Houn in Icheon: Perfectly Grilled Fish and Famous Local Rice
This article was translated from the original Korean post with AI assistance. Read the original Korean post →
Ever since my friend moved to Icheon (a city famous for rice), I've been visiting quite often. Usually, we just grill meat in their garden or buy sashimi to eat inside the house, so we never really had a reason to check out the local restaurants. But today, after a lot of convincing, I finally dragged them out to eat, and we went to Houn, a grilled fish restaurant.
 |
| Houn Grilled Fish |
 |
| The parking lot is huge |
My friend recommended this place, and the parking lot is absolutely huge. What's even more surprising is that this massive lot was almost completely full. One thing to note, though: to get into the parking lot, you have to suddenly slow down from the main road, which seems like a prime spot for accidents. You really need to pay attention when turning in.
After finishing our coffee, our turn came up and we went inside. The side dishes were served immediately. Since it's a pre-order system, you don't have to wait long at the table. I tried a few of the namul (seasoned vegetable side dishes), but they weren't anything to write home about. Just as the mood was starting to dip, the sotbap (hot pot rice) arrived, and the vibe completely changed.
After finishing our meal, we walked along the short path. It wasn't really a designated walking trail, just a neighborhood road, but whether the locals have a knack for landscaping or the trees just grow beautifully on their own, the cherry blossoms were blooming gorgeously.
You have to make a reservation through the kiosk; they don't take reservations over the phone. It gets crowded even 30 minutes before lunchtime, so I recommend arriving early, grabbing a cup of coffee at the cafe across the street, and waiting comfortably, or taking a stroll along the nearby walking path.
The cafe across the street is a great place to kill time since you can check out Icheon ceramics. The walking path is surprisingly well-kept with lots of flowering trees, so instead of getting bored, you might actually lose track of time walking around.
The stickiness of this hot pot rice is something you rarely see in other regions. It has that unique sweetness and chewiness that you only get from places known for having high-quality rice.
We ordered the grilled mackerel, and their skill totally explains why they put "grilled fish" in the restaurant's name. It was grilled to perfection—crispy on the outside and moist on the inside.
The main event is wrapping the hot pot rice and fish in lettuce leaves. The jeyuk (spicy stir-fried pork) was nothing special—just the kind of taste you can easily find in any neighborhood—so it was mostly just filler. In the end, it's all about the rice and the fish. The rice is so good that it actually makes you want to eat more of the pork and veggies just so you can keep eating the rice. The only downside is that because it's hot pot rice, it takes a while to cook, making it hard to order more in the middle of your meal. So, if you're a big eater like me, make sure to order two bowls of hot pot rice right from the start.
 |
| The kind of rice you can only get in a town known for good rice |
 |
 |
| Whoever is grilling this fish does an absolutely incredible job |
After finishing our meal, we walked along the short path. It wasn't really a designated walking trail, just a neighborhood road, but whether the locals have a knack for landscaping or the trees just grow beautifully on their own, the cherry blossoms were blooming gorgeously.
Thanks to the cafe and the walking path, it doesn't feel like just a place to grab a quick bite, but rather a relaxing spot where you can spend a couple of hours unwinding. Next time I'm passing through Icheon on a trip, I think I'll definitely stop by Houn to spend some time before hitting the road again.
 |
| A house that looks like an art gallery. It seemed like an artist lived there. Besides this one, there were several other unique pieces. |