Sushi restaurant in Hwajeong, Goyang: solo set meal upgrade, Min Cook

Do you know the place in Hwajeong with really good sushi? I actually visited here once before with my boyfriend, and it was delicious then too haha. This time I was running errands around Hwajeong and got so hungry that I came back to eat solo. Turns out this place is well known among locals — after operating in the same spot for so long, it really felt like the neighborhood knew it well.

My favorite food is sushi, no question. Sushi is love... haha. So this time too, while looking for good restaurants near Hwajeong Station, I came straight to Min Cook Dasima without a second thought.

How long does it take to walk from Hwajeong Station to Min Cook Dasima?

Min Cook Dasima is about 240m from Exit 1 of Hwajeong Station. I walked there that day and it was closer than I expected, so it was easy to find.

Above all, this place has held its spot for over 20 years and was selected as a Hundred-Year Store. That certification caught my eye right from the entrance! Having operated in the same location for so long just made me trust it more. On top of that, it's apparently been recognized as a master craftsman in Japanese cuisine, which gave sushi lovers like me plenty of reason to want to try it. So I wanted to introduce this to anyone looking for a long-running sushi restaurant near Hwajeong Station.

Min Cook Dasima's wood-toned second floor and window bar table for solo diners

Stepping inside Min Cook Dasima, the interior was decorated in a clean wood tone. Large windows on every side let in great light. Being on the second floor, you can see green ginkgo trees outside — it almost felt like a café with a nice view haha. The 2- and 4-person tables weren't packed too close together either, so everything felt spaciously arranged.

A self-service corner! Small plates and soy sauce and other essentials are set out here.

There's also a long bar table running along the window, which made it feel totally fine to eat alone. Since the weather was so nice that day, I sat by the window where I could see the green scenery. Even eating solo, it was a spot where I could enjoy the meal in a good mood.

Min Cook Dasima's menu and QR ordering at the table

At Min Cook Dasima you order via QR code right at your table. Looking at the menu, there was quite a variety — from the assorted sushi and sushi sets to raw salmon rice bowls, individual sushi pieces, Korean pork cutlet, and flounder sashimi rice bowls. There were plenty of options that suited my taste for seafood, so I paused a moment to think about what to order.

Starting the meal with warm rice porridge

Not long after ordering, a warm rice porridge (juk) arrived first. Warming up your stomach with soft porridge before diving into sushi really got my appetite going. This kind of step-by-step course order is part of the charm of a set meal, I think.

What comes with the special sushi set meal?

What I ordered that day was the special sushi set plus 3 pieces of flounder belly sushi! The special sushi set comes with a variety of items — sashimi, a 9-piece assorted sushi platter, salad, braised or grilled fish, Japanese-style steamed egg, kimchi, tempura, and miso soup. I wondered if I'd ordered too much for one person... but it was so good I finished it all lol. If you want a hearty lunch near Hwajeong Station, this set menu is a solid option.

The flounder belly is insane, right? (Please add it on and try it...)

It really was a full spread — looked appetizing just to see.

Fresh, generously cut sushi at Min Cook Dasima

The sushi came in a variety of types — flounder, sea bream, raw salmon, soy-marinated shrimp, tuna, thick sushi rolls (futomaki), and more. Overall the ingredients were fresh and the sushi pieces were on the larger side, so the texture was great. Especially when the rice and the fish came together, there was a sweet, soft flavor that was delicious.

The refreshing salad woke up my appetite... the salad was genuinely crisp and fresh.

That pudding-like steamed egg you get at omakase places! The seasoning soaked in so well, it was delicious!!

When things start to feel a bit rich, one sip of the clear soup resets your palate so you can keep eating..!!

Why adding 3 pieces of flounder belly sushi was the right call

If you like sushi, you'll probably love flounder fin — it was genuinely delicious. So adding the 3 pieces of flounder belly sushi was really the right choice. So glad I added it on haha. That's the thing about a good sushi restaurant — you've got to add on one of your favorite items.

The salmon sushi nobody can skip

And I just can't resist salmon ㅠㅠ I went through a phase of being obsessed with salmon, and eating a proper salmon sushi again after a while was delicious. Even though I came to eat alone, having a variety of my favorite foods laid out gave me the fun of trying each one.

From sashimi to sushi, steamed egg, and tempura — even eating alone, it felt like a properly full meal! So if you're looking for somewhere near Hwajeong Station where you can eat cleanly and satisfyingly on your own, this could be a good option.

The color on that tuna is no joke, right?! A visual that makes you want to eat it again...

A relaxed solo lunch at Min Cook Dasima

This time I revisited Min Cook Dasima alone, after coming with my boyfriend before, and the feeling was completely different. Eating my favorite food slowly by myself, looking out at the green scenery through the window — it was more relaxing than I expected. With so many wedding invitation gatherings and constant meetups these days, this quiet, solo mealtime actually felt really good haha.

Especially if you're looking for a good restaurant near Hwajeong Station and love sushi, this place is worth a visit at least once. Operating in the same spot for over 20 years, I could see why it has so many regulars. It's great for a sushi set lunch near Hwajeong Station, and works well whether you're eating solo or on a date.

I'd eaten here before and loved it, so I came back — and once again, fully satisfied! If you're looking for a place to eat near Hwajeong Station that's clean and filling, keep this in mind. And since I love sushi so much, I'm sure I'll be back again haha.

If you're looking for a long-running sushi restaurant among the good spots near Hwajeong Station, this is one I'd recommend! Eating sushi I love while taking in the green view, all at a relaxed solo pace, made the day extra memorable. I'm keeping this on my personal list of favorite sushi restaurants :) Next time I'll have to come back with my boyfriend again haha.