Dongducheon kalguksu restaurant with a whole octopus: Choigang Haemul

Hi, it's Nana from Nana & Roro, aka Yeonwoo's mom. I was in the mood for a seafood kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) loaded with seafood rather than just a plain one, so I went back to a place I'd visited before — Choigang Haemul Kalguksu in Dongducheon. If you're looking for good seafood kalguksu in Dongducheon, I hope this review helps.

• Address: 2210 Pyeonghwa-ro, Dongducheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 10:00–21:00
• Last order: 20:00
• Parking: Large space in front of the restaurant

What comes in the seafood kalguksu at Choigang Haemul Kalguksu?

Choigang Haemul Kalguksu's seafood kalguksu comes packed with a whole octopus, a whole squid, and a generous amount of assorted clams and mideodeok (sea pineapple). The seafood was the first thing that caught my eye. I figured a kalguksu place would just throw in a few small pieces of seafood and clams, but when the dish actually arrived, there was way more seafood than I expected. That was honestly one of the reasons I came back. Just the sight of a whole octopus and a whole squid sitting in there felt generous!

The seafood is cut into bite-sized pieces to eat alongside the noodles — the octopus was chewy and the squid was firm and springy, great textures. There were plenty of clams too, so it was fun fishing them out one by one.

I always thought seafood kalguksu meant just a few pieces of seafood as a garnish, but what I liked most here is that you can actually eat the seafood itself as a substantial part of the meal. Of course, if you're a big eater this might be a different story, but for someone with a normal appetite, by the time you finish the seafood and then the noodles, you'll feel pretty full. And just in case, you can grab extra mung bean sprouts from the self-serve bar, so you won't feel short-changed.

Hand-pulled noodles: how chewy are they?

Another highlight at Choigang Haemul Kalguksu is the noodles. They make their kalguksu noodles by hand, and you can really tell — the texture is distinctly chewy. Once you've worked through some of the seafood, you can ask the ajumma (auntie) for the noodles and she'll bring them over.

Kalguksu noodles can be disappointing if they go soft and mushy, but these stayed chewy, so the texture with the broth was great. Lift a chopstick-full and the noodles come up with a nice bounce, then spread out springy in your mouth — it's a work of art. Personally, when I eat kalguksu, I care about noodle texture just as much as the broth, so these hand-pulled noodles really won me over.

Adding the chewy noodles to the refreshing broth drawn out from the seafood made for a warm, satisfying meal. So if you're hunting for a good kalguksu spot in Dongducheon, the noodle texture is worth checking out too.

The kimchi at Choigang Haemul Kalguksu

The kimchi at Choigang Haemul Kalguksu paired really well with the noodles. Kimchi is essential when eating kalguksu, and personally, I think a kalguksu restaurant needs to have good kimchi. Piling a piece of kimchi onto the chewy noodles added a crunchy, spicy kick that kept me reaching for more.

After going back and forth between the seafood and the broth, a bite of kimchi cleared my palate, so I could keep eating without getting tired of it. Kalguksu and kimchi really are an inseparable combo!

Is it worth it for seafood lovers?

After trying Choigang Haemul Kalguksu this time, I think it truly lives up to its name — a place where you can properly enjoy seafood. What I liked most is that it's not just about the noodles; picking through the seafood first makes the whole bowl fun to eat, so it never got boring. If you care about how much seafood is packed into your kalguksu, you'll likely be quite satisfied.

Final verdict on Choigang Haemul Kalguksu in Dongducheon

When you're in Dongducheon craving something warm and soup-based, or specifically want seafood kalguksu, this is a solid choice. The hand-pulled noodles left an impression with their chewy texture, and the kimchi paired well with the kalguksu, making the whole meal satisfying.

If you're searching for a Dongducheon seafood kalguksu restaurant, keep in mind that it comes loaded with a whole octopus, whole squid and plenty of clams. If you're after Dongducheon restaurants, Gyeonggi-do restaurants, or a proper kalguksu spot, put Choigang Haemul Kalguksu on your list. It's the kind of place you'll think of again the next time you're craving seafood kalguksu.