Eel sushi and flame-seared sushi combo in Cheonan: Ganghan Sushi

I was mulling over dinner options in Buldang-dong, Cheonan, and suddenly craved sushi for the first time in a while, so I headed to Ganghan Sushi Cheonan Buldang Branch haha.

It's a place where you can pick anything from set sushi to individual pieces like eel, salmon, or shrimp, so the menu options were pretty diverse haha. This time I ordered 6 pieces of freshwater eel sushi, 6 pieces of half-salmon half-shrimp flame-seared sushi, and 6 pieces of egg flame-seared sushi.

Location of Ganghan Sushi Cheonan Buldang Branch

Ganghan Sushi Cheonan Buldang Branch sits right in the main commercial district of Buldang-dong. There are so many restaurants and cafés nearby that it's a great spot to combine with a stop elsewhere before or after the meal haha.

As evening fell, the signs around the area lit up one by one and foot traffic picked up — the typical Buldang-dong vibe haha. There's a large menu board set up in front of the restaurant, so you can check prices and options before going in.

Interior and tablet ordering

Inside, the space is decorated cleanly with a bright wood tone throughout. The lighting isn't too dim and the tables are spaced comfortably, so it was pleasant to eat here haha. There's also sofa-style seating along the wall, which looked good for groups.

Ordering is done through a tablet installed at each table haha. I liked that I could take my time browsing photos and picking the menu without having to call a staff member over.

Ganghan Sushi menu and prices

Ganghan Sushi has quite a range, from basic sets to individual pieces. The highlights include Ganghan Sushi 12p at ₩14,000, Ganghan Special Sushi 12p at ₩17,000, and Omakase Sushi 12p at ₩23,000 haha. For individual pieces, you can choose from salmon, flounder, tuna, freshwater eel, sweet shrimp, sea urchin, monkfish liver, and more.

Besides sushi, there's also handmade pork cutlet and rice bowls available, so it would work fine even with company who isn't big on sushi haha. What I ordered came to 6 pieces of freshwater eel sushi at ₩11,000, 6 pieces of half-salmon half-shrimp flame-seared sushi at ₩11,000, and 6 pieces of egg flame-seared sushi at ₩7,000 — ₩29,000 in total.

Warm mini udon and sides

A warm mini udon came out alongside the sushi, and it was better than expected haha. It had fried tofu pouch and tempura flakes in it, with a decent amount of noodles, making it nice to eat in between sushi pieces.

The broth wasn't too strong, just warm and clean, so it felt like it reset my palate haha. The fried side that came with it was crispy outside and soft inside — a nice light addition.

Freshwater eel sushi

First, the freshwater eel sushi looked appetizing right away, with glossy eel coated in a rich sauce haha.

The eel was tender and the sauce was sweet and salty, pairing well with the rice. The chopped scallions on top helped cut through any richness haha. Among everything I ordered this time, this was the most intensely flavored, so it was good to alternate with the other sushi.

Half salmon, half shrimp flame-seared sushi

I liked that the half-salmon half-shrimp flame-seared sushi let me enjoy two kinds in one order haha. It had a generous amount of soft sauce on top and was lightly seared, giving it a savory flavor different from raw sushi.

The salmon melted softly while the shrimp kept a slightly bouncy texture, so even with the same sauce, the feel was different for each haha. People who find raw fish texture a bit much could probably eat this comfortably.

Egg flame-seared sushi

The egg flame-seared sushi was also better than I expected haha. A soft sauce was layered over thick egg, giving it an overall sweet and savory flavor.

The egg itself was so fluffy that it went down smoothly in one bite haha. Adding just a tiny bit of wasabi brought a sharp kick that also cut through any richness.

Takeaways from mixing individual pieces

What I liked most about this visit to Ganghan Sushi Cheonan Buldang Branch was being able to freely combine whichever sushi I wanted haha. Ordering the rich eel alongside the mellow flame-seared sushi and the egg sushi meant the flavors never overlapped, so I never got tired of it till the end.

The restaurant is clean and the ordering process is easy, so it's a good spot to stop by for a light sushi meal in Buldang-dong haha. Next time I want to try the Ganghan Special Sushi, or maybe the flounder and sweet shrimp 😊