# Lunch after Chaeseokgang sea cave: 5-fish grill and clam soup, Buan

- By Jian Yeo (https://superchart.com/en/@ppuri-lunch-bench/)
- Written Sep 19, 2026
- Local places › Restaurants › Buan, Jeonbuk
- Sponsored: This visit was sponsored by the business.
- English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@ppuri-lunch-bench/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado/
- Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@ppuri-lunch-bench/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado/index.md)

## In short

Gyehwado is a grilled fish restaurant in Byeonsan-myeon, Buan, right in front of Sonovel Byeonsan. After visiting the Chaeseokgang sea caves and Dakibong Observatory, the writer had the clay-pot rice grilled fish set for lunch — five kinds of fish (rockfish, blackthroat seaperch, yellow corvina, flounder and bakdae) on a huge grill plate, plus a hot pot of clam soup. Recommended if you want a grilled fish meal that's a little different from the usual.

## Good to know

- **Location**: 46 Byeonsanhaebyeon-ro, 1st floor, Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeonbuk, South Korea — right in front of Sonovel Byeonsan
- **Ordered**: Clay-pot rice grilled fish set (signature menu)
- **Fish lineup**: Rockfish, blackthroat seaperch, yellow corvina, flounder, bakdae (5 kinds)
- **Hours**: Opens 7am, open until late evening
- **Parking**: Large lot beside the building, tour buses welcome
- **Other menu**: Clam course meal, braised pomfret, braised hairtail

*as written by the visitor on Sep 19, 2026*

![Signature photo of Gyehwado's clay-pot rice grilled fish set in Buan](https://img.superchart.com/images/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado-01-1w4yq-1200.webp)

I had truly, truly delicious grilled fish. This is Gyehwado, a grilled fish spot I fully recommend near Gyeokpo Beach in Buan. It's a new place that just opened, and the location is amazing too.

## Where is Gyehwado — right in front of Sonovel Byeonsan, and parking?

![Exterior of the Gyehwado building in front of Sonovel Byeonsan](https://img.superchart.com/images/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado-02-1hzek-900.webp)

It's located right in front of Sonovel Byeonsan near Gyeokpo Port. It's also close to Buan's main sights — Gyeokpo Beach and Suseongdang — and very close to the currently trending Chaeseokgang sea caves. Beside the building there's a large parking lot that can even fit tour buses.

![View of the spacious parking lot beside Gyehwado](https://img.superchart.com/images/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado-03-13q33-900.webp)

![Vertical shot of Gyehwado's entrance and sign](https://img.superchart.com/images/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado-04-klh44-900.webp)

## Sea cave and Dakibong Observatory first, then straight to lunch

I stopped by the sea cave before lunch. You have to time the tide right for the sea cave (9am–1pm) — that's when you can get photos in front of it. Take your once-in-a-lifetime shot at the sea cave, then head to Gyehwado for delicious grilled fish — perfect combo! I also stopped by Dakibong Observatory, which has a sweeping view of Buan's West Sea, before heading to Gyehwado.

![The Chaeseokgang sea cave and Gyeokpo coastline](https://img.superchart.com/images/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado-05-16w62-900.webp)

![View of Buan's West Sea from Dakibong Observatory](https://img.superchart.com/images/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado-06-s6vtq-900.webp)

## The space and menu — good for groups, opens at 7am

Gyehwado, this grilled fish spot in Buan, has a really spacious dining room — it can handle groups easily. There's a shoe rack near the entrance, so I thought I'd have to take my shoes off, but you actually keep them on inside.

![Seating in Gyehwado's spacious dining hall](https://img.superchart.com/images/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado-07-fbv61-900.webp)

![Shoe rack at Gyehwado's entrance](https://img.superchart.com/images/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado-08-1q1ho-900.webp)

![Gyehwado's menu board](https://img.superchart.com/images/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado-09-qucgg-900.webp)

I ordered the signature clay-pot rice grilled fish set. There are quite a few menu options. Buan is also famous for clam porridge, and they have a clam course meal too. Plus they're open from early morning until late evening, which I liked — they open at 7am.

