# Gijang eel rice bowls and mentaiko hitsumabushi: Yangsando - By Areum (https://superchart.com/en/@yeongdo-dinner-list/) - Written Sep 9, 2026 - Updated Sep 14, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Gijang, Busan - Sponsored: This post was created with support from the restaurant. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@yeongdo-dinner-list/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@yeongdo-dinner-list/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/index.md) · [日本語](https://superchart.com/ja/@yeongdo-dinner-list/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/index.md) · [简体中文](https://superchart.com/zh-cn/@yeongdo-dinner-list/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/index.md) · [繁體中文](https://superchart.com/zh-tw/@yeongdo-dinner-list/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/index.md) · [Tiếng Việt](https://superchart.com/vi/@yeongdo-dinner-list/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/index.md) · [ไทย](https://superchart.com/th/@yeongdo-dinner-list/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/index.md) · [Bahasa Indonesia](https://superchart.com/id/@yeongdo-dinner-list/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/index.md) · [Bahasa Melayu](https://superchart.com/ms/@yeongdo-dinner-list/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/index.md) ## In short Yangsando Gijang Yeonhwa Branch is a Japanese restaurant in Gijang, Busan, serving freshwater eel rice bowls and hitsumabushi. My husband and I shared the regular and mentaiko hitsumabushi, with a garden-view private room and ochazuke to finish. Yangsando Gijang Yeonhwa Branch is a satisfying choice for a window seat and eel rice bowl. ## Good to know - **Address**: 45-10 Yeonhwa-gil, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan, South Korea (부산 기장군 기장읍 연화길 45-10) - **Hours**: Tue–Sun 11:30–20:30; closed Monday - **Weekday break**: 15:00–16:30 - **Parking**: Large dedicated parking lot - **Rooms**: Window-side private rooms 1–6; multi-table rooms 7–10; one room seats up to 20 - **Signature dishes**: Freshwater eel rice bowl hitsumabushi, eel set meal teishoku, butadon, and sakedon - **Refills**: Steamed egg and buckwheat soba can be refilled *as written by the visitor on Sep 9, 2026* ![Featured photo from a hitsumabushi visit to Yangsando Gijang Yeonhwa Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando-01-3lr8s-900.webp) It had been a while, so my husband and I went to Yangsando Gijang Yeonhwa Branch (양산도 기장연화점), a popular Yeonhwa-ri spot known for eel rice bowls, for some hitsumabushi! It is a renowned freshwater-eel institution with 66 years of tradition, and already has several established branches in Busan alone—a tried-and-true restaurant around Gijang Osiria! ![Yangsando Gijang Yeonhwa Branch visitor information](https://img.superchart.com/images/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando-02-1wldb-900.webp) ## Yangsando Gijang Yeonhwa Branch: location and information It is at 45-10 Yeonhwa-gil, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan, and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:30 to 20:30. It is closed on Mondays, with a weekday break from 15:00 to 16:30. ![Japanese-style exterior and dedicated parking lot](https://img.superchart.com/images/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando-03-evlkj-900.webp) As you would expect from a Japanese restaurant, even the exterior has a Japanese feel, and there is a large dedicated parking lot, so parking is no worry. The Gijang Osiria and Yeonhwa-ri area is admittedly inconvenient without a car, so I loved that the parking was so well set up. ![Garden in front of Yangsando Gijang Yeonhwa Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando-04-1amtw-900.webp) ![Garden with trees and a small pond](https://img.superchart.com/images/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando-05-1969a-900.webp) The garden right in front of the restaurant has lush green trees and a little pond, so it felt a bit like an old Japanese house, haha. ## Private rooms with a garden view The interior was clean and beautifully done, and the atmosphere was so nice. Rooms 1 through 6 are private rooms by the windows, while rooms 7 through 10 have multiple tables. The spaces are nicely separated, making it great for a meal with parents or a family outing with children. There is even a room that can accommodate up to 20 people, so it would be good for group bookings and all kinds of gatherings too. ![Private room at Yangsando Gijang Yeonhwa Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando-06-i1itb-900.webp) The private rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, and I absolutely loved the tranquil garden view outside! It felt like a little bit of healing in the city, lol. And a useful tip: if you want a window-side table, I definitely recommend booking ahead!! ![Garden view from a floor-to-ceiling-window private room](https://img.superchart.com/images/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando-07-1cwdv-900.webp) ![Tranquil garden view from a window-side private room](https://img.superchart.com/images/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando-08-c6mub-900.webp) ![Yangsando Gijang Yeonhwa Branch menu