Siheung octopus restaurant for a summer energy boost: Maepsi Nakji

To win back an appetite the heat had blown away, and to recharge our energy too, my family went back (again, and again!) to a favorite spot at Mulwang Reservoir: Maepsi Nakji. In this steamy weather, just preparing dinner leaves me drenched in sweat... the kitchen is basically a sauna. I can't be the only one who wants a day off from the kitchen, right? While we were deciding on dinner, a spicy octopus restaurant naturally came to mind, so let me introduce it.

Maepsi Nakji Mulwang Reservoir Main Branch: location and hours

Maepsi Nakji Mulwang Reservoir Main Branch is on the 1st floor at 6-1 Dongseo-ro 857beon-gil, Siheung-si, Gyeonggi-do, and it's open daily from 11:00 to 21:00. Last order is at 20:00.

• Payment: accepts the high-oil-price relief subsidy, local currency and Zero Pay
• Parking available
• Baby chairs available
• Takeout available

Maepsi Nakji is a stone-plate octopus restaurant near Mulwang Reservoir (the lake). It's behind the Starbucks Mulwang Lake branch, so it's easy to find.

What's the atmosphere like at Maepsi Nakji?

The interior pairs wood-tone decor with ink-wash-painting wallpaper, giving it the feel of a upscale traditional Korean restaurant. With soft music in the background, we had a relaxed, comfortable meal the whole time.

I visited on a Friday close to 8 p.m., so most guests were already finishing up and leaving. That let me look around the restaurant and take photos at a more leisurely pace.

Since the red sauce can splash, disposable aprons are provided too.

Maepsi Nakji cooks its rice with Sindongjin rice, a variety long recognized for excellent taste. At good restaurants, I've noticed the rice tastes great because they start with good rice. Maepsi Nakji is exactly that kind of place‼️

How to order and pay at Maepsi Nakji

Maepsi Nakji is a pay-up-front restaurant. If you want to pay with Siheung's local currency, Siru, tap cash payment and pay on your way out.

This day we ordered the Maepsi stone-plate octopus and beef intestines for 2 (₩37,000) and the premium pork cutlet (₩12,000).

Side dishes and the self-serve bar at Maepsi Nakji

The table is already set with seaweed flakes and cooking utensils, and once you sit down they bring out the basic side dishes. They came neatly and elegantly arranged in brass bowls (yugi). There's also a self-serve bar, so you can grab more of whatever you need.

The cold cucumber and seaweed soup is sweet, sour and refreshing, which whets the appetite and cleanses the palate between bites of spicy octopus. I got a refill!!!

Besides the basic side dishes, there's white rice in a rice cooker, plus nutty scorched-rice tea (sungnyung) and silky soft tofu. You can feel the care and sincerity the restaurant takes as its motto all over the place.

Skill in cooking matters, but heart comes first.

How does the Maepsi stone-plate octopus and beef intestines taste, and how spicy is it?

The Maepsi stone-plate octopus and beef intestines come in 2 spice levels. Regular is milder than Shin Ramyun, and spicy is hotter than Shin Ramyun.

I've had the Maepsi stone-plate octopus every time I came, but this time the phrase "Energy-charging plate!" next to the octopus and beef intestines on the menu really caught my eye! I was worn out by the heat, so before I knew it I'd ordered the octopus and beef intestines for 2. We went with regular spice.

The 2-serving plate comes with one octopus in its red coat 🦑 and beef intestines that stretch on and on, how long does this go?!

⚡️I used to think beef intestines were only good when grilled crispy. But these, full of creamy richness, were super tender and nutty. My husband probably expected them to be gamey, but after one bite he said, "It's not gamey, it's nutty."

We ate them as they were, and also wrapped in fragrant perilla leaves.

Finishing with a bowl of Sindongjin rice bibimbap-style

For mixing, Maepsi Nakji also serves rice made with Sindongjin rice in a big bowl.

I threw in everything: bean sprouts, octopus, beef intestines, the onions under the octopus and all the sauce, then piled on seaweed flakes and mixed it up 🤩 I forgot all about having no appetite, and the spoon never left my mouth..💥 Last time the sauce felt a bit spicy when I added a lot, but maybe tastes change with the seasons, because this time the spice and seasoning were just right, which made it even better.

They say summer's new-harvest onions are quite sweet, and sure enough the onions were sweet and crunchy, and coated in the sauce they were really delicious. I cleaned it all up, not a bite left!

Is Maepsi Nakji okay to visit with kids?

Maepsi Nakji has a premium pork cutlet (₩12,000) that works well for kids. The cutlet is fairly thick, and it comes generously with salad, fusilli pasta and fried snow crab meat.

Besides kid-friendly dishes, Maepsi Nakji also has baby chairs, making it a good place to eat out as a family.

As closing time neared, I happened to see a staff member tidying up the restaurant. Seeing how much they care about cleanliness made me trust the place even more.

Maepsi Nakji review event and after-meal coffee

At Maepsi Nakji, if you save the place on Naver Place and write a receipt review, you get puffed rice snacks. We have puffed-rice-snack fiends at home, so today too we made sure to take our dessert with us.

There are two kinds of coffee, instant mix and ground beans, so you can pick what you like. And with ice available, iced Americano is a go too! A cool finish after the meal 🧊

Overall verdict on Maepsi Nakji

If the heat has left you with no appetite and no energy, Maepsi Nakji is a good choice for a hearty meal. The combination of spicy octopus and tender, nutty beef intestines was better than expected, and with the clean restaurant and comfortable atmosphere, we were satisfied the whole meal.

Near Mulwang Reservoir (the lake) in Siheung, I can confidently recommend it for a family meal with your parents, and for anyone looking for a hearty health-boosting dish. Whenever my family craves stone-plate octopus again, we'll come back without hesitation!

Tips for visiting Maepsi Nakji

• No worries about parking
• There may be a wait at lunch and dinner peak times, so try to come a little before or after.
• Last order is 8 p.m., so check the time if you plan a late dinner.
• Because the food is spicy, disposable aprons are provided, so wearing white is less of a worry.
• Many guests come as families with their parents, so satisfaction as a family dining spot is high.
• The beef intestines have almost no gamey taste and are tender, so if you like intestines, I recommend the Maepsi stone-plate octopus and beef intestines.