The area around Seoul Yongsan Station is centrally located in Seoul. Due to this geographical advantage, Yongsan Station serves as a station where you can board KTX trains. From Seoul Station, you can board trains on the Gyeongbu Line to cities like Ulsan and Busan, while from Yongsan Station, you can board trains on the Honam Line to places like Yeosu and Mokpo.
The area around Yongsan Station is also famous for its electronics market. In the era of online shopping, electronic markets no longer hold the same prominence as before, but they still maintain the image of being the “first electronics market.”
“The Alley Behind Exit 1 of SinYongsan Station”
Around Yongsan Station, you can generally find various restaurants and cafes. There are also high-rise buildings around Yongsan Station, and inside Yongsan Station, there is a shopping mall called “iPark Mall,” where you can find various restaurants and cafes.
However, if you go behind Exit 1 of SinYongsan Station, you can find an old-fashioned alley that surprisingly gives the feeling of walking down a quiet street in Japan. Even here, you can explore small restaurants in residential areas one by one.
“Nakji Maeul: Offering a Variety of Octopus Dishes”
Nakji Maeul is also a small restaurant that you can find in the vicinity. It gives off a feeling of being located in a quiet residential area.
As you can infer from the name “Nakji Maeul,” you can taste various octopus dishes here. Here are some of the menu options available at Nakji Maeul. (Please note that prices may have changed since 2021.)
“Dishes”
- San Nakji Cheolpan (Stir-fried live octopus): KRW 19,000
- San Nakji Chadolbagi Cheolpan (Stir-fried live octopus with beef brisket): KRW 19,000
- Nakji Bokkeum (Stir-fried octopus): KRW 11,000
- Nak Udo (Octopus and cow’s tail soup): KRW 13,000
- San Nakji Hoe (Raw live octopus): KRW 25,000
- Nakji Jeon (Octopus pancake): KRW 12,000
- Yukjeon (Beef pancake): KRW 10,000
- Yeonpotang (Hangover soup): (Small) KRW 39,000, (Medium) KRW 49,000
- San Nakji Dolgui (Grilled live octopus): (Small) KRW 39,000, (Medium) KRW 49,000
- San Nakji Jjim (Steamed live octopus): (Small) KRW 39,000, (Medium) KRW 49,000
- San Nakji Chomuchim (Spicy marinated octopus): (Small) KRW 39,000, (Medium) KRW 49,000
- San Nakji Jeongol (Spicy octopus stew): (Small) KRW 39,000, (Medium) KRW 49,000
- San Nakji Bokkeum (Stir-fried live octopus): (Small) KRW 39,000, (Medium) KRW 49,000
- Gyeranjjim (Steamed egg): KRW 3,000
- Gyeranfry (Fried eggs, 3 pieces): KRW 2,000
- Bokkeumbap, Ramyeonsari (Fried rice, ramen toppings): KRW 2,000
“Lunch Specials”
- Nakji Bibimbap (Octopus mixed rice): KRW 8,000
- Nakji Dolpan (Octopus on a hot plate): KRW 10,000
- Ggunak Bokkeum (Stir-fried spicy marinated octopus): KRW 8,000
- Hwangtae Haejangguk (Dried pollack hangover soup): KRW 8,000
- Maesangi Gulguk (Perilla leaf and clam soup): KRW 10,000
- Ggomak Bibimbap (Cockle shell mixed rice): KRW 8,000
- Ggomak Muchim (Seasoned cockle shells): KRW 12,000
“Ggomak Bibimbap: KRW 8,000”
However, this time, instead of ordering octopus dishes, we ordered “Ggomak Bibimbap” (Cockle Shell Mixed Rice). It was being sold for KRW 8,000, and it came out quite generously. There were plenty of cockle shells, so it was a satisfying meal.
If I have the time, I would like to visit again. It’s a place that makes me want to try octopus dishes next time.
“Seoul Yongsan SinYongsan Station Octopus Dish Specialty Restaurant, Nakji Maeul”
- Address: 14 Hangang-daero 42-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 04382, South Korea
- Phone Number: 02-795-1381
- Operating Hours: 11:00 – 22:00