Easy Korean Fish Cake Soup (Odeng Guk) with Udon: An Authentic Winter Feast at Home

H Mart pre-skewered Korean fish cake pack sale item

H Mart shoppers, don’t walk past the frozen or refrigerated seafood aisle! ๐Ÿ‘€๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท

On a recent grocery run, I spotted a pack of pre-skewered Korean fish cakes on sale for 35% off—just $12.99 CAD. Instead of just boiling them as a quick snack, I decided to upgrade them into a generous, steaming dinner loaded with sliced daikon radish, shiitake mushrooms, and chewy udon noodles.

The best part? The fish cakes come already threaded on wooden skewers right out of the box, meaning zero prep work for an authentic Korean street-food (pojangmacha) night at home.

Why Korean Fish Cake Soup (Odeng Guk) Is the Ultimate Soul Food

For anyone who loves Korean comfort food, a piping hot bowl of Odeng-guk (์˜ค๋Ž…๊ตญ / ์–ด๋ฌตํƒ•) is unbeatable.

Walking through street-food markets in Korea during the winter, you are instantly greeted by steam rising from giant, bubbling vats filled with neatly stacked fish cake skewers. Because this pack is already pre-skewered, you get that exact food-stall presentation straight from your own stovetop without any effort.

Adding udon noodles turns this beloved snack into a hearty, balanced one-pot dinner that warms you from the inside out.

The Secret to a Deeper Broth: Simmering Daikon Radish

The package comes with convenient seafood soup powder, but relying on the seasoning pack alone can sometimes taste a bit flat.

The simple upgrade is fresh daikon radish (mu / ๋ฌด).

  • Natural Sweetness: Sliced daikon slowly releases a clean, mild sweetness as it simmers.
  • Clean Balance: It softens the saltiness of the packaged base, giving the soup a clear, soothing depth just like homemade anchovy broth.
Cook’s Tip: Start the broth with cold water and raw daikon slices together. Let them gently simmer for 10–12 minutes before adding your seasoning base and skewers.
Korean fish cake soup simmering in pot with daikon and skewers

Ingredients (Serves 2–3)

  • 1 Pre-skewered Korean fish cake pack (includes skewers + soup seasoning base)
  • 1/3 medium daikon radish, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch thick rounds
  • 3–4 fresh shiitake mushrooms, stems trimmed (score an 'X' on top for presentation)
  • 1–2 packages frozen udon noodles (Sanuki-style recommended)
  • 5–6 cups water (adjust to taste)
  • 2 green onions (scallions), chopped
  • (Optional) 1 fresh red or jalapeรฑo chili, thinly sliced

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Build the Broth Foundation: Place the sliced daikon in a wide, shallow pot with 5–6 cups of cold water. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat and simmer for about 10–12 minutes until the radish turns translucent and fork-tender.
  2. Season the Broth: Stir in the included seafood soup base packet. Give it a quick taste—add a splash of water if it feels too rich, or let it simmer longer if you prefer a deeper flavor.
  3. Add the Skewers & Mushrooms: Arrange the pre-skewered fish cakes and shiitake mushrooms directly in the bubbling broth. Simmer over medium-low heat for 5–7 minutes. The fish cakes will swell up and absorb the savory broth.
  4. Drop in the Udon Noodles: Slide the frozen udon noodles directly into the pot and simmer for another 2–3 minutes until chewy and tender.
  5. Garnish & Serve Table-Side: Scatter fresh scallions and sliced chili peppers on top. Place the pot right in the center of the table and enjoy grabbing the skewers directly from the steaming broth!

Bonus: Quick 1-Minute Dipping Sauce

Dipping the skewers into a quick Korean soy-vinegar sauce between bites makes a huge difference:

  • 2 tbsp Soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp Water
  • 1 tsp Rice vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp Korean red pepper flakes (Gochugaru)
  • 1 tsp Chopped scallions or sliced chilies

Stir and serve in individual dipping bowls alongside the skewers.

Finished Korean fish cake soup with udon ready to serve

A Cozy $13 Dinner Worth Repeating

Because the skewers are already assembled in the pack, this entire dinner requires practically zero prep beyond cutting a few radish slices and mushrooms. For under $15, you get a warm, interactive, street-food style feast right at home.

If you're looking for an effortless winter comfort meal, keep an eye out for pre-skewered fish cake packs on your next H Mart run! ๐Ÿข๐Ÿœ

(Note: Sale prices and product availability may vary by H Mart location and season.)

✍️ Written by: Vancouver Salon Care & Lifestyle Guide

Sharing practical salon-care techniques and everyday lifestyle insights directly from Canada. Dedicated to curating healthy, proactive second-half lifestyle guides and safe, hobby-based side ventures for the 50+ generation.

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