Naju skate sashimi shop in Yeongsanpo: 250g to go at Najujeil Hongeo

When I was in Naju, there was one food I couldn't just pass by — skate fish (hongeo, 홍어), which is basically synonymous with Naju! This time I visited the shop myself and packed some domestic skate to bring home.

The place I visited is called Najujeil Hongeo (나주제일홍어), and when I arrived, I could actually see staff butchering skate by hand off to one side. If you're a hongeo fan, this is somewhere worth stopping by when you're in Naju — here's my honest review after trying it myself :)

What kind of skate does Najujeil Hongeo sell in Yeongsanpo?

Najujeil Hongeo is a skate fish specialty shop located at 202-1 Yeongsanpo-ro, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do. The shop's name is written in big letters right on the storefront, so it wasn't hard to find. Out front, the types and prices of skate were all clearly displayed — from assorted skate sashimi to dress-cut skate sashimi, seasoning-cut skate, steaming-cut skate, skate liver, and skate nose. Quite a variety.

What I was specifically looking for — domestic (Korean) skate — could also be ordered separately. Since I'd come all the way to Naju, I wanted to bring home proper hongeo to eat, so browsing the options was genuinely fun.

Watching the skate trimmed by cut inside the shop

One thing I personally found impressive was being able to watch the staff butchering skate fish by hand right there in the shop.

When I visited, they were butchering a skate right in front of me, and watching the big fish get carved by cut and neatly stacked really made it feel like I was at a true specialty shop. Seeing it in person, rather than just in photos, made me even more excited about the skate I'd be taking home. If you're visiting Naju to pack up some hongeo, this kind of behind-the-scenes moment is part of the fun.

What I ordered: assorted skate sashimi, 250g for 25,000 won

What I packed from Najujeil Hongeo that day was the assorted skate sashimi (모듬홍어회), 250g for 25,000 won. Rather than buying a huge amount right off the bat, I wanted a portion I could enjoy comfortably at home, and 250g seemed just right. The packaging was neat too — put into a dedicated carry bag, easy to transport. There were also a lot of courier boxes stacked in front of the shop, which made it clear plenty of people order not just in person but by delivery too.

Opening the assorted skate sashimi at home

When I opened the package, the skate was neatly sliced into bite-sized pieces. It wasn't just flesh cuts — true to the

Dipped in the chojang (vinegar chili sauce) that came with it, I could really enjoy that distinctive skate flavor and aroma. Since hongeo is a food where people's preferred fermentation level and eating style vary so much, if you're already a fan, there's a lot of fun in finding what suits your own taste.

Where to buy skate to take home in Yeongsanpo, Naju

Naju is so famous for skate fish that plenty of travelers want to eat it there or pack some to take home. This time, instead of eating right at the restaurant, I packed 250g of assorted skate sashimi from Najujeil Hongeo and enjoyed it slowly at home.

I liked being able to visit the shop myself, watch the butchering process, and bring home neatly packaged, ready-to-eat skate. If you're searching for good hongeo in Naju or Yeongsanpo, or want to take home domestic skate from Naju, Najujeil Hongeo is worth considering :)