Goyang crab restaurant: soy & spicy crab set with tteokgalbi, Deodeo

When crab cravings hit, I want the salty, savory soy-marinated crab (ganjang gejang) and the sweet-spicy seasoned crab (yangnyeom gejang) together. One flavor never feels like enough, and I wanted a hearty meal with rice. So I searched for a good soy crab place in Ilsan and ended up at Deodeo Ganjanggejang Muhalliripil (더더간장게장 무한리필).

I ordered the one-crab set (hanmari jeongsik)! You get one soy crab and one spicy crab, plus steamed egg, so the lineup was solid. I also added crab stew and tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patty), and there were more side options than I expected, which made it a really filling meal.

What comes in the one-crab set at Deodeo?

The one-crab set comes with one soy crab, one spicy crab, and steamed egg as standard. Looking at the menu inside, I couldn't decide between soy crab only or both. I like both, so this time I went with the set.

Soy crab has that salty umami charm, while spicy crab has a sweet-spicy seasoning, so you get two different personalities. I liked being able to alternate between them rather than ordering just one.

When I look for a soy crab place in Ilsan, price matters, but I also check what comes with the meal. Here, one of each crab plus steamed egg felt like a well-rounded set.

I love crab, but soy crab alone can get a bit much, and spicy crab alone can feel intensely hot at times. Switching between the two meant I could pick whichever suited my mood, which was fun.

How does the soy crab taste?

The soy crab here has a salty flavor and the nutty richness of crab meat that makes you reach for a spoonful of rice. I started with the soy crab, and the charm of ganjang gejang really is that mix of saltiness and savory crab.

Scoop out the meat, eat it with rice, and the soy seasoning blends into the rice so naturally that you keep going without any other side dish. Picking out the meat is fun too.

Marinated crab shines even more with rice than on its own. The saltiness plus the mild rice makes a great combination.

If you love that signature crab flavor, I'd say start slowly with the soy crab. Alternating with the spicy crab makes the difference in taste clearer, which was a different kind of fun from eating just one.

How spicy is the spicy crab?

The spicy crab is hot but also sweet, so it feels clearly different from the soy crab. If you've had the soy crab, you can't skip this one! Tossed in red seasoning, it looked like it was begging for rice.

After the salty soy crab, a bite of spicy crab felt like a new flavor entering my mouth.

The seasoned crab meat went well with rice too. If you like spice, you may find your hand going to the spicy crab more often.

Personally, I liked eating both together more than choosing just one. Alternating the whole way through kept the meal from getting monotonous.

The steamed egg that comes with the set

The steamed egg (gyeran jjim) that comes with the set was soft and mild, and it went surprisingly well with the crab. Marinated crab has a strong soy or spicy flavor, so having something mild in between is nice for switching things up.

Its soft texture made it a good partner to alternate with the crab. It also made the meal feel a bit richer than crab alone.

Especially after the spicy crab, a bite of steamed egg smoothed everything out. I liked that this comes as part of the basic set, with no need to add anything complicated.

I think it would suit first-timers to crab sets, or anyone who likes to balance spicy food with something gentle.

Are the crab stew and tteokgalbi worth adding?

Adding crab stew and tteokgalbi to the one-crab set made the table much fuller. The crab alone is enough for a meal, but if you come in a group, ordering extra dishes to share seems like a good idea.

Crab stew

I liked that crab stew lets you enjoy blue crab in a different way from the marinated crab. Unlike the salty, umami-rich marinated crab, a soup is nice to sip between bites, so I was glad I ordered it.

Eating rice with crab and taking a spoonful of warm broth now and then made the meal richer. If you love crab, pairing marinated crab with crab stew should be satisfying.

Tteokgalbi

The tteokgalbi was tasty too. After focusing on crab and crab stew, it added some variety. It also seems like a good choice if someone in your group isn't into crab, or if you want meat and more side dishes.

With soy crab, spicy crab, crab stew and tteokgalbi, the table got pretty plentiful. If you like sharing small portions of many dishes, take a look at the add-on menu.

Deodeo one-crab set: verdict and drawbacks

What I liked most about the one-crab set at Deodeo Ganjanggejang Muhalliripil is getting soy crab and spicy crab in one go. With steamed egg included, the basic set never felt dull, and adding crab stew and tteokgalbi made the meal varied.

If you love crab but can't decide between soy and spicy, this set is the one to look at. Comparing the two flavors side by side was the big plus.

On the downside, you have to pick the meat out of the shells, which may feel like a hassle if you eat fast. Also, the salty or spicy flavor of marinated crab comes down to personal taste, so keep that in mind.

Before you go, it's easier to check with the restaurant about menu prices, whether the all-you-can-eat option applies, and add-on prices. The one-crab set price in my photo was ₩15,000.

I was looking for a soy crab place in Ilsan and came away full with two kinds of crab, crab stew and tteokgalbi, so next time I'd like to try other menu combinations. Which do you prefer, soy crab or spicy crab?