Goyang Japanese restaurant for salt-grilled mackerel: Min Cook Misoyaki

As the mornings and evenings started to turn cool, I found myself craving grilled fish. There was a Japanese-style grilled-fish restaurant close to Hwajeong Station and the Hwajeong food alley, so we went for a late lunch.

It was my first visit, around 2 p.m. Since it is on the first floor along the main road, it was easy to find, and the restaurant was neat and clean. Inside, there were plenty of counter seats as well as two-person tables, so we sat at a table. You order using the QR code beside the table.

There are lots of office workers around Hwajeong Station, so it seemed like a good place to dine alone without feeling awkward, or to visit comfortably with coworkers or friends.

What We Ordered for Lunch

This time, we ordered one extra-large salt-grilled mackerel, Korean pork tonkatsu, and the premium fresh salmon hoe-deopbap (raw fish rice bowl).

Master Chef Min Kang-hyeon of Korea

I saw the plaque outside the restaurant and took a photo, too. It read, “Min Kang-hyeon, Korean Master Chef in Japanese Cuisine,” which made an impression. We had come for grilled fish, but seeing the master-chef plaque raised my expectations for the food just a little more.

Egg Porridge and Cabbage Salad

Before the food arrived, egg porridge came out first. I tend to prefer warm food to raw vegetable salads, so I liked the egg porridge. It was soft and easy to eat, and it sat comfortably in my stomach, too.

The cabbage salad followed, with two kinds of sauce. One was for fish and the other for tonkatsu, and the finely shredded cabbage had a nice texture. I do not usually love regular mayonnaise because it can feel a bit heavy, but these sauces were sweet and tangy with an extra flavor that made them delicious. I am not exactly sure what that flavor was, but it really whetted my appetite.

How Was the Premium Fresh Salmon Rice Bowl?

The premium fresh salmon hoe-deopbap was the first dish to arrive. The moment I saw the salmon bowl, I thought, “Wow, that looks delicious.” I loved the first impression.

My son started mixing his with gochujang (Korean red chile paste), and when I tried a bite, I thought it tasted even better with the gochujang. It was generously filled with radish sprouts, perilla leaves, sliced garlic, seaweed, egg strips, onion, and more. Eating the salmon with all those ingredients made for such rich flavors, and my mouth was happy the whole time.

When you are getting a little tired of Korean food, choosing the salmon bowl at Min Cook Misoyaki could add some variety to your weekday lunch options.

Thick Korean Pork Tonkatsu

The Korean pork tonkatsu had a nice thick cut of meat. It was delicious dipped in its dedicated sauce, and since it was so different from the salmon bowl and grilled fish, I was glad we ordered it together.

Tender, Moist Extra-Large Salt-Grilled Mackerel

Finally, the extra-large salt-grilled mackerel arrived. I immediately drizzled it with lemon juice, and the warm, grilled flesh was tender to chew, spreading its savory richness throughout my mouth. There was none of mackerel’s characteristic fishy smell at all, and it was the kind of flavor that lifted my mood.

I found myself wondering how they had grilled the fish this well. It was so delicious that I thought, “So this is how fish should be grilled,” and I even wanted to learn how to grill fish myself. With fresh wasabi and pickled ginger on the side, its sharp flavor and fragrance complemented the mackerel beautifully.

Grilled fish, a salmon bowl, and tonkatsu did seem like a little too much for lunch, but it was a fun meal because we could try a good range of dishes.

Min Cook Misoyaki Near Hwajeong Station: Visit Information

• Address: 37 Hwasin-ro 260beon-gil, 1F, Deogyang-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea (경기도 고양시 덕양구 화신로 260번 길 37, 1층)
• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:00
• Break time: 15:00–16:00
• How to order: Order with the QR code beside the table
• Closed: Every Sunday

The entrance was neat, too, and Min Cook Misoyaki was a great place to enjoy a hearty, delicious lunch near Hwajeong Station. It was my first visit, but I was pleased with both the food and the atmosphere.

There are many menu choices, but the tender, moist mackerel and the fresh salmon hoe-deopbap especially stayed with me. I visited while looking for a place to eat near Hwajeong Station, and I think I would return whenever I crave grilled fish or a salmon bowl. Next time, I would like to try the fresh salmon collar and miso-grilled mero fish, too.