Gwangalli sashimi restaurant for family gatherings: Geumrang Hoetjip

I made a day trip to Gwangalli, Busan for an important meeting~ Since I was treating someone to a meal, I was looking for a good Gwangalli restaurant. And when you think of Gwangalli, you think sashimi, right? I searched hard for a sashimi restaurant with great banchan (Korean side dishes), then heard there was one with Blue Ribbon badges, so I went! It was Geumrang Hoetjip Gwangalli Main Branch~ It also looked great for a Gwangalli gathering or a formal family introduction in Busan~

Geumrang Hoetjip Gwangalli Main Branch SUN - SAT 11:30 ~ 22:30

It is near Millak Beach, so it is perfect for a stroll along the shore after eating, too.

The atmosphere at Geumrang Hoetjip on the sixth floor in Millak-dong

Geumrang Hoetjip is on the Millak-dong side~ There were lots of sashimi restaurants gathered around there. Take the elevator up to the sixth floor!

The framed awards and stickers caught my eye the moment I entered, haha. You could immediately tell it was a Gwangalli favorite.

Can you see the Blue Ribbons?? Not just one, but several!!! It really is a Gwangalli local favorite~

The walls were packed with celebrity signatures, and it honestly looked as though there were even more but no room left to hang them, hahaha.

The dining room is huge, too~!! With so many tables, it is ideal for a Gwangalli group gathering. I visited at weekday lunch, so it was quiet, but I heard it fills up with guests on weekends and in the evenings~

Ordering the Subyeon Hansang for two

Along with the full-course sets, the menu has assorted sashimi and lunch specials! Geumrang Hoetjip is famous as a Gwangalli local favorite for its incredibly generous full-course table setting, so it would be lovely to bring your parents here, too~

Order Subyeon Hansang for 2

A sashimi restaurant meal has to start with abalone porridge! It was rich, nutty, and delicious.

Mulhoe (chilled spicy raw-fish soup) came out too, and interestingly, it had buckwheat noodles~ They had a different texture from thin wheat noodles and paired so well with the mulhoe. There was also a huge platter of assorted seafood!!! The parboiled octopus was tender, not chewy at all~!!!

There were steamed shrimp, sea squirts, gaebul (spoon worms), octopus with wasabi, and sea cucumber. Everything was incredibly fresh, with none of that fishy taste~ That alone called for a bottle of soju... but it was daytime, so I held back ㅠㅠ haha.

Chopped live octopus, steamed abalone, and a salmon dish came out as well. The octopus was so fresh it was really moving around.... The steamed abalone was tender, and the salmon dish was tasty with its sauce. So many side dishes already, right? But there is more—woohoo!

The soy-marinated shrimp were seriously huge!!! They were not too salty, with a gentle sweetness that was delicious. The corn cheese, an essential at a sashimi restaurant, arrived bubbling away and was such a treat, haha.

Cheese-grilled scallops, kimchi pancakes, and steamed egg came out too, and I thought kids would enjoy these~!! Sashimi restaurants often do not have much for children, but Geumrang Hoetjip has lots of foods kids would like, so it seems perfect for a family gathering!!

Wild-caught assorted sashimi after the side dishes

The side dishes are truly plentiful, right??? Now I understood why it has Blue Ribbons. Full marks for the presentation and selection first of all 👍👍

After we had been eating away, the wild-caught assorted sashimi arrived!!! There was such a wide variety~ And get this: you can get a refill!!!!

Each fish was labeled, which made it easy to know what I was eating. Knowing the fish made its flavor stand out even more! The slices were very thick, and perhaps because it was wild-caught, the savory depth was so good~!!!! Ahh, this is somewhere I would want to return to when looking for a sashimi restaurant in Busan.

Geumrang Hoetjip's prized konowata (salted sea cucumber innards) came with it too~ Dipping the sashimi in it gave it such wonderful depth of flavor.

All the way through spicy fish stew and finishing dishes

Just as we were nearly done with the sashimi, the maeuntang (spicy fish stew) came out, haha. Even for two people, it was such a generous pot... Spicy and refreshing, it cleansed the palate~

Along with the spicy fish stew, no fewer than four dishes came out as the finishing meal!! What is this level of generosity... There were even two fish dishes, plus fried corn and albap (rice topped with fish roe)!!! The albap had so much flying-fish roe, hahaha.

Final thoughts on a Gwangalli family gathering feast

Geumrang Hoetjip Gwangalli Main Branch made me understand why it is a Gwangalli local favorite, with its generous portions and excellent flavors!! If you are looking for a place for a Gwangalli family gathering or formal family introduction, definitely give it a visit~!!