Cheonan seafood restaurant for a family feast: Donghae Bada Hoetjip

A seafood spread in Dujeong-dong during our Cheonan trip

While enjoying a trip to Cheonan with my family, we heard there was a great sashimi spot in Dujeong-dong and headed over—today’s pick was Donghae Bada Hoetjip (동해바다횟집)!

What about the location and parking?

Donghae Bada Hoetjip is in Dujeong-dong, Cheonan, Chungnam! Along with sashimi, it offered a range of seafood dishes, including braised seafood, seafood soup, and mulhoe (cold raw-fish soup).

There is a spacious private parking lot right in front, so you can visit without worrying about parking!

Still packed with guests at 9 p.m.

I heard it was also well known as a Cheonan spot for company dinners, and once I visited, I could really see why. We arrived around 9 p.m., but the restaurant was still absolutely packed with guests!

Assorted sashimi and braised seafood set price

Looking over the menu, there was such a wide selection: sets paired with assorted sashimi, individual sashimi dishes, seafood dishes, and meal options. It seemed easy to choose according to your taste. We ordered the assorted sashimi + braised seafood set! You can choose either braised seafood or seafood soup, and it was a generous ₩110,000 set for two.

What we ordered: Assorted sashimi + braised seafood set

First, the banchan (Korean side dishes) began arriving one by one. There was seaweed soup, savory grilled fish, golden pajeon (scallion pancake), and even suyuk (boiled pork). I’d seen lots of other blog reviews saying the suyuk was delicious, so I was secretly curious about it too.

Once I tried it, the suyuk was tender and soft, and it paired so well with dried radish strips—such a good combo +_+ The side dishes were already delicious, so I was even more excited for the mains.

Going straight for the tuna in the assorted sashimi

At last, the assorted sashimi made its grand entrance!

The assorted sashimi was neatly plated in four pieces each. Tuna sashimi sat in the center, with flounder, rockfish, and other varieties arranged on either side.

I feel like tuna loses its appeal as it thaws, so I went straight for the tuna first >_< I placed a piece lightly dipped in sesame oil sauce on seasoned seaweed, added a dab of wasabi, and wrapped it up. It melted away in my mouth—tuna sashimi really is tuna sashimi! It was so soft and rich. This is why I can’t resist tuna.

Next was my favorite, rich and nutty flounder fin sashimi! I gave it a good dip in wasabi sauce and happily dug in.

With delicious sashimi and tasty drinking snacks, how could we skip a drink? I was supposed to be avoiding alcohol, but I couldn’t resist ordering soju. Maybe I shouldn’t say I’m abstaining from now on...

A generous braised seafood platter with roe and milt

After we had enjoyed some sashimi, the generous braised seafood arrived. Wow... the visuals alone were overwhelming >_< It was piled high with octopus, small octopus, squid, abalone, blue crab, shrimp, roe, and goni (fish milt), and it looked abundant before we even started eating.

The staff also cut it into easy-to-eat pieces, so all we had to do was sit back and eat.

I was especially surprised by the large pieces of roe in the braised seafood. I’m a fan of steamed roe too, so I loved getting to enjoy it again after a while.

The sauce was spicy with lots of savory depth! It worked beautifully with the seafood and had that dangerously moreish flavor that kept me reaching back in. As we worked through the generous meal, from sashimi to braised seafood, our night in Cheonan became even more enjoyable.

For family meals and bigger gatherings alike

It was great for a family meal and also a solid place for a group to come and eat generously! If you’re looking for somewhere for a company dinner, I think the plentiful menu selection would be especially satisfying. If you’re searching for a good place to eat in Dujeong-dong, Cheonan, keep Donghae Bada Hoetjip in mind for everything from sashimi to braised seafood >_<