Three-generation family lunch at Gapyeong jjukkumi spot: Paldang

Why my family kept talking about this Gapyeong jjukkumi restaurant

Paldang Jikhwa Bul Jjukkumi is a well-known octopus restaurant in Seorak-myeon, Gapyeong. Funny story — I'm the one who found this place and told my family we should go, but on the actual day of our family gathering I got sick and couldn't make it hahaha.

But the rest of my family went without me, and ever since that day everyone kept bringing it up! They said we absolutely had to go next time we met up haha. This is an actual screenshot of the KakaoTalk chat with my siblings 😆 — the question right after "how's everyone doing" was literally whether we could do jjukkumi again... That's how powerful Paldang Jikhwa Bul Jjukkumi in Gapyeong turned out to be for my family.

How could I not go after getting that curious?? So the very next week, off we went!! My husband was away on a business trip to Singapore for a week, so I spent that week staying at my parents' place haha. By the way, my parents live in Seorak-myeon, Gapyeong! So on a Sunday, at a late lunch hour, I took my parents straight there!

Parking and seating at Paldang Jikhwa Bul Jjukkumi: is it okay with kids?

Paldang Jikhwa Bul Jjukkumi has plenty of parking right in front, so we parked comfortably and walked in!

Pretty clean, right? They even have baby chairs, so it's great to bring kids along! And the spacing between seats was wide, which made things comfortable.

Tteokbokki, sundae and fried mandu: the self-serve buffet is the biggest draw

The biggest strength of this place is!!! The self-serve buffet ❤️ Tteokbokki (rice cakes in spicy sauce), sundae (Korean blood sausage), sausage, stir-fried fish cake, fried mandu, and lots more are all laid out^^

My favorite, wheat-cake tteokbokki 🫶🏻 The sundae was really tasty too, so I think I went back for several plates before the octopus even arrived haha. But you're not allowed to leave leftovers, so don't just pile it on your plate for no reason 😉

My oldest son asked for some too, so I scooped out a separate little plate just for the kids haha. They even had kids' plates and utensil sets ready, which makes this place perfect for family visits 👍🏻

Grilled octopus and pork for two: strong smoky flavor, moderate heat

We got so caught up in the buffet that we forgot about today's real star — the jjukkumi (webfoot octopus) finally showed up! We ordered two servings of the grilled octopus and pork on hot plate plus one pork loin cutlet!

Can you see how plump and springy the octopus looks? That plumpness doesn't hide, even in a photo haha.

Eating it wrapped in pickled radish was just heavenly!!! True to the restaurant's name, the fire flavor really came through~~~ It wasn't just overwhelmingly spicy — it was moderately spicy with a springy, chewy octopus that kept me coming back for more 🤤

I also wrapped some in flying fish roe and some with chive salad — there were so many side dishes to pair it with that every bite tasted new 🙌🏻

How was the pork loin cutlet the kids ate?

My son's pork loin cutlet! Wow, it was so thick... and so tender!! This is a jjukkumi restaurant but the cutlet was almost pork-cutlet-specialist level 👀 The portion was generous too, so I ended up eating a few pieces myself haha. This cutlet kept pulling my hand back to it too >.< With good food next to good food, a happy smile just came out naturally hahaha.

The moment the cutlet arrived: "Mom, Yul's cutlet is here, Yul's cutlet!" Yul actually had a bit of a cold, but the cutlet was soft and the sauce wasn't harsh at all, so

Yul ate it up happily, nom nom nom hahaha.

What could be better, and what we would order next time

My whole family fell for this place, so I think this is where our family lunches will happen from now on whenever we plan a gathering. There's a pork cutlet the kids love~ and octopus everyone loves!! Sadly, the portions were so big we couldn't fit in fried rice at the end.... but next time I'm making sure we save room for the fried rice!

Even while writing this, my mouth is watering just thinking about the addictive fire aroma of Paldang Jikhwa Bul Jjukkumi in Seorak-myeon, Gapyeong 🔥

Who should go to Paldang Jikhwa Bul Jjukkumi

• Family gatherings
• Friend meetups
• Club or group meetups
• Whenever you just want something with a kick

If you're ever heading to Gapyeong, Chuncheon, or Cheongpyeong, be sure to stop by and try it!