Haeundae mackerel sashimi lunch in Busan: Haneobuui Godeungeosarang

Today I came for a really special sashimi lunch. They say most sashimi tastes better aged, but this place proudly claims their fish is best cut right after being caught live! Today's star is mackerel. Let's try the delicious mackerel and horse mackerel sashimi at Haneobuui Godeungeosarang, already well known in Haeundae, Busan for its mackerel sashimi^^

Where is Haneobuui Godeungeosarang, and is there parking? The live mackerel truck arrives

Located within easy walking distance of both Haeundae Beach and Haeundae Market, Haneobuui Godeungeosarang is on the 2nd floor of its building, but banners all over the ground floor make it clear this is a mackerel sashimi specialty restaurant. When I went to the dedicated parking lot, they happened to be unloading fresh mackerel and other fish straight from the live fish delivery truck!

Seeing fresh sashimi ingredients arriving from the morning, I honestly couldn't even imagine how fresh the mackerel and horse mackerel sashimi I'd eat a little later would be 🤣

The fish just unloaded from the live mackerel truck went straight into the tank right next door 💦 Watching the fish in the tank made me want to hurry upstairs to Haneobuui Godeungeosarang and start lunch right away!

Inside Haneobuui Godeungeosarang: seating and group tables

The way up to the 2nd floor is clean and orderly, putting you in a good mood already at this Haeundae Station favorite, Haneobuui Godeungeosarang!

Stepping inside, that same feeling continued — the interior was so clean and sophisticated it felt like walking into a high-end Japanese restaurant, a lovely first impression!

Comfortable sofa-style seating and generously sized tables gave the space a relaxed, cozy atmosphere, making for a warm and comfortable meal. There's also a more private group seating area further inside, so Haneobuui Godeungeosarang works well for gatherings and company dinners too.

Besides the tank by the parking lot, there's another large tank right when you come up to the restaurant, and I couldn't even imagine how much mackerel they go through in a day! That's exactly why this famous Haeundae restaurant, Haneobuui Godeungeosarang, got me even more excited.

Now that I've seen the mackerel alive and swimming, let's sit down and order!

I ordered the combo with both mackerel sashimi and horse mackerel sashimi! The phrase printed on the paper cups set on the table was so cute I had to take a photo 😍

While waiting for my order, the basic banchan (side dishes) came out first.

Banchan side dishes and a taster bowl of mulhoe

A clean, well-put-together spread of banchan arrived. I shouldn't fill up before the sashimi even gets here… but every single side dish was so good I couldn't stop eating!

The salad and especially the two pieces of sushi that came with it were so tasty I kept thinking about them, but I held off while waiting for the main mackerel sashimi. A sample of spicy raw fish soup (mulhoe) also arrived — I'd been craving something spicy and cold since yesterday, and with the mulhoe right there I kept sipping the broth nonstop 🤣

What does Haeundae mackerel sashimi actually taste like?

Finally, the mackerel and horse mackerel sashimi I'd been waiting for arrived! They also gave us sushi rice, which was a nice touch.

The staff created a mystical dry-ice mist effect to show off how fresh the sashimi looked, which made for great photos too! Isn't it stunning?

The mackerel and horse mackerel sashimi both had a beautiful, glossy color. They look similar, but you can clearly tell the difference in the skin!

Mackerel sashimi is supposedly really fishy and unpleasant if not done right, but this had zero fishy taste — the moment it hit my mouth I could tell it was properly fresh!

The secret onion sauce and how to eat the sashimi as sushi

Placing the sashimi on seaweed and adding Haneobuui Godeungeosarang's own secret onion sauce doubled the savory flavor. They also gave sushi rice separately — top it with a piece of fresh sashimi, dip it in wasabi soy sauce, and you've instantly got homemade sashimi sushi 🍣

Can you feel that firm, springy texture? The moment it hit my mouth, I understood exactly why freshness matters so much! I never used to really enjoy raw fish, but the mackerel sashimi I tried for the first time today at Haneobuui Godeungeosarang completely flipped my food world upside down 🤣 (Turns out I actually do love sashimi!!!)

The real charm of sashimi is being able to enjoy it in so many different combinations! Wrapped in seaweed or lettuce with various toppings, or even piled on aged kimchi — the mackerel and horse mackerel sashimi worked beautifully both ways 🩵💙

Finishing with crispy fried shrimp made for the perfect end to the meal.

Verdict: trying mackerel sashimi for the first time in Haeundae

Haneobuui Godeungeosarang also offers a variety of grilled and braised mackerel dishes, not just sashimi, so if you're looking for a restaurant in Haeundae you won't regret, I recommend this Haeundae Station favorite, Haneobuui Godeungeosarang.

• Hours 11:00–22:30, break time 15:00–17:00
• Open daily except Sep 28–Oct 1
• Dedicated parking lot behind the building
• Walking distance to both Haeundae Beach and Haeundae Market, 2nd floor
• Private group seating available inside for gatherings and company dinners