Haenam Nakji famous octopus specialty dish near DDP

Haenam Nakji: A Famous Octopus Specialty Restaurant near DDP

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Last week, the weather in Seoul was the epitome of summer. It was incredibly hot. The heat had completely drained my friend’s energy. I wanted to help soothe my friend’s exhausted body and mind. So, last Friday, we headed to Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) Station together. We went there to eat octopus, which is famous as a nourishing dish. The place we visited was Haenam Nakji. This is an honest review based on a visit I paid for entirely out of my own pocket.

Haenam Nakji Location and Accessibility

Directions

Take Subway Lines 2, 4, or 5 and get off at Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station (DDP Station). Take Exit 13 (toward Good Morning City Mall), walk a short distance, turn right into the alley, and then take the second left to reach the restaurant. I’ve attached a Google Maps link to the route I take.

How to Find Haenam Nakji on Google Maps

My Tip

  • Exits 13 and 14 are staircases. If you’re carrying a lot of luggage, use Exit 12 instead. You can take the escalator up there. Alternatively, the Dunden Shopping Mall, located between Exits 12 and 11, is connected to the subway station, so you can use the escalators or elevators in that building to go up.

  • There is also an elevator near Exit 4. However, since it’s on the opposite side of Exit 13, you’ll have to walk a bit. For instructions on how to use elevators in the Seoul Subway, please refer to “How to Easily Use Seoul Subway Elevators (Traveler’s Guide).”
Business Hours

Monday ~ Saturday: 11:30 AM ~ 9:30 PM

There is a break time from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Last orders are at 8:30 PM, so please arrive before then! The restaurant is closed every Sunday.

The Atmosphere at Haenam Nakji

As I mentioned earlier, I visited Haenam Nakji around 6:00 PM last Friday. Perhaps because it was still before dinner time, I was able to get a seat without waiting. The restaurant is located on the second floor, but there’s an elevator, so even those who have trouble climbing stairs can easily access it. By the way, I rode the elevator with a staff member, and they gave me some menu recommendations on what to order. Haha.

A clean and spacious interior of the restaurant

Once I sat down at my table and looked around, I noticed that the window seats had floor-to-ceiling windows, so you could enjoy your meal while looking out at the view it seemed like a great spot. Also, when I was there, there were several tables of Japanese tourists having a meal. Seeing Japanese writing on the walls, I thought it must be a popular spot for foreigners as well.

Recommended Menu & My Order

I was worried because my friend can’t handle spicy food, but luckily, Haenam Nakji had non-spicy options too. The dish the staff recommended to me was the San Nakji Duruchigi (23,000 KRW). It’s the restaurant’s special signature dish and a popular menu item. It’s a dish where chives are laid on the bottom, octopus is placed on top, and everything is grilled together. It wasn’t spicy at all it was sweet, chewy, and light, making it truly delicious.

Haenam Nakji signature dish, Live Octopus duruchigi

After you finish eating, the staff will ask if you’d like them to fry the rice—definitely say yes!! I highly recommend it! In Korea, it’s common to fry the rice after finishing your meal, and it’s a truly delicious “dessert.” If you’re curious about other fried rice dishes, check out “Seoul Night Route (Jongno ~ City Hall) That Tourists Should Walk.”

The next dishes we ordered were Yeonpo-tang (50,000 KRW) and live octopus/Tangtangi (23,000 KRW).

Yeonpo-tang is a dish made by simmering live octopus in a clear broth. In Korea, this type of soup is called “jiri.” For two people, order the 50,000 KRW portion, and for three people, order the 75,000 KRW portion. After the server brings the hot soup, they’ll bring the live octopus and drop it directly into the broth which might be a bit shocking for foreign tourists.

Since it’s a dish that people either love or hate, I recommend looking it up online before ordering. After enjoying the chewy octopus, water dropwort, and mushrooms with the sauce, take a sip of the refreshing broth you’ll definitely feel your stomach settle and your energy return. It’s one of Korea’s famous restorative dishes.

live octopus soup with vegetables at Haenam Nakji near DDP

Live octopus and tangtangi have likely already been introduced to many people abroad. They are among the dishes you can easily find at Gwangjang Market. It’s a dish made by chopping fresh octopus with a knife and mixing it with sesame oil and seaweed. This might also be a bit of a shock for foreign travelers trying it for the first time. But if you take a deep breath and give it a try, you’ll immediately understand why Koreans love and enjoy this dish so much. The chewy texture combined with the nutty flavor of the seaweed and sesame oil makes it truly delicious. If you’re visiting Seoul, be sure to give it a try!

Here is a tip

Don’t eat too much at once. The octopus suckers might stick to your mouth, making it difficult to eat and potentially dangerous!

The Haenam Nakji restaurant near Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station was a place I happened to visit with a friend, but it seemed to be already well-known as a must-try spot for both Koreans and foreign travelers. If you’re visiting Seoul and want to try something new after shopping in Dongdaemun or at the DDP, or if you’re looking to recharge your energy, I highly recommend stopping by to try some octopus dishes. I’ll be back with more new information next time.

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