Changwon grilled fish sets with sungnyung: Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo

Grilling fish at home means worrying about the smell and the smoke, doesn't it? So on days I really want properly grilled fish, going to a dedicated restaurant is just the easiest option :)

This time I visited a well-known grilled fish restaurant in Yongwon-dong, Changwon — Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo, Changwon Yongwon Branch. The address is 16 Yongjae-ro, 1F, Jinhae-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, and it's open daily from 11:00 to 21:00. It just opened recently, so this is fresh info 😊

Inside Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo, Changwon Yongwon Branch

The restaurant has a wood-toned interior with the feel of a Korean home-style eatery. Walking in, you're greeted by the phrase "a healthy table straight from the sea and the land," alongside a big Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo logo — it really gave off that must-visit-restaurant vibe 😎

Overall the wood tones gave the place a clean yet warm Korean-restaurant feel. If you're looking for Korean food in Yongwon-dong, Jinhae-gu, this seemed like the perfect spot for a relaxed family meal!

What is on the self-serve banchan bar?

The first thing that caught my eye at Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo, Changwon Yongwon Branch was the self-serve bar. There was tofu kimchi, japchae (stir-fried glass noodles), and nicely stir-fried sausage and vegetables — I nearly filled up on side dishes before the main dish even arrived haha

Wait, is this really a grilled fish place? That's how impressed I was.

There was even tofu kimchi that made me think of makgeolli (rice wine). Every dish felt made with care, so I kept going back for more.

On top of the basic side dishes, there were fresh wrap vegetables too — the variety was impressive. Being able to help yourself to this much variety, freely and without hesitation, is really a big plus 👍🏻😋

Seasoned lotus root, tofu-based ssamjang (dipping sauce), seasoned deodeok (bellflower root), chonggak kimchi (young radish kimchi), stir-fried bracken, seasoned radish, and seasoned bean sprouts — all great side dishes to go with grilled fish^^ Plates and bowls are also stocked plentifully at the self-serve bar, so just grab as many as you need 😊

Mixing your own bibimbap at the self-serve corner

There was also a bibimbap corner,

and here's the best part: you can even make bibimbap using the self-serve side dishes! Scoop up whatever namul (seasoned vegetables) you like — bracken, seasoned radish, bean sprouts — add the seasoning provided, and mix up a bowl exactly to your taste.

I ordered just one grilled fish dish but ended up picking through all these side dishes and even making bibimbap, so it felt almost like a Korean buffet. 😊👍🏻👍🏻 With this kind of setup, it's a solid choice for a filling meal, so anyone looking for a good lunch spot in Yongwon-dong should consider it.

Menu and prices at Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo

The signature dishes are the Boyang Set for 2 at ₩43,000, which brings out Korean sea eel, flatfish, seasonal braised fish, Norwegian mackerel and more all on one table, and the Boyang Set for 3 at ₩63,000, which adds hairtail and yellow crab stew to that same lineup. There are also à la carte options like the wood-fired grilled mackerel set at ₩16,000 and the wood-fired grilled hairtail set at ₩18,000, so you can choose based on your group size or preference!

Now for the wood-fired grilled fish I'd been waiting for. Let's see just how fish grilled at 500°C actually tastes :)

Grilled mackerel set 16,000 won and Atka mackerel set 18,000 won

Finally, the main dishes arrive! I ordered the wood-fired grilled mackerel set (₩16,000) and the wood-fired grilled hairtail set (₩18,000). Grilled in the wood-fired oven, the outside was crispy and the inside stayed moist — the look of it alone was amazing. Doesn't it just make your mouth water?

The textbook definition of crispy-outside-tender-inside, I'm convinced!! haha

Eating it alongside the savory siraegi (dried radish greens) soup was a perfect match!

With colorful, delicious side dishes, golden-brown grilled fish, and savory soup all together, it really did look like a royal table. 💛 Seeing such a carefully arranged spread, I was more than ready to dig in! 😋

How the mackerel and Atka mackerel taste inside

Sliding my chopsticks under the golden-brown mackerel skin, the flesh came apart softly. I caught the whole crispy-outside-tender-inside moment on video — doesn't it look like it would disappear with a bowl of rice? haha

The staff cut the thick hairtail into bite-sized pieces with scissors. Can you see how soft and tender the inside is, the very picture of crispy-outside-tender-inside? Even watching the video again makes me want more! 😍😍

Lifting a piece with my chopsticks revealed the pure white flesh underneath — a truly mouthwatering moment. It was seasoned just right, perfect with rice!!

Finishing the meal with sungnyung (scorched rice tea)

There's really nothing like savory sungnyung (scorched rice tea) to finish a meal, is there? The warm, savory broth soothed my stomach completely, and it felt like I'd just had a full course meal.

A clean atmosphere, a hearty Korean-style meal, plus the fun of picking your own side dishes at the self-serve bar — if you're looking for a good grilled fish restaurant in Yongwon-dong, Changwon, this place is worth a visit 😍

A great spot for a meal with parents, a family outing, or just a hearty lunch in Yongwon-dong! Whenever you're craving Korean food in Yongwon-dong, Jinhae-gu, enjoy a generous spread at Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo, Changwon Yongwon Branch :) Wood-fired grilled fish, self-serve banchan, and bibimbap too — a truly satisfying Korean table!