Sushi for two in Gimhae with flame-seared salmon and shrimp: Sushi Hwa

What we ordered for lunch at Sushi Hwa in Gimhae

What we ordered at Sushi Hwa in Gimhae that day was the Sushi Hwa flame-seared sushi set, 27 pieces, and for sides we chose udon and cold soba. With 27 pieces of sushi plus warm udon and cool cold soba on the side, the set was more filling than expected — this is a review of a sushi restaurant worth knowing in Gimhae.

On days when I want sushi, I strangely don't want to eat it carelessly. There are days when, instead of just filling up, you want to savor each piece slowly and enjoy the mood. But actually picking a sushi place takes some thought. Is the set good, is the portion enough, do sides come with it, is it worth the price — you end up checking all of that. And if you like flame-seared sushi in particular, you want sushi with a little smoky char rather than plain raw sushi.

What is Sushi Hwa like inside?

Sushi Hwa was a good spot to visit in Gimhae whenever I wanted sushi or Japanese food. Sushi places can be hard to visit often if the atmosphere is too heavy or the prices too steep, but this place felt comfortable to just drop into for a meal.

When looking for sushi places in Gimhae, you also end up considering the vibe — good for solo dining, good for dates, good for family. Sushi Hwa had a solid sushi set and sides you could eat alongside it, making it an easy pick for lunch or dinner.

The interior was on the clean, tidy side too, which made it pleasant for eating sushi. It wasn't loud or cluttered — more of a comfortable place to sit and enjoy your meal.

What comes in Sushi Hwa's 27-piece flame-seared sushi set?

The menu we ordered that day was the Sushi Hwa flame-seared sushi set, 27 pieces. Since the flame-seared sushi comes as 27 pieces, we liked being able to try a variety of sushi at once. Sticking to one type the whole meal can get a bit tiring, but a set like this with variety pushes the satisfaction up.

With flame-seared sushi in particular, the surface is lightly cooked, giving it more of a savory feel than regular raw sushi. It's less intense than raw fish, so even people who like sushi but find sashimi a bit much can eat it fairly comfortably. We paired this with udon and cold soba as our sides.

The moment the flame-seared sushi set arrived, my first thought was, "this is a pretty solid set." With 27 pieces, the portion looked generous, and it was neatly arranged, which looked great too. Visuals matter a lot for that first impression with sushi. The slightly charred coloring unique to flame-seared sushi made it look even more appetizing than regular sushi.

Udon or cold soba: which side is better at Sushi Hwa?

When you're just eating sushi, sometimes you crave a warm broth or noodle dish partway through, so having udon and cold soba together made the meal much more balanced. We also picked cold soba to eat alongside, and it had a different charm from the udon. Where udon feels warm and hearty, cold soba feels cool and clean. Partway through eating sushi you sometimes want to reset your palate, and the cold soba did exactly that. On hot days, choosing cold soba would be an even better call.

The flame-seared sushi was savory and soft, the udon filled us up warmly, and the cold soba cleaned the palate between bites.

The udon we chose as a side came out alongside everything. Having a warm broth while eating sushi really boosts the satisfaction level. The udon's warm broth made it good to alternate with the sushi.

Is the 27-piece set enough for two people to share?

The Sushi Hwa flame-seared sushi set, 27 pieces, was nice because the portion wasn't too small. At sushi places you sometimes think, "it's tasty, but the portion is a bit lacking." But with 27 pieces, it worked well for two people to split, and with the sides on top, it was even more filling.

The sushi was good dipped lightly in soy sauce, and also fine with a bit of extra wasabi. The flame-seared sushi itself had a savory flavor, so it was plenty tasty even eaten plain.

Personally, I think the Sushi Hwa flame-seared sushi set would suit anyone who likes flame-seared sushi. It's more savory than regular sushi, and being lightly cooked, it's likely to please more people regardless of preference.

People who like sushi with a strong raw-fish feel might prefer the standard sushi menu more, but if you like a smoky char or savory flavor, the flame-seared sushi set could be a good choice. With 27 pieces, it's especially good for sharing several pieces, and pairing it with udon or cold soba makes it a filling meal on its own. If you're looking for somewhere to eat sushi in Gimhae, the Sushi Hwa flame-seared sushi set might be worth checking out.

In particular, the Sushi Hwa flame-seared sushi set, 27 pieces, was satisfying because the sushi portion was reasonably generous, and you can also choose side dishes.

Why the flame-seared salmon and shrimp were the best pieces

I especially loved the shrimp and salmon. I'm not great with raw salmon, but since it comes flame-seared here, it seemed perfect even for people who can't eat sashimi.

Who should eat at Sushi Hwa in Gimhae?

• People looking for a good sushi restaurant in Gimhae
• People looking for a good Japanese restaurant in Gimhae
• People who like flame-seared sushi
• People looking for a well-rounded sushi set
• People who want udon or cold soba alongside their sushi
• People looking for sushi that's good to share between two
• People who prefer flame-seared sushi over sushi with a strong raw feel
• People who want a clean, satisfying lunch or dinner

In particular, the Sushi Hwa flame-seared sushi set, 27 pieces, was satisfying because the sushi portion was reasonably generous, and you can also choose side dishes.

What we ate at Sushi Hwa in Gimhae that day was the Sushi Hwa flame-seared sushi set, 27 pieces, with udon and cold soba as sides. The flame-seared sushi had a savory flavor and a subtle smoky note, and with 27 pieces, it was substantial enough for two. The udon was a nice warm broth to pair with it, and the cold soba was cool and clean, good for cleansing the palate between bites. Having udon and cold soba alongside the sushi made the meal feel much heartier than sushi alone would. On a day you want sushi in Gimhae, especially if you like flame-seared sushi, the Sushi Hwa flame-seared sushi set, 27 pieces, is worth trying. Next time, I'd like to try other sushi sets or individual menu items.