Siheung Baegot fish restaurant: 4-fish stamina set for 3, Hwadogeuro

Why I went looking for a grilled fish restaurant in Baegot, Siheung

Hwadogeuro Gan Godeungeo Siheung Baegot Branch (화덕으로간고등어 시흥배곧점) is a new oven-grilled fish restaurant in Baegot. I love fish, but grilling it at home is a hassle. The smell lingers, the oil splatters, and cleaning up afterward is a chore. So on days when I crave fish, I go hunting for a good grilled fish place. This time, while searching around Baegot, I found this new one and went.

The stamina set that won over my fish-averse husband

Honestly, my husband isn't much of a fish person. When I said it was a grilled fish restaurant, he didn't expect much.

But then he looked at the menu and said, "It's not just fish, huh?"

We ordered the 3-person stamina set (보양 3인 세트). It comes with flatfish, eel, Spanish mackerel, Atka mackerel, braised mackerel with bracken, and West Coast marinated raw crab (yangnyeom gejang). I thought it would be only grilled fish, but with the braise and the crab too, it seemed like a good family meal option.

The self-bar at Hwadogeuro: all of this is unlimited?

What surprised me most here was the self-bar.

Most places only refill a few side dishes, right?

But at the Hwadogeuro self-bar, you can help yourself to all of the following:

• Kimchi pancake
• Japchae (glass noodle stir-fry)
• Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes)
• Bibimbap ingredients
• Wrap greens
• Side dishes
• Rice and soup

My kid, who loves kimchi pancakes, was thrilled. I think it's the first time I've seen unlimited kimchi pancakes at a grilled fish restaurant. Honestly, I caught myself saying, "All of this is unlimited?!"

Watching the 500°C oven: my kid loved it

The most fun part with my kid was the 500°C oven. You can watch the fish being grilled right there. The oil drains away below while the fish turns golden, and it's pretty fascinating. My kid stood there watching for a good while.

Maybe food tastes better after watching it being made, because from the flatfish to the Spanish mackerel, my kid ate far more fish than usual.

Maybe because it's grilled in a 500°C oven, the fish was crispy outside and moist inside. I hardly noticed any fishy taste, so it was easy to eat.

How were the braised mackerel with bracken and the marinated crab?

The braised mackerel and marinated crab that came with the stamina set were satisfying too.

The braised mackerel with bracken wasn't harshly seasoned and made me keep wanting rice. The mackerel was tender, not dry, so my kid ate it well too.

The West Coast marinated crab really lived up to the nickname "rice thief" (bap-dojuk). The seasoning wasn't overly spicy, so I kept reaching for more.

The surprise twist: my fish-averse husband

What surprised me most, though, was my husband.

Even though he doesn't like fish, he ate the Spanish mackerel, the eel, the marinated crab, and kept going back for side dishes. He cut the eel in halves and then ate the whole thing himself, haha. He may have eaten even better than I did.

White rice or gondre pot rice, plus nurungji: perfect

At Hwadogeuro you can choose between white rice pot rice and gondre (thistle) pot rice.

We tried both, and both were really good. The nurungji (scorched rice) after the meal was the best. I was full, but it kept going down.

After the meal, plum tea and coffee are also available, which made for a clean finish.

What's the atmosphere like at the Siheung Baegot branch?

We visited on a weekday at 5 p.m. I thought I was avoiding the rush, but there were more customers than I expected.

The hall is large with floor-to-ceiling windows, so it doesn't feel stuffy. You might expect a grilled fish place to be crowded and cramped, but this was more pleasant than I thought. You order on the tablet at each table.

Ordering while looking at menu photos is convenient. It looked fine for a family meal, and also for taking your parents.

Location and hours of the Siheung Baegot branch

• Address: Unit 217, 2F, Center Plaza 2, 86 Baegot 3-ro, Siheung-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Hours: 11:00–21:30
• Weekday break time: 15:30–17:00
• Last order: 21:00

※ The entrance to Center Plaza can be a little confusing, so check the entrance photo too.

Why it worked for a family meal

If you're looking for a grilled fish restaurant in Baegot, Siheung, Hwadogeuro is worth a visit.

My kid who likes fish, my husband who doesn't much, and I, who love Korean food, each had something we liked. Add the unlimited self-bar with kimchi pancakes, japchae and tteokbokki, plus pot rice, nurungji, and plum tea and coffee afterward, and it was a hearty meal.

Honestly, the stamina set was more generous than I expected, so I was a little sad I couldn't make the most of the self-bar. Next time I'll eat a bit less beforehand, have more kimchi pancakes, and make my own bibimbap. If you're stuck on where to have a family meal, it's worth a visit.