![Table setting and side dishes at Gyehwado](https://img.superchart.com/images/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado-10-fa2wi-900.webp)

## Side dishes and clam soup

The side dishes came out and the kimchi was genuinely delicious. Well-fermented mustard leaf kimchi and aged kimchi really got my appetite going. I could eat a whole bowl of rice on the kimchi alone.

![Clam soup served in a hot stone pot](https://img.superchart.com/images/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado-11-13etl-900.webp)

Alongside that comes a hot pot of clam soup made with fresh clams. With seaweed and cheongyang chili in it, the broth was spicy and really refreshing — the kind of taste that clears you right out.

The grilled fish arrived sizzling. Onions were laid underneath the fish. It came out on a huge grill plate, absolutely piled high — I was genuinely surprised.

The clay-pot rice was fully loaded with good stuff! Freshly cooked and delicious, with my favorites — shiitake mushrooms and sweet pumpkin — mixed in.

![Nutrient clay-pot rice topped with shiitake mushroom and sweet pumpkin](https://img.superchart.com/images/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado-12-ujo2d-900.webp)

## Five kinds of fish — rockfish, blackthroat seaperch, yellow corvina, flounder, bakdae

Now let's really dig in!! This grilled fish at Gyehwado, a favorite spot in Buan, felt a little special compared to other grilled fish places (in my opinion). Usually when you think grilled fish, you think mackerel, Spanish mackerel, or Atka mackerel — but Gyehwado was different. The lineup isn't like your typical grilled fish combo, which made it even more satisfying to eat.

![Assorted grilled fish on the grill plate](https://img.superchart.com/images/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado-13-559zn-900.webp)

Let's go through them one by one~ There are a whopping five kinds of fish: rockfish, blackthroat seaperch, yellow corvina, flounder, and bakdae (a thin dried flatfish). Are there many grilled fish places that serve rockfish or bakdae? Not really — you usually have to go out of your way to find bakdae, so I was happy to get it here. Rockfish is mostly eaten raw or in soup, so having it grilled felt special.

![Close-up of grilled rockfish](https://img.superchart.com/images/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado-14-4p3gm-900.webp)

![Flaked flesh from bakdae and other grilled fish](https://img.superchart.com/images/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado-15-1d5fb-900.webp)

Not a hint of fishiness, and grilled perfectly — crisp outside, tender inside. Truly, truly delicious. The seasoning was great too. I kept eating and saying 'so good, so good'... Grilled fish isn't an easy dish to make special, but I kept eating in awe.

![A spoonful of fish flesh with clay-pot rice](https://img.superchart.com/images/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado-16-aryv1-900.webp)

![Golden scorched rice left in the pot](https://img.superchart.com/images/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado-17-kiv7j-900.webp)

## Down to the scorched rice and rice water

The bottom of the clay pot turned a beautiful golden brown, so the scorched rice was excellent. Even though I was full, I kept eating the scorched rice, and finished the rice water too, scraping the pot clean.

![Clay pot emptied down to the rice water](https://img.superchart.com/images/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado-18-1chfn-m-900.webp)

![Full spread of the Gyehwado grilled fish set meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado/buan-gyeokpo-haesikdonggul-lunch-gyehwado-19-f8cqq-900.webp)

Enjoying the grilled fish so much, I got curious about the braised pomfret and braised hairtail too. Next time with a bigger group, ordering half grilled fish and half braised dishes sounds perfect. Gyehwado is a great stop after seeing the mysterious, beautiful Chaeseokgang — I fully recommend it. If you want grilled fish that's a bit special, this is the place.

## Where it is

- Gyehwado (계화도)
- 46 Byeonsanhaebyeon-ro, 1st floor, Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeonbuk-do, South Korea
- 전북특별자치도 부안군 변산면 변산해변로 46 1층
- 35.6312906, 126.4717264
- Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EA%B3%84%ED%99%94%EB%8F%84/@35.6312906,126.4717264,17z

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