Pohang mulhoe restaurant with high chairs for babies: Ppwang Mulhoe

One dish you absolutely have to eat when you're in Pohang is mulhoe (spicy raw fish cold soup). Looking for a Pohang spot near Yeongildae Beach serving fresh squid mulhoe, I ended up at Ppwang Mulhoe. Beyond the mulhoe itself, the menu also covers whole steamed squid, squid pancake, and fried rice, so it looked like a good pick even for people who don't love raw fish or spicy food.

Parking at Ppwang Mulhoe: a private free lot

Ppwang Mulhoe is a Yeongildae-area restaurant that's easy to visit by car. Having a private free parking lot on site was a relief, since you don't need to hunt for parking around the always-busy Yeongildae area.

When you're traveling and moving between sightseeing spots all day, parking hassles quietly wear you out. Being able to park right by the restaurant and walk straight in was great. That said, the lot can fill up quickly during busy times like weekends or vacation season, so I'd recommend visiting with a bit of buffer time.

Inside Ppwang Mulhoe: seating for groups too

Inside, the place had an overall bright, clean feel. There were tons of 4-person tables, and I saw plenty of groups of 6 or 8 as well. The tables weren't cramped together either, so it was comfortable to eat, and tables could be pushed together for larger groups.

If you're looking for a Duho-dong, Pohang mulhoe restaurant for a family meal, a get-together with friends, or a big group while traveling, recommended!

Ppwang Mulhoe menu and prices

Ppwang Mulhoe's menu ranges widely — from squid-centered mulhoe to flounder mulhoe and various squid dishes. The signature squid mulhoe is 20,000 won, or 25,000 won for the large portion.

• Squid mulhoe ₩20,000 / large ₩25,000
• Half-and-half mulhoe ₩20,000
• Ppwang mulhoe ₩25,000
• Whole steamed squid ₩15,000 (1 whole squid)
• Squid pancake ₩15,000
• Fried squid ₩15,000
• Shrimp fried rice ₩8,000

They also have baby chairs and disposable bibs.

The self bar: unlimited squid soup and sides

Ppwang Mulhoe also has a self bar where you can help yourself to unlimited tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), fried snacks, and more. Noodle add-ins, unlimited~ Squid soup, unlimited~

The squid soup surprised me with how good it was. It's the kind of soup that could make a whole bowl of rice disappear on its own. So refreshing and perfect for curing a hangover that I honestly wanted to go back just for the soup.

Large squid mulhoe, 25,000 won: how does it taste?

The first dish to arrive was the large squid mulhoe. It came packed with more squid than the regular size, and it looked amazing before I even took a bite. The squid wasn't chewy in a bad way — it had that perfect springy-yet-tender texture.

Above all, there was no fishy taste at all — it really felt like eating properly fresh squid mulhoe. There were plenty of vegetables too, adding a crunchy texture with every bite of squid.

The sweet-and-tangy, spicy sauce was a perfect match for the squid! It's the kind of flavor that wakes up your appetite instantly — my chopsticks wouldn't stop moving, haha.

Whole steamed squid, ordered for the baby

I ordered the whole steamed squid for the baby. A full whole squid came out generously, offering a completely different texture from the mulhoe. The flesh was tender yet chewy, with that nutty, savory flavor squid has.

It was delicious plain, and also worked well with a light dip in chojang (vinegar-chili sauce). If we'd only ordered the mulhoe I'd have felt like something was missing — but with the whole steamed squid too, we really got the full squid experience.

Shrimp fried rice, 8,000 won, with squid mulhoe

I was about to just order plain rice, but the shrimp fried rice caught my eye — and the portion was generous too. The rice had a nice savory flavor soaked in, and the shrimp added fun texture to chew on~ Alternating between the cold, spicy mulhoe and the warm, savory fried rice turned out to be a better combo than I expected.

As you'd expect from a mulhoe specialist, the mulhoe was the star! It was packed with squid, the portion was generous, and the squid was so fresh I enjoyed it right to the last bite. This is a place I'd want to come back to for family meals, group get-togethers, or whenever I'm craving a refreshing mulhoe while traveling in Pohang.

If you're looking for a Pohang mulhoe restaurant or a Yeongildae seafood spot, I recommend Ppwang Mulhoe ♥

Ppwang Mulhoe address, hours and parking

• Name: Ppwang Mulhoe
• Address: 203-1 Haean-ro, 1st floor, Buk-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea
• Hours: 10:30 - 23:00
• Closed: None
• Parking: Available (private free lot)
• Reservations: Available