Uiwang fish grill: Spanish and Atka mackerel plus seafood roe stew

Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo, a Korean set-meal restaurant by Baegun Lake

A wood-fired fish restaurant at the end of a Baegun Lake drive

Baegun Lake is a great spot for a drive or a walk, so I come here once in a while, and it's lovely to be able to have a relaxed meal with nature in view too. At this Baegun Lake Korean set-meal restaurant, Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo, I was happy with everything, from the roomy parking lot to the neat spread of dishes and the fish grilled over an oak fire. There's a generous private lot in front, so it's easy even on weekends, and a parking attendant is on duty and helps you park, which put my mind at ease haha. The hanok-style (traditional Korean house) exterior blends in with the lake scenery and raises your expectations from the first glance. True to the slogan "a healthy table from the sea," the seasoning on every dish was just right. By that I mean a little milder than at the average restaurant, because I'm a bit of a mild-flavor person haha. Top praise for the saltiness!

Open kitchen with a 500-degree oak fire, and window seats

Step inside and the high ceiling, grand beams and neat indoor greenery make for a warm, comfortable mood. The eye-catcher is the big open kitchen in the middle, where you can watch fish being grilled over an oak fire above 500 degrees. So cool! Because it's cooked fast at high heat, the outside is crisp and the inside moist, and I hardly noticed any fishy smell. The tables are spaced widely, so it's easy to talk, and the big windows let in natural light, which made the meal even more pleasant. I was in such a good mood! I've come to Baegun Lake so often, and I never knew a place like this was here! The ridgelines of the mountains spread out in front of you, and it would be nice in autumn, but I think this place would be perfect the day after snow, when every branch is covered in white. Last winter I picked Santa Beluca, but today I found this one: a place to spend a few hours with the whole mountain turned white after the snow.

What's on the all-you-can-eat self-serve banchan bar?

The origin of the ingredients is openly displayed, which built trust, and with thoughtful touches like baby chairs and a coffee machine, this Baegun Lake set-meal restaurant is a satisfying choice for families too. Nothing is missing here. The all-you-can-eat self-serve bar is well kept, with a variety of banchan (side dishes) neatly arranged so you can take as much as you like, and every one tasted made with care. There was seasoned balloon flower root and bean sprouts, pickled chili peppers, japchae (glass noodle stir-fry), lotus root, acorn jelly, macaroni salad, kimchi pancake and even tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes). The mild seasoning went well with the main dishes, and it was nice to refill whatever ran out without any pressure. I could enjoy a generous spread throughout the meal, and the restaurant's philosophy of treating guests with care came through. The owner was really kind too, and I told them so on my way out haha.

Grilled Spanish and Atka mackerel, seafood roe stew, and scorched rice

The main menu is wood-fired grilled fish, seafood roe stew and freshly cooked pot rice. We'd eaten mackerel pretty often in Jeju, so we ordered Spanish mackerel and Atka mackerel, and got the roe stew as a side dish. Total winning combo, and I recommend the roe stew~~ haha. Insanely good!

The pot rice is plain white rice, but eaten together with the rest it was mild and the scorched rice was properly crisped, so I enjoyed it. The spicy seafood roe stew is packed with clams, water dropwort, fish roe and milt, and little barley shrimp add a refreshing flavor. It was a perfect match with the grilled fish, and to finish the meal, pouring water into the pot rice to make sungnyung (scorched rice tea) was just perfect. With fish grilled right over the fire, I understand why so many people already come here.

Who should you bring to Baegun Lake?

If you're looking for a restaurant with a nice atmosphere near Baegun Lake, this Korean set-meal spot is a satisfying choice. The wide parking lot, pleasant interior and kind service, plus neat banchan, wood-fired fish, roe stew and pot rice, left nothing lacking. After the meal, show your receipt and you get a discount at a partner café nearby. It suits family gatherings, dates and entertaining guests, and if you want tasty grilled fish and clean-tasting side dishes at Baegun Lake, this newly opened and extra-clean place is great. Honestly, it's rare these days that I feel this good after eating out, but today I felt good about everything, truly everything. After a happy meal, I enjoyed a cool drink at the Starbucks overlooking the lake with green nature all around, then headed home.

Good, good, good!