Ansan sashimi lunch set at ₩18,000 in Bandalseom: Eochongye 1beonji

How we found Eochongye 1beonji, a sashimi restaurant at Bandalseom in Ansan

Eochongye 1beonji (어촌계1번지) is a sashimi restaurant near Bandalseom in Ansan. I'd heard its lunch special was great, so we went on a weekend afternoon. After an especially hectic week, I wanted to relax by a quiet, calm sea on the weekend^^ We wanted to get out of the stuffy city for a drive, and when I heard a tasty, fresh sashimi restaurant had newly opened near Bandalseom, we headed over with excited hearts.

Is parking easy at Eochongye 1beonji?

The underground parking lot in the building is quite roomy, so parking was easy even on a weekend afternoon. As soon as we arrived, the blue signboard caught my eye. The address is 23 MTV17-ro, units 109–112, Danwon-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi.

How clean were the fish tanks and the restaurant?

The outdoor fish tank by the entrance was so clear the water was almost transparent. The tank grabbed our attention as we walked toward the restaurant, and my little son, young as he is, absolutely loves sashimi and seafood~ The moment he saw it he ran over to look, and the sea creatures looked really fresh and the tank looked super clean^^

Fresh sea squirts and live fish were swimming around energetically in the tanks. According to the notice in the restaurant, only live fish brought the same day from Incheon's Yeonan Pier are served to customers, and looking at the tanks I could see why they're proud of it. Hygiene score: pass, before we even ate!

Is the inside of Eochongye 1beonji spacious?

The inside was much bigger and more pleasant than it looked from outside. There was none of that typical sashimi-restaurant fishy smell or stickiness, which I loved~^^ The seating was roomy enough for big groups too. It's a comfortable atmosphere where you can focus on eating and chatting, a good spot at Bandalseom for family or a date.

What did we order for lunch at Eochongye 1beonji?

We ordered the signature lunch hoebaekban set (sashimi with rice and sides) for three people (₩18,000 each) and crab seafood ramen (₩12,000). The prices are really kind. The assorted sashimi (salmon, flounder, mullet, red seabream and more) starts from a mini size, so it looks easy to order even if you don't eat much^^ I added the crab seafood ramen for my daughter, who loves ramen.

• Lunch hoebaekban set for 3 (₩18,000 per person)
• Added crab seafood ramen (₩12,000)

As we chatted, the big table started filling up. I could hardly believe this was a mere ₩18,000 lunch set, because the spread was so generous!! At first I worried there wouldn't be enough sashimi, but the table was loaded until it nearly buckled, with so much variety:)

What comes in the hoebaekban set?

Neat side dishes and seaweed soup

The hoebaekban set at Eochongye 1beonji comes with seaweed soup, assorted sashimi on a jade stone, sushi, fried shrimp, roe rice in a stone pot, and spicy fish stew (maeuntang). The table was so full it was hard to find an empty spot, and everyone was amazed. For sashimi restaurants around Bandalseom, this was truly top-tier quality:)

First, a generous bowl of seaweed soup warmed up our stomachs. The broth was clean and mild, not salty, which I liked. Soybean paste dip (makjang), salted seafood, stir-fried mushrooms, macaroni salad, white kimchi, seaweed stem salad and boiled green peas on a wooden tray: mild side dishes that were perfect for whetting the appetite. The lettuce and perilla leaves were crisp and fresh, as if just picked from the field.

Fresh assorted sashimi on a jade stone

The star of the set, the assorted sashimi, came on a jade stone, so it stayed cool and chewy until the very last piece. The thick-cut slices melted right into the mouth. It was also a lot of fun following the "How to enjoy live fish sashimi" instructions written on the table.

Dipping it deep in the tangy ceviche sauce, topping it with a bit of sharp shiitake wasabi, or pairing it with the savory special makjang and seasoning, it was honestly so good it startled me~ I don't think it's aged sashimi, so why is it this delicious?!

Sushi with thick-cut fish, and fried shrimp

The sushi was good enough that I'd believe it was ordered à la carte. The rice portion was just right, and the fish on top was long and thick, so it had a proper chew. The sweet-and-sour vinegared rice went very well with the clean taste of the fish.

The golden fried shrimp included in the set! It must have been fried in clean oil, because the batter was bright yellow and really crispy. Dipping the plump shrimp generously in sauce and eating it with the cabbage salad made me so happy^^

Popping, tasty roe rice

Once we'd eaten a fair amount of the cold sashimi, the roe rice (albap) arrived sizzling. It was topped generously with tangy stir-fried kimchi, flying fish roe, pickled radish and shredded cucumber, so it looked pretty too. Mixed up quickly and eaten with the scorched rice crust stuck to the bottom, it was the best.

Hearty spicy fish stew to settle the stomach

The fish stew that comes with a set is usually small, but at Eochongye 1beonji it came properly in a shallow hot-pot pan, piled with enoki mushrooms and crown daisy. After it simmered a bit, I tried the broth: it was clear and spicy without any muddiness, a refreshing way to finish the meal.

What about the extra crab seafood ramen?

The crab seafood ramen (₩12,000) had big pieces of crab in it, and it tasted like a sweet, deep real seafood broth rather than an artificial soup base. It was the dish that perfectly filled our stomachs at the end! The firm noodles soaked up the cool, refreshing broth, and even though I was full I couldn't put my chopsticks down.

Was the family lunch for four good value?

We added ramen to the hoebaekban sets, and when my husband and I saw ₩72,000 on the receipt, we both said it was a great deal. It really was a spread where my husband, the kids and the whole family ate until stuffed.

The food was excellent, but what impressed me just as much was how clean the whole restaurant and the outdoor tank were, and the kindness of the owner, who greeted us with a bright smile even during the busy hours~^^ If you want to enjoy varied, fresh Japanese-style raw fish in a tidy space, or want to properly try sashimi at Bandalseom, I recommend stopping by Eochongye 1beonji.