Spicy octopus lunch set with shrimp tempura in Cheonan: Bulnaneun

Hi everyone, I'm back again! Our family's forever go-to spot for six years now, Bulnaneun Jjukkumi ❤️ Today I came for lunch with my mom~!

Fully packed at lunch — waiting is a must

Today too, the place was packed full of lunch customers~~! We got the last table..! If you're not making a reservation, this is a spot where you'll need to join the waitlist.

There was even a baby chair set up in a corner of the store's hallway, so it's still perfect for family meals or group gatherings.

This time, a two-person set with shrimp tempura

Stir-fry (medium) + hotpot rice + shrimp for two ₩34,000

I was craving shrimp tempura, so this time I ordered the set that comes with two pieces of shrimp tempura.

After we got a seat and waited, clean side dishes perfect for pairing with the octopus stir-fry got set out. Bean sprouts, radish salad, cold seaweed soup, salad, and other supporting dishes that tame the spiciness of the octopus were still generously arranged. We grabbed more dried radish greens and pickled radish from the self-serve bar. Being able to freely help yourself to more side dishes at the self-serve bar without feeling awkward is always a satisfying part of this place.

The full spread for the octopus stir-fry set ˗ˋˏ complete ˎˊ˗

Orders were a bit backed up today so it took about 15 minutes to get served. But hey, 15 minutes is nothing, right?

A flavor you know is a scary thing,, The moment the food hit the table, that signature smoky aroma brushed past my nose and I got so excited to dig in haha

Shrimp tempura first

The shrimp tempura included in the set was fried to a golden, crispy perfection, showing up flawlessly like it always does. Before mixing the rice, I went ahead and took a bite of the shrimp tempura first!

Look at the cross-section of the shrimp tempura Such a plump shrimp, right? So good 💯

Dipping it in chili sauce and taking a bite, there was a crunch followed by the plump shrimp flesh filling my mouth Really so good 💯 While eating the spicy octopus, taking a bite of the savory, crispy shrimp tempura in between neutralizes the spiciness — such a perfect combo, right?

The order for eating: hotpot rice and octopus stir-fry, mixed together

While still chewing the shrimp tempura, I got ready for the main dish, the octopus stir-fry 🤭 Jjukkumi stir-fry GRWM, get ready with me, let's go. hahahaha

I'm reminded every time that piping hot hotpot rice is the best pairing for seasoned stir-fry dishes. As soon as I opened the lid, I scooped out the glossy, sticky rice into a bowl and quickly made scorched rice tea, setting it aside for later.

And then, ta-da ➿️ My beloved Bulju octopus stir-fry 🤍🌈✨️ Plump octopus generously stir-fried in a sweet and spicy sauce came out, and even after six years of visiting, the portion is still as generous as ever.

I scooped rice into a bowl and piled on the octopus, bean sprouts, radish salad, and all the other side dishes, getting ready to mix everything up deliciously. Now, mix it up.

Yay~ all mixed up ◠‿◠

I mixed the octopus sauce, vegetables, and rice together and took a big scoop. As soon as it hit my mouth, that deep smoky flavor wrapping around every bite and the chewy texture were still pure art,,🥹 So, so good 💯 The crunchy vegetable texture, chewy octopus, and umami-bursting sauce come together so well that even after eating this countless times, instead of getting tired of it, I'm moved every single time — it's got that addictive kind of taste.

Medium spice level paired with dried radish greens and pickled radish

The spice level is 'medium,' so it's deliciously spicy ❗️ (about a slight sharp intake of breath level) I especially love wrapping it up with dried radish greens and pickled radish for a sweet-and-spicy combo ☺️ You all should try eating it this way too Depending on your spice choice, this combo might be essential to neutralize the heat, but it's also great to enjoy alongside just based on personal taste like I do.

After finishing off the delicious mixed rice, I wrapped things up with the scorched rice tea from the hotpot rice I'd poured water into earlier. The warm, nutty scorched rice wrapped around my spice-filled mouth and cleaned everything up nicely. This revisit was such a success again!

Why I keep coming back after six years

Proving once again there's a reason I've kept coming back consistently for five years now — my true favorite local Cheonan restaurant 🫶🏻 With that fiery smoky flavor, the spiciness, and even the hotpot rice and shrimp tempura keeping the same unchanging taste and quality, how can I not love it,,💘