Gyeongpodae Beach sashimi restaurant, yubiki set for two: Samsami-ne

Hope everyone had a good break! I squeezed in one last trip to Gangneung with my boyfriend right before the semester started. I was a little sad thinking about going back to school, but after staring at the open sea and eating so much good food, I think I've got the energy to push through this semester again... ^^

Today's review is about the restaurant I was happiest with on this trip. Since we were at the beach, fresh sashimi was a must. We originally went looking for cool, refreshing mulhoe, but the staff recommended the red sea bream yubiki, so we switched menus on the spot.

Spoiler alert: it was a choice we didn't regret at all. Here's my Gangneung sashimi restaurant recommendation — Samsami-ne Gyeongpodae Main Branch.

What side dishes come with the red sea bream yubiki set for two?

We ordered the red sea bream yubiki set for two at Samsami-ne Gyeongpodae Main Branch. Not long after ordering, the table filled up with a generous, varied spread.

Usually at sashimi restaurants there are side dishes you barely touch, but here the lineup — crispy fried bites, soft steamed egg, skewered grilled skewers — was solid enough that we actually ate all of it.

True to its reputation as a 25-year-old local favorite, the seafood quality — abalone, scallops, and more — was excellent. No fishy taste at all, clean and fresh, which had us feeling satisfied even before the main dish arrived.

How does yubiki sashimi taste compared with regular sashimi?

Red sea bream yubiki is sashimi served with the skin briefly blanched in hot water. While researching Gangneung sashimi restaurants, I wanted something a bit more special for the trip, and yubiki fit the bill perfectly.

And finally, the star of the show — red sea bream yubiki. The surface is lightly cooked so the skin is crunchy and crisp, while the flesh underneath stays soft. It has a much chewier texture than regular sea bream, which made it fun to eat :)

Following the owner's recommended combo, I paired it with the tangy vegetable salad, or laid a little wasabi over crunchy baek-kimchi (white kimchi) — clean and savory, and I couldn't stop eating it.. 👍

Mulhoe, somyeon noodles and maeuntang to finish the set

The red sea bream yubiki set for two also comes with a large bowl of mulhoe. The set was so generous I'd nearly forgotten about it, but it neatly satisfied the mulhoe craving I'd shown up with in the first place.

The broth came with floating shaved ice, plenty of raw fish, and once we mixed in the thin wheat noodles, it was the perfect palate cleanser. Sipping the broth between bites of sashimi kept refreshing our appetite.

We were too full to eat much of the maeuntang, but it was nice to end the meal with a hot, comforting broth!

There are plenty of tables toward the back of the restaurant, and the space overall felt comfortable and pleasant for an intimate meal. The good food put us in such a good mood that we ended up taking a bunch of photos. Between the mulhoe we came for and the special yubiki we didn't expect, it was a meal that let us properly enjoy a range of textures.

A walk along Gyeongpodae Beach after dinner

Samsami-ne Gyeongpodae Main Branch is just across the road from Gyeongpodae Beach, so it's a great course for a light seaside walk to help digest after eating. We listened to nighttime busking and watched fireworks on the beach, making it a memorable night.

If you're looking to try something special in Gangneung, I recommend visiting Samsami-ne Gyeongpodae Main Branch. It's a solid pick if you're after Gangneung sashimi restaurant recommendations.

Samsami-ne Gyeongpodae Main Branch: hours, location and reservations

• Reservations: Available via Naver Reservation
• Location: 451 Changhae-ro, B-dong 28-ho, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
• Hours: 11:30 AM – 11:00 PM, closed every Wednesday
• Recommended: Yubiki sashimi