Ilsan Fish Market, Ulsan: Fresh Sashimi at Sunset, Right by the Sea

Sashimi with a view of the sea — most of us have that dream. But usually the “sea view” turns out to be a window far away. At Ilsan Fish Market Center in Dong-gu, Ulsan, the tables are set up right at the water’s edge. Eating sashimi here as the sun went down was the ultimate Korean night-out (we call it yajang, eating outdoors under a tent).

Name	Ilsan Fish Market Center (일산수산물판매센터)
Address	150 Ilsanjin 11-gil, Dong-gu, Ulsan 울산 동구 일산진11길 150
How it works	① Choose your fish at a market stall ② Take the stall’s paddle sign to a “chojang” restaurant and get a table ③ Pay the restaurant only for the table and drinks
Best seats	Outdoor tables on the 1st floor, right by the water
Where we went	Myeongdal Susan (stall no. 1) for fish, Gangwon Chojang for the table

Step 1: Pick your fish at the market

The fish market is on the 1st floor of the building. Each stall is numbered and the tanks go on and on. We chose our fish at stall no. 1, Myeongdal Susan. After paying, they hand you a paddle sign with the stall’s name.

Step 2: Take the sign to a “chojang” restaurant

Around the market there is a row of restaurants called chojang-jip (named after chojang, the sweet-and-spicy dipping sauce). Bring your paddle sign, grab a table and they serve the fish you bought. We went to Gangwon Chojang. You pay the market for the fish, and the restaurant only charges for the table and drinks.

Sit outside on the 1st floor

Tents and tables line up in front of the restaurants. If you want to be close to the sea, choose the outdoor seats on the 1st floor — boats are floating right in front of you. Every table has a tablet, so ordering drinks is easy even if you do not speak Korean.

Sunset is the magic hour

We arrived around sunset, and the sky slowly turned orange. One bite of sashimi, one look at the sea, one sip, one look at the sunset — repeat.

The table setting

Side dishes come first: corn, crackers, lettuce and perilla leaves for wraps, chojang and soy sauce, plus shrimp, wasabi and pickles.

Wild-caught mixed sashimi

We had a mix of that day’s wild-caught fish — half white fish, half reddish fish. The flesh was firm and chewy and got nuttier the more I chewed. Prices are reasonable, too.

Fried fish and a spicy stew to finish

Crispy fried fish came out as well — crunchy outside, soft white flesh inside. We finished with a hot, spicy stew.

After dark, a different mood

Once the sun sets, the lights across the water reflect on the sea and the bulbs under the tents come on. That is when the yajang vibe really kicks in.

Zoapik’s verdict

– Outdoor tables right at the water’s edge — amazing atmosphere – Go at sunset for the best experience – Wild-caught sashimi, firm and delicious, at fair prices – Simple system: buy fish at the market, pay the restaurant only for table and drinks – Close to Ilsan Beach, easy to add to an Ulsan itinerary – Heads-up: outdoor seats depend on the weather, so bring a jacket

If you are traveling to Ulsan, time your visit for sunset. I will definitely be back.