Changwon Korean restaurant fish and eel set: Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo

Lately, when eating out, meat is great too, but sometimes I find myself craving grilled fish that feels a little cleaner. This time, we went to a newly opened, popular spot in Yongwon-dong, Changwon for a family meal: Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo, Changwon Yongwon Branch. I was curious because they grill their fish in an oven, and I came away satisfied—the menu was more varied than expected, and the side dishes and self-service bar were all well prepared. If you are looking for somewhere to eat near Yongwon CC, I thought it would be a good option before or after golf, too.

Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo, Changwon Yongwon Branch

• Address: 16 Yongjae-ro, Jinhae-gu, Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea (1st floor)
• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:00
• Parking: Available in front of the restaurant

A newly opened oven-grilled fish restaurant in Yongwon-dong, Changwon

Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo, Changwon Yongwon Branch had me especially curious because it is newly opened in Yongwon. There was space to park in front of the restaurant, so it was convenient to visit by car.

The shop next door is a bar, and it looked as though its spaces could be used at lunchtime, so parking seemed relatively roomy as well.

We arrived right at the 11 a.m. opening time. The first thing that caught my eye when we walked in was the huge oven. There was also a sign saying the fish is cooked in a 500-degree oven. I wondered how fish cooked in such a high-temperature oven would differ from ordinary grilled fish.

A spacious dining room, private rooms, and high chairs

Once inside, the restaurant was more spacious than I had expected. The tables were generously arranged, and high chairs were available on one side, so it looked like a good place to bring children, too.

What I particularly liked was that there were private rooms as well as a self-service bar. The rooms were beside the self-service bar, and we ate comfortably in one that day. It seemed useful for family meals or visits with a larger group. Even though we arrived at opening time, food was already being prepared one by one in the kitchen.

A self-service bar for choosing side dishes and vegetables

One of the memorable things at Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo, Changwon Yongwon Branch was the self-service bar. It had japchae (stir-fried glass noodles), stir-fried sausages, pajeon (scallion pancake), braised tofu, and more.

On one side, there were various seasoned vegetables so you could make your own bibimbap (mixed rice bowl). Eating only grilled fish can make the side dishes feel a little repetitive, but with so many foods available, it was fun choosing different things throughout the meal.

The standard side dishes were also set out for freely refilling. Lotus root, seasoned yellow crab, balloon flower root, dried radish strips, young-radish kimchi, and crisp green chilies were all neat, moreish side dishes. There were also wrap vegetables, tofu, and ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste), making them great for wrapping grilled fish or spicy pork.

The self-service bar also offered unlimited scorched-rice tea and white rice, so you could help yourself as much as you liked. With side dishes, rice, and scorched-rice tea all available, it was perfect for a hearty meal.

Ordering the restorative three-person set and oven-grilled spicy pork set meal

Looking over the menu, there was honestly much more variety than I expected. Along with the signature grilled fish options, there were mackerel, atka mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and more. They did not serve fish alone; dishes such as spicy pork and marinated crab were available, too. The restorative sets caught my eye most of all. The two-person set includes mackerel, oil flounder, eel, and braised fish, while the three-person set adds atka mackerel and soy-marinated crab.

I liked that we could try several kinds of fish at once, so after some deliberation, we ordered the restorative three-person set. We also ordered an oven-grilled spicy pork set meal for my husband, who loves meat.

You can choose white or brown rice. Since white rice was separately available at the self-service bar, I chose brown rice.

The generously laid-out restorative three-person set

Our food started arriving one dish at a time. Spicy stir-fried pork, braised fish, soy-marinated crab, rice, and radish-leaf soup kept coming, and the table filled up in no time. Finally, the oven-grilled fish—the main event of the day—arrived. With the table covered in food, it really felt like we were having a proper meal.

We started with the grilled fish. I tried the mackerel first, and its flesh was tender and delicious. The oil flounder was nicely mild, and the braised fish made a great companion for rice, too.

But the eel was what we enjoyed most that day. It was more of a special treat than I expected, and I kept reaching for it.

The grilled atka mackerel had quite a lot of flesh, so it was easy to eat, and it was mild while still letting the fish’s own flavor come through. The mackerel and flounder were good too, but after trying the atka mackerel, I thought I would order it separately if I came back next time.

Braised fish, soy-marinated crab, and spicy stir-fried pork, too

We also tried the braised fish, soy-marinated crab, and spicy stir-fried pork that came with the grilled fish. The braised fish was well infused with seasoning and went nicely with rice, while my meat-loving husband happily enjoyed the spicy pork.

I especially liked the soy-marinated crab because the seasoning was not overly salty and had great savory depth. Putting the crab meat over rice—there really was no better rice thief!

With all these dishes alongside the grilled fish, the whole spread felt even more abundant.

A hearty meal near Yongwon CC

Overall, this was a pretty successful meal out. There were many kinds of grilled fish as well as dishes like spicy pork and marinated crab, so I do not think choosing a menu would be difficult even for a group with both fish lovers and meat lovers. Above all, the self-service bar was stocked with varied side dishes and foods, so we could eat heartily without feeling anything was missing. The spacious restaurant and private rooms also made it seem like a good place for family dining. Since it is near Yongwon CC, I thought it would be nice to stop by after a round of golf next time. If you are looking for good grilled fish in Yongwon-dong, Changwon, or a place to try several kinds of fish at once, Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo, Changwon Yongwon Branch may be worth a visit.