Dujeong-dong sashimi date, 6-fish platter, jjim tower: Donghae Bada

Looking for a sashimi restaurant in Cheonan? Here's my honest review of the sashimi + seafood jjim (steamed seafood) set for 2 at Donghae Bada Hoetjip (동해바다횟집).

Is parking easy at Donghae Bada Hoetjip in Dujeong-dong?

Donghae Bada Hoetjip has a large private parking lot, so you don't need to worry about parking if you drive. I went while hunting for a good sashimi place in Cheonan. It's summer, so I'm extra picky about hygiene, and I liked the good reviews and the neat, tidy setup.

The first thing I loved when I arrived was that spacious private lot. For someone who drives everywhere, parking isn't optional, it's essential, and this lot is nice and roomy.

When I walked in, a staff member greeted me warmly right away. That put me in a good mood before the meal even started.

Inside Donghae Bada Hoetjip: atmosphere, group room and high chairs

Inside, the tables are spaced widely and the room is divided into sections, so it was easy to eat while chatting quietly. It was really busy, but the mood wasn't rowdy at all.

There's a separate room for group dinners, and high chairs are available too, so it looked good for visiting with kids. I also thought it was a thoughtful touch that there's a coffee machine for a drink after the meal.

How much is the sashimi + seafood jjim set for 2?

The sashimi + seafood jjim set for 2 at Donghae Bada Hoetjip was ₩95,000. That's what we ordered, and it was great value.

That day I was craving sashimi and my boyfriend was craving seafood jjim, and it turned out there was a set that combined both?! Perfect, so we ordered without a second thought. Going by the price alone you might think it's a bit steep, but once you see the spread, you immediately understand why so many people call it good value.

The menu also has tuna sashimi, agujjim (spicy monkfish stew), haemultang (seafood stew) and more, so there's something for every taste. The table next to us ordered the haemultang and added noodles at the end and ate it all up, and watching them made me want some too.

Generous starters even before the mains

The seukkidashi (starter dishes) were seriously generous: seaweed soup, grilled flounder, pajeon (scallion pancake), beondegi (silkworm pupae), suyuk (boiled pork) and more. Each one came out with care and there was a lot of variety, so waiting for the mains wasn't boring at all.

The suyuk with seasoned dried radish was especially delicious.

Six kinds of sashimi served on a stone

The sashimi here doesn't come on a plain plate. Each piece is placed on a stone, one by one, in a really classy way. It looks so elegant and neat that I thought it would be great for entertaining business guests, too.

That day we got six kinds in all: three red-fleshed fish and three white-fleshed fish. The fish may vary a little depending on the season and the day's supply.

With red-fleshed fish like tuna and salmon and white-fleshed fish in the flounder, rockfish and sea bream family, there was plenty of variety, so I never got tired of it.

Was the tuna properly thawed?

The tuna in the sashimi platter was thawed perfectly, with no frozen chill or mushy texture. There was almost no fishy taste, and it was my favorite of the whole platter.

The flounder was also wonderfully fresh in texture. It was chewy and springy, and the more I chewed, the more a gentle sweetness and nutty flavor came through. The fish quality was good across the board, so I don't think you'd regret whichever sashimi you order.

Then the seafood jjim arrives and the table is complete

The seafood jjim in the set for 2 came out when we were partway through the sashimi, and it looked incredibly generous.

It's for two people, so I thought the portion would be small, but the tower of seafood piled up high was amazing.

It had a huge variety of seafood: big octopus legs, nakji (small octopus), crab, fish roe, pollock roe, squid, abalone and more. I'd assumed seafood jjim just means bean sprout jjim and didn't expect much, but the lineup was so good that I was truly satisfied with this dish.

The crab and octopus were cut up for us, so they were easy to eat.

The spice level is sneakily hot in a way that keeps you reaching for more. It was perfect as a finish after the sashimi, and I think it would go well mixed into rice too. I was too full, so I didn't order rice separately. Being able to enjoy both sashimi and seafood jjim together is the biggest strength of this set, I think.

Verdict: who should go to Donghae Bada Hoetjip?

Donghae Bada Hoetjip is famous as a Cheonan sashimi spot! The private parking lot makes parking easy and the staff were friendly. The most important part, the sashimi quality, was perfect with nothing to complain about, and it's clearly a place whose taste has already been proven by lots of customers.

The sashimi platter looks great, so I think it suits a meal with your parents or entertaining guests. If you're looking for a sashimi restaurant in Cheonan with a generous spread, give it a visit :)