Bucheon Univ. monkfish restaurant, octopus, roe & sea squirt: Haemul

Crunchy bean sprouts meet boneless monkfish (agu) and turn into something delicious. This is a boneless monkfish stew spot near Bucheon Station.

I ordered it boneless, so there are no bones to pick out, and that makes Haemul Teukbyeolsi's boneless monkfish stew even better!

Today's restaurant story is about a special neighborhood: "Haemul Teukbyeolsi~" (literally "Seafood Special City"). Even the name smells of salty sea air, doesn't it? Near Bucheon Station and Bucheon University, at Haemul Teukbyeolsi Bucheon Station branch (해물특별시 부천역본점), I went and demolished that red, spicy flavor Koreans love, a boneless monkfish stew. Heave-ho, heave-ho~

Where is Haemul Teukbyeolsi Bucheon Station branch, and what are the hours and parking?

Haemul Teukbyeolsi Bucheon Station branch is at 440-6 Buil-ro, Bucheon, on the 1st floor, a 5-6 minute walk from Bucheon Station on Line 1. It is open 16:00-04:00 on weekdays and 12:00-04:00 on weekends, and group visits, reservations and takeout are all possible.

• Address: 440-6 Buil-ro, Bucheon, 1st floor
• Hours: weekdays 16:00-04:00 / weekends 12:00-04:00
• Groups, reservations and takeout available
• High oil price support fund and Bucheon Pay accepted
• Parking: up to 2 hours free in the basement of Sangrok Free Zone Building
• 5-6 minute walk from Bucheon Station (Line 1)

Inside Haemul Teukbyeolsi Bucheon Station branch

The interior has round metal tables as part of the decor. Every table has a tablet, so ordering is easy.

What matters most? Taste, of course~ Right?

Review event: discounted whole squid and octopus

At Haemul Teukbyeolsi Bucheon Station branch, if you leave a Naver receipt review, the whole squid is half price!! You can get the ₩9,000 octopus for ₩5,000, which is such a bargain.

Haemul Teukbyeolsi menu and prices

If you order a stone-plate monkfish stew or a seafood stew set meal at Haemul Teukbyeolsi, it comes with corn cheese, steamed egg, Wando seaweed soup and Wando seaweed snack.

For finishing sides there are "cheese fried rice" and "fried rice", and plenty of other sides too.

• Earthenware steamed egg ₩6,000
• Corn cheese steamed egg ₩7,000
• Instant rice ₩2,000
• Self-serve rice balls ₩3,000
• Iron-plate corn cheese ₩5,000
• Stone-plate jjagechi (egg, cheese and sausage) ₩8,500
• Seafood pajeon (scallion pancake) fritter ₩7,000
• Flat dumplings ₩3,000

What I ordered that day

• Stone-plate monkfish stew set (small) ₩40,000
• Boneless only (no skin or bones) +₩2,000
• Whole octopus ₩10,000
• Stone-plate self-serve fried rice ₩3,500

What does the basic table setting look like?

The meal at Haemul Teukbyeolsi starts with nutty Solomon's seal tea (둥굴레차) in a retro water bottle. Individually packed soy sauce and wasabi are set out on every table.

You also get corn cheese and steamed egg, which are good any time, plus crunchy white kimchi, hot seaweed soup and seasoned seaweed snack.

How is boneless stone-plate monkfish stew with a whole octopus added?

The stone-plate monkfish stew set (small) at Haemul Teukbyeolsi is a boneless monkfish stew served on a warm stone plate. Time to be happy with that red flavor.

Happiness for ₩10,000! When I added octopus, a big whole one came on top~ It looked so good I got dizzy.

Switching to boneless monkfish was a stroke of genius~ The flesh is meaty, and the sea fills your whole mouth. With no skin and no bones, it's so easy to eat without any hassle.

Monkfish stew really is a perfect match with bean sprouts.

The chewy texture soaked in spicy sauce keeps my chopsticks going back for more.

Roe and sea squirt are in there too

The monkfish stew at Haemul Teukbyeolsi also has soft, creamy monkfish roe (gon-i) and sea squirt (omandungi) that holds the sea inside, so the whole table pops with the ocean.

Flat dumplings for wrapping the stew

What could this be~?

Haemul Teukbyeolsi also serves flat dumplings (napjak mandu) fried crisp in oil, and they're meant for wrapping the monkfish stew in. It was a combo I'd never seen, so I was amazed, and very unusual. You can eat it this way too~

Put in whatever you like, as much as you like, and take a bite~

Finishing with stone-plate self-serve fried rice

For the stone-plate self-serve fried rice (₩3,500) at Haemul Teukbyeolsi, the owner spreads it wide on the stone plate and leaves; after 2-3 minutes you turn off the heat and eat. I was full, but I ordered the fried rice anyway. It just feels empty without it~ So, oh well, whatever happens, happens!

Fried rice really is best when the very bottom gets a little crisp. I ended up finishing it all, nyahahaha!!!

Can I take leftover monkfish stew home?

At Haemul Teukbyeolsi Bucheon Station branch, if you have monkfish stew left and ask to take it, they give you disposable containers and a bag. Self-packing done!

Haemul Teukbyeolsi Bucheon Station branch is a good place for spicy monkfish stew and a drink, and since you can settle the meal in one go, it also works well for group gatherings in Bucheon. There's a wide menu, so choosing is easy too. I recommend the hassle-free boneless monkfish stew. The friendly owner is waiting for you😄