Namhae Hoetjip in Oncheonjang: good filefish, a few letdowns

I called some friends together, and we met in Oncheonjang at about 6 on a Sunday evening. Namhae Hoetjip was the first stop that night. I wrote up the second one in my Oncheoncheon Yanggopchang note.

The plan was sashimi, and at first I had gizzard shad and squid in mind. We went to Makssereo Hoetjip next door first. By the time we got there the gizzard shad had sold out, though it looked like they still had squid. After some back and forth we settled on Namhae Hoetjip, because I spotted filefish, which I have always liked.

We picked our fish, went up to the second floor, and waited. The side dishes came out first.

The sashimi took a long time. Getting a server’s attention took a long time too. I could only guess that there were not many people working for a room that size. When I asked for water, it came frozen solid. While I was breaking up the ice, they swapped it for another bottle.

We ordered filefish and squid sashimi. As I remember it, the filefish was about 40,000 won and the squid about 25,000 won. There is a separate dipping sauce charge of 5,000 won per person.

Setting the inconveniences aside, I was happy with how the sashimi tasted. I was sorry the filefish liver did not come with it, though. I like the taste of that liver. The squid came in thin strips, and I prefer it sliced flat.

Once I learned about the sauce charge, I thought we would have spent less at Makssereo Hoetjip. I did not actually compare the two, so that is only my guess. By my own standards, Busan has plenty of sashimi places that do better on price or food. I have not decided whether I will go back. I am also thinking of trying Makssereo Hoetjip next door next time. About a month later I did.

The restaurant closes on the third Sunday of each month and has parking. The day I went was the fourth Sunday.