selection](https://img.superchart.com/images/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando-09-d1s3g-900.webp) ## Ordering regular and mentaiko hitsumabushi Yangsando's signature menu includes freshwater eel rice bowl hitsumabushi, teishoku (a set meal) with freshwater eel, butadon (pork rice bowl), sakedon (salmon rice bowl), and a range of side dishes. ![Regular and mentaiko hitsumabushi order](https://img.superchart.com/images/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando-10-hlw9v-900.webp) We ordered one regular hitsumabushi and one mentaiko hitsumabushi! ![Eel rice bowl meal served on an individual tray](https://img.superchart.com/images/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando-11-18nns-900.webp) The eel rice bowls came as individual tray meals, with the main rice bowl and neatly arranged side dishes to enjoy alongside it. ![Individual mentaiko hitsumabushi tray meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando-12-v6gfi-900.webp) ![Eel rice bowl with accompanying side dishes](https://img.superchart.com/images/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando-13-9cqox-900.webp) ![Meal set with buckwheat soba and steamed egg](https://img.superchart.com/images/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando-14-kcbf5-900.webp) ![Hitsumabushi with scallions and shredded seaweed](https://img.superchart.com/images/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando-15-45bxo-900.webp) The individual tray for the mentaiko hitsumabushi had scallions and shredded seaweed to add to the rice bowl, plus salad, buckwheat soba, steamed egg, soup, kimchi, and fresh wasabi—a very generous spread. Just so you know, the steamed egg and soba can be refilled too. They say the mentaiko (seasoned pollock roe) used in the mentaiko hitsumabushi is Deokhwa Myeongran, a well-known Busan brand. It is premium low-salt mentaiko, so it was not fishy in that characteristic way or overly salty, which made it even tastier. ![Mentaiko hitsumabushi made with low-salt pollock roe](https://img.superchart.com/images/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando-16-1aevd-900.webp) ## Eel rice bowl with mentaiko and ochazuke The beautifully browned grilled eel was light and delicious even on its own. ![Golden-brown grilled freshwater eel](https://img.superchart.com/images/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando-17-1op92-900.webp) First, I used the rice paddle that came with it to divide the eel rice bowl into four portions and served one into my bowl, tasting the rice and freshwater eel in their pure form! ![Eel rice bowl divided into four portions](https://img.superchart.com/images/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando-18-13jc4-900.webp) ![Enjoying the natural flavors of rice and freshwater eel](https://img.superchart.com/images/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando-19-cscx0-900.webp) Next, I had it with the mentaiko. The tender grilled eel was nicely coated in sweet-and-salty sauce, and it was such a perfect match with the savory, umami-rich mentaiko. ![Eel rice bowl topped with mentaiko](https://img.superchart.com/images/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando-20-16fnd-900.webp) They also gave us ochazuke broth, so we could make ochazuke (rice in green tea broth), and of course I tried it that way too. ![Ochazuke broth for making ochazuke](https://img.superchart.com/images/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando-21-18nky-900.webp) ![Ochazuke with eel and mentaiko](https://img.superchart.com/images/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando-22-vtwle-900.webp) Unexpectedly, it had a wonderfully toasty flavor without any fishiness, and the grilled eel and mentaiko went so well with it. The ochazuke was delicious too. ![Toasty eel and mentaiko ochazuke](https://img.superchart.com/images/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando-23-lgk66-900.webp) ![Basic hitsumabushi with domestically raised Japanese eel](https://img.superchart.com/images/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando-24-98vcd-900.webp) My husband ordered the basic hitsumabushi! Yangsando's eel rice bowl is said to contain a whole domestically raised Japanese eel. He really enjoyed the fluffy, well-cooked rice, sweet-and-salty eel soy sauce, and tender eel. And on the way out, there were disposable toothbrushes and pump toothpaste! I thought that was a thoughtful touch, haha. I am always satisfied and leave having eaten well whenever I come to Yangsando Gijang Yeonhwa Branch! With its neat, delicious freshwater eel rice bowls and lovely atmosphere, I recommend Yangsando in Yeonhwa-ri if you are looking for Japanese food or a great restaurant around Gijang Osiria~! ## Where it is - Yangsando Gijang Yeonhwa Branch (양산도 기장연화점) - 45-10 Yeonhwa-gil, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan, South Korea (부산광역시 기장군 기장읍 연화길 45-10) - 부산광역시 기장군 기장읍 연화길 45-10 - 35.2185103, 129.2251006 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%96%91%EC%82%B0%EB%8F%84%20%EA%B8%B0%EC%9E%A5%EC%97%B0%ED%99%94%EC%A0%90/@35.2185103,129.2251006,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@yeongdo-dinner-list/gijang-yeonhwari-hitsumabushi-yangsando/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt