Seohae, Incheon restaurant: pollock stew hotter than shin ramyeon

Today I went for lunch to Hangsangcharim Kodari Myeongga, a newly opened restaurant in Gajeong-dong, Ruwon City. It's a kodari-jjim (braised semi-dried pollock) specialist that braises freshly prepped half-dried pollock every morning in its own homemade sauce, and the hearty spread was spicy, sweet, and really delicious haha^^

Location and hours of Hangsangcharim Kodari Myeongga Ruwon City Branch

• 115 Bongojae 3-ro, 211-215, Seohae-gu, Incheon
• 5 minutes from Gajeong Station Exit 6
• Daily 11:00 – 21:00
• Break time 15:00 – 16:00
• Group seating, reservations, takeout, parking

Parking is free in the parking tower in front of the restaurant.

Take the elevator up to the 2nd floor and the store entrance is right there.

It's a brand-new, fresh-off-the-press place haha^^ The lunch special is ₩13,000, so great value too. With lots of hospitals and office buildings nearby, it's a really good spot for lunch.

The rice puff machine at the entrance and meal-kit takeout

There's a rice puff machine at the entrance — I grabbed one on the way in and one on the way out. Crispy, nutty, freshly popped and warm, so tasty^^

At this Gajeong-dong lunch spot Hangsangcharim Kodari Myeongga, you can also take home a meal kit. They say it tastes just like eating in the restaurant, so if you like it, definitely grab one^^

Ruwon City's Kodari Myeongga says it aims for healthy, honest, and fresh food.

What's the atmosphere like?

The restaurant is very spacious and comfortable. One whole wall is a floor-to-ceiling window with a great view, and the high ceilings make the space feel really open.

Is this really a pollock restaurant? It's so cozy and upscale that it's perfect for family gatherings or group get-togethers.

The tables are large and the sofas are soft, so anyone can sit comfortably and eat without feeling cramped, and the partitions give the whole place a private feel.

The self-serve bar is well stocked too — the first spread is brought to you, and if you need more, you just help yourself.

Bean sprouts, lotus root salad, japchae (stir-fried glass noodles), yeolmu kimchi (young radish kimchi) and cabbage salad, tofu vegetable salad. Seaweed and dipping sauce for wrapping the pollock are also neatly prepared.

Menu and lunch special

The menu at this Gajeong-dong lunch spot Hangsangcharim Kodari Myeongga includes the basic spicy braised pollock, versions topped with siraegi (dried radish greens) and ribs or octopus, plus grilled fish and stir-fried pork ribs. On weekdays, you can enjoy great-value lunch or dinner menus with the lunch special until 3pm.

While waiting for the food, sitting by the window munching crispy rice puffs~~~^^

Spicy braised pollock for two, hotter than shin ramyeon

The side dishes came out first, and then the full spread arrived with the spicy braised pollock filling the table.

• Spicy braised pollock ₩37,000
• Hot pot rice ₩3,000

There are 4 spice levels, and I ordered the level hotter than shin ramyeon. Just looking at the color, it looked really delicious, and the capsaicin-loaded spicy aroma really got my appetite going.

The spicy braised pollock for two comes with three big pollock, and the meat is really firm too.

Side dishes and hot pot rice

For side dishes, there's japchae packed with springy vegetables,

fresh, crunchy lotus root salad with black sesame, well-fermented, slightly tangy yeolmu kimchi, cabbage salad with a sweet and creamy sauce, and a healthy mix of soft tofu tossed with carrots and broccoli — all included as standard.

Check out the quality of the hot pot rice!! There was a generous amount of glossy rice, and with beans, black rice, sweet pumpkin, and chewy ginkgo nuts, it passed both the looks test and the texture test as a healthy dish!!

How to eat it deliciously

First, I'll dip the bean sprouts in the sauce so the seasoning soaks in^^

The spicy-yet-sweet sauce really gets your appetite going. If you like spicy food, this is a flavor you'll really enjoy.

It's tasty eaten plain, and just as tasty eaten with the bean sprouts like this,

and piling pollock, bean sprouts, and rice onto seaweed makes for an even more filling and delicious bite at this Gajeong-dong lunch favorite, Hangsangcharim Kodari Myeongga!!

I've personally been to two other pollock restaurants nearby, and this one is the tastiest. And for even more enjoyment, ordering one level spicier than shin ramyeon is the answer^^ If you're weak to spice, wrapping it with rice and bean sprouts helps.

Also, the hot pot rice is so hot that if you pour in water and close the lid, the water will overflow, so leave the lid slightly open. After finishing the meal, the savory scorched rice water and crispy scorched rice — this is really delicious^^

After finishing all of this, I was really on the verge of bursting^^ Still, I couldn't help saying it was a really good meal^^

Wrap-up

Hangsangcharim Kodari Myeongga Ruwon City Branch, a great lunch spot in Gajeong-dong, is a kodari-jjim specialist that braises pollock in its own homemade sauce — thick pollock meat deeply infused with a spicy-sweet sauce, served with side dishes, for a hearty meal.

If you want to treat your parents to delicious, healthy food, or you need a spacious, stylish spot for a family gathering or group dinner, I really recommend giving it a try^^