Dongjak seafood restaurant housewarming platter: Ttangkkeut Maeul

While preparing for a housewarming this time, I was wondering what to put out as the main dish and decided to pick up some sashimi. Since several people would be eating together, I thought a platter that let us enjoy several kinds of sashimi, rather than choosing just one, would be ideal. So I picked up the Mineo Special at Ttangkkeut Maeul (땅끝마을) on the first floor of Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market.

✔️ Hours: daily, 9:30–20:30

Why I chose the Mineo Special for a housewarming

One advantage of preparing sashimi for a housewarming is that it barely needs any separate cooking, yet it instantly makes the table look much more festive. While looking for a good sashimi spot at Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market, the Mineo Special was the menu that especially caught my eye. I loved that I could enjoy mineo (croaker) and several white-fish sashimis at once, along with the flounder and salmon I eat more often.

When looking for a good sashimi spot at Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market, some people may look only at the price, but I personally consider the portion, fish selection, slice thickness, accompaniments, and service together. Especially for food you are serving guests at a housewarming or family gathering, it matters whether the platter looks abundant when you open it. This Mineo Special was satisfying in those respects.

Most of all, the part that made me feel good at Ttangkkeut Maeul this time was the kind service. They did not simply pack up the sashimi I ordered; they also made sure I had the sauces and accompaniments I needed, and they were friendly throughout. This kind of thing is quietly important when you are picking something up at Noryangjin Market, and the whole experience was comfortable from start to finish.

When I got home and opened the package, it was packed generously enough to fill a large platter. Several kinds of sashimi were arranged densely from the middle to the edge, and they included accompaniments such as radish sprouts, wasabi, rakkyo (pickled shallots), and ginger. Set in the middle of the housewarming table, it looked quite lovely without any extra decorating.

What were the croaker and croaker swim bladder like?

What I was looking forward to most in the Mineo Special was, of course, the croaker. Croaker is known as a representative summer restorative fish, and they say that when it is in season, its flesh is nicely filled out, making it great for its clean yet nutty flavor. As sashimi, it was soft with a pleasant springiness, and a subtle savory depth came through the more I chewed. Its texture was different again from flounder or rockfish, so I could see why people seek out good sashimi spots at Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market for croaker.

A cut worth knowing about when eating croaker is the swim bladder. Croaker swim bladder is known as one of the fish's delicacies, with a chewy, pleasantly firm texture completely unlike the flesh. The platter also included pale, soft specialty pieces that appeared to be swim bladder, and eating them one at a time among the usual white-fish sashimi was fun because of the change in texture.

If you are trying croaker sashimi for the first time, it is worth tasting it with the swim bladder rather than eating only the flesh. Many people also dip croaker swim bladder lightly in sesame oil with salt or just salt; alternating it with the sashimi lets you notice their differences more clearly.

There was also a generous amount of vividly orange salmon. The salmon was rich and soft because of its fat. Having a piece of salmon after several bites of clean-tasting white fish was a nice change of pace. Tastes can differ when a group eats together, so having salmon as well gave everyone more options.

Around the croaker were various translucent white-fish sashimis and cuts with the skin left on. The slices were not overly thin either, so each piece had something to chew on.

I could alternate between soft sashimi, springy sashimi, and sashimi with the lively texture of the skin side. To me, that variety is exactly the fun of picking up assorted sashimi from a good spot at Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market.

Assorted sashimi for a group, plus complimentary shrimp

The assorted-sashimi selection was especially useful for a housewarming where several people gather. Some people love salmon while others prefer clean-tasting white fish, and because one platter held several kinds, everyone could choose what they liked. It was good with drinks and easy to serve alongside the other housewarming dishes.

They even packed shrimp separately as a complimentary extra. It was not just a few pieces—they gave me a generous whole pack, so it felt like another housewarming dish had been added to the menu.

The sashimi was already plentiful, but the shrimp made the table even more abundant. It was an unexpected extra, so I was all the more happy about it, and I was pleased by how thoughtfully they had packed everything.

Storage tips after picking up sashimi

I also have one tip for picking up sashimi. If you will not eat it immediately after pickup, keep it as cold as possible and try to eat it the same day. Especially in summer, it helps to bring an ice pack or insulated bag so the trip does not take too long.

Because fish sashimi, including croaker, is fresh seafood, it is better to keep it refrigerated until just before eating rather than leave it at room temperature for a long time after bringing it home.

There is already so much to prepare for a housewarming. If you make several dishes that need hands-on cooking, such as jeon (Korean savory pancakes) or meat, you can end up exhausted before the guests even arrive.

On a day like that, picked-up sashimi needs almost no effort while still fully doing the job of a main dish. This time too, once I put Ttangkkeut Maeul's Mineo Special in the center of the table and prepared just a few more dishes, the spread came together in no time.

If you want to try a different kind of sashimi during croaker season or are considering sashimi pickup for a housewarming, choosing a selection with croaker at a good Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market sashimi shop is not a bad idea. It was more fun to eat than an assorted platter with only flounder or salmon, and I got to try specialty cuts like croaker swim bladder too!

I visited for a housewarming this time, but I think I will remember it next time my family wants to eat sashimi too. The sashimi itself was plentiful, we could enjoy several kinds of fish together, and above all, the owner was kind and the extras were great.

With the generous shrimp included too, I was able to put together a much more abundant table than I expected. If you want to take care of housewarming food, croaker sashimi, and an assorted-sashimi pickup all at once, Ttangkkeut Maeul's Mineo Special at Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market is worth considering at least once.

It reduced the work of cooking while letting a group choose from many kinds of sashimi, and the friendly service and complimentary shrimp made it satisfying. If you want fresh, delicious sashimi, I recommend Ttangkkeut Maeul at Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market!