Seongsa-dong fish restaurant for a Chuseok family meal: Min Cook

A pre-Chuseok scouting trip to find a good restaurant for the family gathering! 🌼🐸 Chuseok is right around the corner already. Figuring out where to take a big family group for a hearty, delicious meal is always a chore. Don't stress about it — just head to Min Cook Apbadang Seongsa (제철생선구이 민쿡앞바당 성사)! You'll get compliments from your mom and the whole family!

『 Min Cook Apbadang Seongsa 』 serves a hearty full spread of savory seasonal grilled fish, sotbap (hot-pot rice), and several side dishes. Let Daisy Frog try it out first to see if it's a good fit for a Chuseok family gathering. 🐸

Where is Min Cook Apbadang Seongsa, and is there parking?

Min Cook Apbadang Seongsa is located on the 1st floor of 60-1 Heungdo-ro 415beon-gil, Deogyang-gu, Goyang, and there's parking space in front and behind the restaurant, so no need to worry about that! I arrived a bit early in the evening and the place had a fairly relaxed atmosphere.

At the entrance, Blue Ribbon 2024, 2025, and 2026 stickers were lined up side by side, which caught my eye. 'Badang' is a dialect word from Gyeongsang and Jeju meaning 'sea.' Fitting, since it's run by the owner, a first-class certified master of grilled fish, specializing in seasonal fish dishes — the name really suits it.

Today's fish changes daily at Min Cook Apbadang Seongsa

The fun part of Min Cook Apbadang Seongsa is that the seasonal fish lineup changes day to day! On the day I visited, cod cheek, flounder, and wild bottom cod were listed as the fish of the day. There was also a sign for the weekday lunch special set at the entrance. I got curious about how each fish would taste from the moment I walked in!

Is the dining room good for a family gathering?

The interior of Min Cook Apbadang Seongsa was spacious with generous spacing between tables. Perfect for a big family meal!

Flame-grilled bulgogi + seasonal grilled fish set for two, 46,000 won

After mulling it over using the tabletop kiosk, I ordered the charcoal bulgogi + seasonal grilled fish set for two, which seemed like it'd be great for a hearty Chuseok family meal. Price: ₩46,000.

While waiting, the first thing to appear was a delicious-looking buckwheat pancake, brought out by a smart robot server. :) It was fun seeing staff and a robot serving together.

First bite went to the thinly fried buckwheat pancake — nutty and delicious! Then I tried the warm doenjang (soybean paste) soup from the self-serve bar. Whoa — why is this so good!! It tastes just like the doenjang soup my mom makes at home!

When I find a place with tasty side dishes before the main course even arrives, my expectations quietly go up. Eating my way through the namul (seasoned vegetables), japchae, and kimchi, I became convinced the main dish — the fish — would definitely be good too! Haha!

And finally, the full spread was set.

How the three fish tasted: cod neck, flounder and wild bottom cod

Three types of grilled fish arrived generously piled on a big hot plate!

Cod cheek, flounder, and wild bottom cod — picking through all three fish varieties at once was such a fun way to eat.

Each of the three had a different taste and texture, which made switching between them fun. The flounder especially had a fun twist — each half was seasoned differently! The combination of the sauce on top with the soft fish flesh really suited my taste. We kept saying it was delicious while both of us dug into our little fish party!!

While happily picking through the fish, I also took a bite of the charcoal bulgogi. Yum! Eating the bulgogi alongside made the whole spread feel even richer and more filling!

Fish on crispy sotbap rice

When the food first arrived, I thought, "Can the two of us really finish all this?" — but it was so good that even when full, our chopsticks kept reaching for more. Haha.

And here's the combo I loved most: taking the warm crispy rice (nurungji) made after eating the sotbap, and topping it with a thick piece of flaked fish. So, so good! :) Our satisfaction says it all in the photos. Hahaha.

We cleaned our plates — fish, bulgogi, and side dishes, nearly all gone.

To finish, a cool glass of sikhye (sweet rice punch) from the self-serve bar. Even the sikhye was good! It's rare to find a place where everything, from start to finish, is delicious... From the first bite to the last, it felt like a proper full Korean meal.

Waiting seats and service at Min Cook Apbadang Seongsa

There's a separate waiting area set up on one side of Min Cook Apbadang Seongsa. It was quiet when I visited early in the evening, but having seats ready for busier times felt like a thoughtful touch for customers.

They also run regular-customer events through a KakaoTalk channel, showing the restaurant's intent to keep a relationship going with returning guests. The staff were also kind and attentive throughout the meal.

Would it work for a Chuseok family gathering?

Walking out, my first thought was that I really need to bring my family here. Next time, I'll bring my mom! Taste, space, and service — all three boxes checked at this seasonal grilled fish restaurant!

With fish that changes by season, paired with warm sotbap and various side dishes, this is a Seongsa-dong restaurant worth remembering — whether you're looking for somewhere to take your parents or somewhere for a bigger group meal.

[Lunchbox orders and takeout are also available.] Baemin and Coupang Eats delivery too!

Combining the meal with a trip to IKEA Goyang

After the meal, I continued my outing to nearby IKEA Goyang. 🌼🐸 Having a meal and then browsing IKEA made for a pretty good route. If you're looking for a good place to eat near IKEA Goyang, this is a solid course — a hearty Korean meal on the way to or from IKEA, plus browsing. Ate well, browsed well — Daisy Frog's delicious outing, done! 🌼🐸

Hours, closing day and other visit details

• Address: 60-1 Heungdo-ro 415beon-gil, Deogyang-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi, South Korea, 1st floor
• Parking: Available in front and behind the restaurant
• Reservation: Naver Reservation available
• Hours: Tue–Fri 10:50 AM–9:00 PM / Sat–Sun 10:50 AM–8:30 PM
• Break time: Tue–Fri 3:00–4:30 PM / Sat–Sun 3:30–4:30 PM
• Closed: Every Monday
• Delivery: Baemin, Coupang Eats