Octopus pub in Suyeong, Busan: Dari Yeodeolgae gambas

At Dari Yeodeolgae (다리여덟개), an octopus-focused pub in Suyeong-gu, Busan, I had octopus gambas and fish cake soup. I especially remember the springy octopus and large shrimp in the gambas, along with the variety of banchan I ate while waiting for our order.

Where is Dari Yeodeolgae, and what kind of place is it?

The address is 85 Muhak-ro 21beon-gil, 2nd floor, Suyeong-gu, Busan, South Korea. I followed the building stairs up. I heard that it began at Jwadong Traditional Market in 2003, operated there for more than 20 years, and later moved to Suyeong.

Octopus dishes are the specialty here. I visited in the afternoon and chose the gambas.

What is the seating like for a date or group visit?

When I opened the door, the first thing I saw was a bar table with four seats on the left. It had a cozy atmosphere, and I thought it would be nice for two people to sit down for a drink.

The inner area has table seating. It can accommodate two to four people, with space that can also be used by groups.

What banchan came with the meal?

Several banchan came out once I was seated. The braised quail eggs and konjac included king oyster mushrooms and garlic. I liked the savory seasoning and springy texture, while the stir-fried fish cake was spicy.

The thin grilled jwipo (dried filefish) had a nutty aroma. It was good for picking at while waiting for our food.

Celery and carrot sticks also came as banchan.

I was impressed that clam soup also came as part of the banchan. The broth was clear, but the Cheongyang chilies gave it a fairly spicy kick.

The broth was clean-tasting and refreshing. The clams also had a springy texture when I bit into them.

What did the octopus gambas taste like?

The octopus gambas was ₩34,000, according to the original post. It arrived in a large ttukbaegi-like bowl, with octopus, large shrimp, clams, mushrooms, and olives in olive oil. Whole peperoncino added heat, so it tasted savory rather than greasy to me.

It also had plenty of sliced garlic, and I found the seasoning just right.

I also liked eating it with chopped olives on top.

The toasted white bread served alongside it was crisp. The shrimp were large enough to more than cover a slice of bread.

The octopus's particularly springy texture stayed with me.

How was the fish cake soup I ordered separately?

After the gambas, I ordered a warm fish cake soup as an extra.

Perhaps because the broth was flavored with blue crab, it tasted refreshing and clean.

They added wasabi to the soy sauce for dipping. Small individual plates were also provided. The soup contained several kinds of Busan fish cake, including flat, square, and stick-shaped pieces.

The fish cakes had a mild flavor that came through as I chewed. They went well with the clean-tasting broth.

What other octopus dishes and prices are there?

Beyond gambas, there were various octopus dishes, including boiled slices, stir-fries, and fried options. Below are the menu prices listed in the original post.

• Boiled octopus slices: small ₩40,000 / medium ₩44,000 / large ₩48,000
• Whole boiled octopus slices: ₩42,000
• Whole-octopus stir-fry: ₩45,000
• Whole fried octopus: ₩40,000
• Spicy green chili octopus jangyuk: ₩42,000
• Octopus fried rice: ₩8,000 for one serving / ₩13,000 for two servings

I heard that when octopus suyuk (boiled octopus) is ordered, they catch, boil, and slice the octopus right away. I did not have it this time, but I would like to try it next time. The owner was kind, and the banchan spread and spicy gambas were what I remembered most from this visit.