Gijang Korean restaurant with wide picture windows: Kkomak Hansang

I went out to catch the sea breeze in Gijang and stopped for lunch at Kkomak Hansang Gijang Main Branch, a Korean restaurant famous for its dried corvina set — and it turned out even better than I expected.

I already love Korean set meals (hanjeongsik) in general, but this place felt so neat and well-composed from the spread to the flavors that I thought it'd be a great spot to bring my parents too.

Kkomak Hansang Gijang Main Branch 136 Gijanghaean-ro, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan 1st floor, Morning City Mon–Sun: 10:30–21:00 Parking available in the building

What is the dining room like at Kkomak Hansang Gijang Main Branch?

The first thing I noticed walking in was how open and airy the space felt. The ceilings were high and the light pouring in through the floor-to-ceiling windows put me in a good mood before I'd even eaten.

The tables were also spaced generously apart, so we could chat comfortably without worrying about the people next to us.

Some seats even had neat partitions installed, giving a more private feel. The overall interior mixed wood and gray tones for a modern look, so instead of the usual heavy, traditional feel of a hanjeongsik restaurant, it came across as sleek and clean. The place was large enough to comfortably handle a family outing or a group gathering.

There was a wide range of menu options here. Today we ordered the dried corvina set for 2 (boribulgul-han-sang).

Bori gulbi and the side dishes that come with the set

After a short wait, the table filled up completely with food. Centered around the main dried corvina, there was cockle salad, savory pancakes, fried dishes, and all kinds of namul (seasoned vegetables) and pickles — truly a table groaning under the weight of the food, as the saying goes.

The dried corvina I'd been most looking forward to was impressive just in size alone. It was grilled to a nice golden brown and topped with shredded red pepper and sesame seeds, making it look even more delicious. The outside was chewy while the flesh inside kept that distinctive dense, savory quality of dried corvina — the flavor deepened with every bite.

The watery kimchi and namul had a nice crisp texture too, adding freshness to what could otherwise be a heavy dried corvina meal.

There was a fresh salad, braised lotus root, and seaweed salad too — so many healthy ingredients that I felt healthier just eating it. The lotus root topped with black sesame sauce was nutty and crunchy in a good way.

There was also braised quail eggs, acorn jelly, and blanched cockles — really quite the variety. The cockles were well cleaned of sand, so they were chewy and clean-tasting without a hint of grit.

The golden pollock pancake and the crispy fried eggplant in particular seemed like flavors kids would really love.

Chilled green tea rice and the cockle salad in Gijang

You can't talk about dried corvina without mentioning this cool green tea water. Served in a large bowl, it looked refreshing just to look at. The proper way to eat it is to scoop a big spoonful of rice into the green tea water, then top it with a thick piece of dried corvina.

This combination of rice soaked in green tea water with dried corvina completely cuts any fishy taste while maximizing the savory depth. The salty corvina meets the cool green tea water and gets balanced out, spreading a wonderful harmony through the mouth — truly a dish that makes you eat more rice than you planned. The corvina flesh was so substantial that just one piece filled the mouth satisfyingly.

Every so often, adding a bite of the spicy-tangy cockle salad refreshed the palate again.

Crisp vegetables and chewy cockles were well mixed with the spicy sauce, showing off a charm quite different from the dried corvina.

By the last bite I felt properly, satisfyingly full. Between the quality of the dried corvina and the sheer strength of the side dish lineup, I'm convinced this is a place anyone would praise, no matter who you bring along. It's a great option for anyone wanting to be treated to a proper meal in a clean, comfortable space.