Restaurant Review: Hway Jeon Cho Bap

When it comes to culinary experiences, there are few that I enjoy more than sushi trains. The first time I went to one was with my dad’s friend. I was a first year university student without money for such luxuries and so he took me to one during my holidays. After an hour, having consumed more sake than one should in the early afternoon, and an absurd amount of accumulated stacked empty plates beside us, I was enamoured with sushi trains and have been ever since.

Thus it is no surprise that my curiosity was piqued when I noticed a new sushi train restaurant had recently opened downtown, called Hway Jeon Cho Bap. Every time I’d go by, it was absolutely cranking, and when I finally went there for dinner one evening it was no different. The restaurant was packed with young couples and groups of friends, both sitting at the train, and the tables next to it.

Sushi isn’t the cheapest of ways to dine, and trains are even more expensive than set menus. Usually you have to pay by the plate, which is what I was expecting to have to do here. However, the waiter (speaking in excellent English) told me that it was a flat 16,800 won to eat all you can for an hour. I actually thought I had misunderstood him at first. Granted, it wasn’t the cheapest meal I’ve had in Gwangju, but for sushi, it was a good deal. Initially anticipating just having a few plates and sampling a few of the varieties of said culinary delights, I knew that I was going to end up over indulging.

First I mixed some wasabi and soy sauce. My chair was right in front of the chefs, so for a couple of minutes I watched as they handcrafted their culinary delicacies. I must have looked like an excited child, just watching all the different plates go round the conveyor belt, sizing up which ones I would try. For me, the thing that makes sushi trains great, just as much as the eating if not more, is the interactivity of the dining experience. Half of the fun is choosing from all the treats passing before my eyes. I saw a decent amount of variety, including prawn, tuna, and salmon sushi, as well as a few different variations of the California Roll. There was also tempura and egg sushi. I tried most of the offerings and everything I tasted was good. There was also a salad bar and soft drink dispenser I could use at my leisure.

Admittedly, I didn’t last an hour. I was already full before that, but it was definitely a great meal. If you’re into sushi at all, I highly recommend you try Hway Jeon Cho Bap at least once. I’m sure you won’t regret it. If you’re at the Baskin Robbins next to Megabox downtown, walk the opposite direction from the river, across the four-way intersection about 30 meters, and Hway Jeon Cho Bap will be on your right. It opens for dinner at 5 p.m. Lunch is from 12–4 p.m. and is 2,000 won cheaper than dinner.