Raw anchovy restaurant in Gijang, Busan: Namhang Hoetjip family meal

Since it was the weekend, we took a family trip out near Gijang!! Gijang is home to Daebyeon Port, famous for the Gijang Anchovy Festival. Since this area is so well known for anchovies, the raw anchovy here is famous even outside the region for being incredibly fresh and delicious, so people come from other cities just to eat it. Today our family visited the best anchovy restaurant in Gijang and ate a full anchovy set.

Where is Namhang Hoetjip at Gijang Daebyeon Port?

Namhang Hoetjip is an anchovy specialty restaurant located at 572 Gijanghaean-ro, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan, right in front of Gijang Daebyeon Port. Known as the top spot for raw anchovy in Gijang, it's also a famous Blue Ribbon recommended restaurant.

Since it's famous for raw anchovy, plenty of tourists from other regions come specifically to try it.

The wide windows open right onto the sea, making the space feel bright and open. It seems like a great anchovy specialty restaurant to bring your parents or guests to for a meal.

Namhang Hoetjip menu and ordering the anchovy set

Namhang Hoetjip's menu features various types of raw fish as well as anchovy dishes. Since we came specifically for the raw anchovy, we ordered the anchovy set, which features it as the main dish.

What side dishes come with the anchovy set?

The anchovy set at Namhang Hoetjip comes with generous and neatly arranged basic side dishes.

Every single one was tasty, so I couldn't stop reaching for more.

Grilled anchovy

Namhang Hoetjip's grilled anchovy comes out crispy! and wonderfully savory.

Since this restaurant specializes in anchovy dishes right at Gijang Daebyeon Port, the anchovy meat is thicker than I expected — the texture is firmer than mackerel and the savoriness runs much deeper.

It's seasoned just right even on its own, and even better dipped in soy sauce with wasabi.

Seasoned raw anchovy (myeolchi-hoe muchim)

A raw anchovy dish with a savory aroma spreading through the air. It's tossed with plenty of vegetables and seasoning — it looks red, but it's not spicy or sharp at all.

Savory, salty, and full of umami and anchovy flavor, the seasoning and vegetables upgrade the taste while keeping the texture and character of the raw anchovy itself.

Long ago (well, when I was younger), the first time I tried raw anchovy I was worried it might be fishy or that the bones would be uncomfortable to eat — and this very restaurant at Gijang Daebyeon Port was where I had that first experience.

Since my first taste of raw anchovy was at this famous spot at Gijang Daebyeon Port, I don't think I'll be able to eat it anywhere else now.

It's delicious eaten plain or wrapped in a lettuce leaf — refreshing, tangy, spicy, sweet, and bursting with savory flavor, this seasoned raw anchovy has it all.

Anchovy stew with dried radish greens

An anchovy stew packed generously with dried radish greens (siraegi).

My partner, who loves Korean food, absolutely loves this anchovy stew.

The umami is great and there's no overwhelming spiciness or saltiness, so you can spoon up the broth without any hesitation, haha. Ladled over white rice with the radish greens and anchovy, it's basically a rice thief.

Spooned right over rice, eaten with just the anchovy and radish greens alone, or wrapped in a lettuce leaf — however you eat it, it's delicious.

The broth is rich and the seasoning so good that I kept scooping up spoonful after spoonful, haha.

Is Namhang Hoetjip worth it for raw anchovy in Gijang?

We ate our fill of anchovy dishes at this anchovy specialty restaurant in Gijang, so now I feel ready for another physically exhausting weekend with the kid, haha. If you're looking for the best anchovy restaurant at Gijang Daebyeon Port, I recommend Namhang Hoetjip!!