The season for “octopus,†which has an attractive, chewy texture, is back in season. Octopus tastes best from March to May, as they are plump and full of eggs. Octopus, which contains a lot of taurine, has various benefits, such as helping to recover from fatigue and lowering cholesterol. From stir-fried octopus, which you can enjoy so spicy that your mouth is tingling, to grilled octopus that you can enjoy its original flavor! Let's take a look at the 5 best octopus restaurants in Seoul that you should eat right now.
1. 'Hwangjaebeol' in Seocho-dong, with a faint scent of charcoal
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Image source: haeri.j's Instagram
Image source: _jyrabbit_.j's Instagram
“Hwangjae-beol†is a charcoal-grilled specialty store located near Yangjae Station. The signature menu, “zukkumi,†is an octopus mixed with a spicy sauce that is freshly grilled and then grilled over charcoal and eaten. The spicy octopus combines the aroma and flavor added by charcoal, making it even more spicy. The method of forming a ball of rice balls with plenty of seaweed powder and raw fish eggs and grilling them together on a teppan is also popular.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 42-4, Nambusunhwan-ro 347-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul
â–²Business hours: 16:00 to 02:00 on weekdays, 16:00 to 23:00 on weekends, flexible closing hours
â–²Price: Zukkumi 19,000 won, rice balls 3,000 won
â–²Testimonial (shikigin isu chamisul): You can choose between salt and sauce for octopus. It's grilled and ready to eat right out of the box. I often eat spicy food, but the seasoned octopus here is really hot and spicy.
2. Keep the original taste of octopus! , Banghwa-dong “Banghwa-dong Jjukkumi Village 1997â€
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“Banghwa-dong Jjukkumi Village 1997†is a place where you can find a variety of octopus dishes, from grilled to stir-fried. The signature menu is “tong zukkumi,†where you can enjoy grilling a whole live octopus. You can enjoy the original taste and flavor of octopus by grilling it without any seasoning. In particular, the head area, which is full of eggs, has a rich yet savory flavor and a texture that pops like a grain of rice.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 12, Geumnanghwa-ro 15-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul
▲Opening hours: 11:30 — 22:00 every day, B/T 14:00 — 17:00, closed on Sundays
â–²Price: Whole zukkumi 14,000 won, garlic zukkumi 12,000 won
â–²Review (shikigami jinstyle): Octopus is a place that gave me a new world experience when I only ate stir-fried octopus. After cutting the raw octopus, I grilled it without any seasoning, and I liked the savory yet salty flavor.
3. Pil-dong's 'Chungmuro Jjukkumi Bulgogi', an addictive spiciness steeped in 44 years
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Image source: hong_sun721's Instagram
Image source: hong_sun721's Instagram
“Chungmuro Jjukkumi Bulgogi†has a long history of 44 years from 1976 to the present. The signature menu, “zukkumi,†is served mixed with red sauce on the octopus at the same time as the order is placed. The sauce made by adding minced garlic and makgeolli to gochujang directly soaked in Suncheon boasts a rich, spicy flavor. Another popular menu is “shellfish,†which is eaten by mixing soft scallops with a special sauce and grilling them over charcoal.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 11, Toegye-ro 31-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
▲Opening hours: 12:00 — 22:00 every day, closed on Sundays
â–²Price: Zukkumi 28,000 won, cockles 19,000 won
â–²Review (Shikigami Yeonjikonji ><): It's a place where you can feel the atmosphere of a long-established store. The red color alone is appetizing, but you have to rummage several times to cook it so that it doesn't burn. The sauce is delicious and spicy, so it's addictive that you keep eating it. hehe
4. An octopus dish you can enjoy as a course, “Samo Jjukkumi†in Mieun-dong
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“Samo Jjukkumi†is a place crowded with nearby office workers every time it's mealtime. The signature menu is “zukkumi grilled†and “zukkumi hot potâ€, which can be enjoyed as a course. First, you can grill and eat octopus with a sharp sauce, and then enjoy the hot pot made by adding bean sprouts and green onions to bring out the refreshing flavor of the soup. Note that if you like, you can add ramen sari to the hot pot for a richer meal.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 107-19, Tongil-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
▲Opening hours: 11:30 — 22:00 every day, B/T 14:00 — 16:30, closed on Sundays
â–²Price: Zukkumi grilled 11,000 won, zukkumi hot pot 7,000 won
â–²Testimonial (RavenKain in Shikigin): The grilled octopus is not irritating and is lightly spicy, so it's not burdensome. The octopus is also large and has a chewy flavor. Eating grilled food and a clean hot pot are essential!
5. “Na Jeong Soon Halmae Zukkumi†in Yongdu-dong
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Image source: kammyyyyyy_ on Instagram
Image source: kammyyyyyy_ on Instagram
“Na Jeong Soon Halmae Zukkumi†is a place where there is always a long queue among the many stores in the octopus alley. The signature menu is “zukkumi,†where plump octopus mixed with a reddish sauce is stir-fried on an iron plate. It has an addictive flavor that combines spiciness with sweet and spicy flavors. I recommend eating sesame leaves with octopus and angelica sauce mixed with mayonnaise.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 144 Muhak-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul
▲Opening hours: 11:00 — 22:20 every day, closed on Sundays
â–²Price: Octopus 12,000 won, fried rice 2,000 won
â–²Review (Park Sang-gun, Shikigin): This is the most famous restaurant in Yongdu-dong Octopus Alley. First, you have to order according to the number of people. The portion itself is really hearty, so you can eat to your heart's content. The fried rice with seaweed powder at the end is also the best!