. The bones are soft, so there's no need to pick out the flesh. Pro eaters just eat the whole thing, haha. Nutty, light and salty, with the nutrition of eating the bones too, it would make a great side dish and also a great drinking snack.

Anchovy stew: braised dried radish greens and a kick of spicy broth

The anchovy stew at Namhang Hoetjip is also packed with anchovies. I think I ate several hundred anchovies in this one meal, haha. Daebyeon Port is famous for the Gijang anchovy festival, so you can eat plump, fresh, tasty anchovies like these.

The anchovy stew comes with braised dried radish greens (siraegi). The anchovies themselves are delicious, but the spicy, hearty, kicking broth was great on its own too.

I made lettuce wraps (ssam) with the grilled anchovies, and with the anchovies from the stew too, haha. Wrapped up, they were another treat.

Is the anchovy set at Namhang Hoetjip in Daebyeon Port worth recommending?

If you like anchovy dishes, try the anchovy set at Namhang Hoetjip in Daebyeon Port, Gijang, the famous anchovy festival hometown. From the mulhoe to the grilled anchovies and the stew, everything was delicious, and I was happy with the side dishes too. I recommend Namhang Hoetjip Gijang Daebyeon Port, the Gijang anchovy sashimi specialist ^^