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Fresh Seafood and Delicious Octopus near Gunja Station: A Local Korean Restaurant Review

If you’re craving fresh seafood, especially octopus dishes, near Gunja Station in Seoul, then 힘찬 갯벌 낙지 (Himchan Gaetbeol Nakji), which translates to Energetic Mudflat Octopus, is a place you should definitely consider. This restaurant is known for its wide array of seafood, emphasizing fresh and high-quality ingredients. My recent visit during yellowtail (방어 – Bangeo) season was a delightful experience, showcasing the restaurant’s strengths.

A Feast of Fresh Sashimi and Seasonal Delights

We visited as a group of six, and were immediately impressed by the generous modeumhoe (모둠회 – assorted sashimi platter). Being yellowtail season, it was prominently featured along with other fresh catches of the day. Dividing the platter amongst six people gave each of us a satisfying portion. The freshness of the seafood was immediately noticeable – a great start to our meal and perfect as a refreshing appetizer.

Octopus in Every Delicious Form

As the restaurant’s name suggests, octopus (낙지 – Nakji) is a star here, and they certainly deliver. We enjoyed several octopus preparations throughout our meal. First came the sannakji (산낙지 – live octopus), a Korean delicacy, along with yukhoe (육회 – Korean beef tartare), a classic pairing. Then, we were treated to grilled octopus with garlic and grilled octopus with chili sauce, a flavorful and savory dish. The octopus was consistently cooked perfectly – tender and not at all rubbery, a common pitfall with octopus dishes. They clearly know how to handle octopus expertly here.

The variety continued with boiled octopus, which was also exceptionally tender and delicious. We also had yeonpotang (연포탕 – clear octopus soup) later in the meal, where, again, the octopus was the highlight. It’s clear that “Himchan Gaetbeol Nakji” lives up to its name, consistently serving excellent octopus dishes in various styles.

Beyond Octopus: Other Seafood Gems

While octopus is their specialty, “Himchan Gaetbeol Nakji” also offers other seasonal seafood. We sampled fresh oysters and gapojingeo (갑오징어 – cuttlefish), both of which were delicious and well-prepared. The cuttlefish, in particular, was nicely sliced and presented. The restaurant also offers winter minaeo (민어 – croaker), which is mentioned as being particularly good value during the winter months compared to summer.

Finishing with Flavor: Byeongeojorim

For our meal’s 마무리 (mamuri – finishing), we had byeongeojorim (병어조림 – butterfish stew). It was more on the soupy side than a typical jorim (조림 – braised dish), but simmering it down a bit intensified the flavors. It was a satisfying and flavorful end to a seafood-heavy meal.

Atmosphere and Overall Impression

“Himchan Gaetbeol Nakji” is definitely a great place to enjoy seafood and drinks, especially soju or beer, with friends. However, be aware that the interior’s acoustics can make it quite noisy when crowded, which might be a drawback for some. Despite the noise level, the fresh and delicious seafood, particularly the expertly prepared octopus, makes “Himchan Gaetbeol Nakji” a worthwhile visit for seafood lovers near Gunja Station.

Location: Near Gunja Station, Seoul, South Korea