Octopus for four with 2 free egg custards in Magok: Jju Baksa

A spicy hot plate octopus restaurant near Seoul Botanic Park — a visit to Jju Baksa near the park.

Craving something spicy near Seoul Botanic Park, I headed to Jju Baksa.

Location and vibe at Jju Baksa Magok Branch

The exterior has a red sign that stands out, so it was easy to find even on a first visit. The inside was clean overall, with tables further back too, making it look good for group visits. It felt like a solid atmosphere for anyone searching out a good restaurant near Seoul Botanic Park.

Ordering hot plate octopus for four

We ordered the hot plate octopus for four that day. It came out piled generously with octopus and rice cakes on a wide hot plate, looking appetizing just to look at. As it bubbled away on the plate, the sauce soaked into the octopus and the flavor deepened. The octopus was plump and chewy, pairing well with the spicy sauce, and it got more savory the more I ate. Also, once the octopus starts boiling here, the owner stir-fries it personally, so we didn't have to worry about it ourselves — nice, since it kept the conversation flowing.

Even the milder spice is sneakily hot

Jju Baksa has a baseline spiciness to it, so we went with the milder option. Even ordered milder, it could feel spicier than expected to someone who's sensitive to spice.

On the other hand, if you like spicy food, it'll suit your taste and be very satisfying. Adding bean sprouts in gave it a crunchy texture too, so it never got boring to the end.

Two free menu choices with a four-serving order

Ordering four or more servings of the hot plate menu let us choose two free items. We picked both the cheese egg custard and the soft egg custard to try them. The soft egg custard was impressively moist and fluffy, and comfortably tamed the spiciness.

The cheese egg custard had savory melted cheese layered on top, making it a perfect match with the octopus. Pairing the egg custard right after eating the spicy octopus was a really nice combination.

Recommended combo: perilla leaf and radish wrap

Personally, the way I enjoyed it most was wrapping it with perilla leaf (kkaennip) and pickled radish (ssammu). Topping the perilla leaf with radish and wrapping the octopus in it added a fragrant, tangy flavor.

The crunchy texture of the radish worked well with the spicy sauce, making it a combo I kept reaching for. Switching between eating the octopus alone and in wraps let us enjoy it in more varied ways.

Finishing with flying fish roe cheese fried rice

After finishing most of the main dish, we rounded things off heartily with flying fish roe cheese fried rice. They stir-fried the rice evenly with the leftover sauce on the hot plate, then finished it with a generous layer of cheese. The popping texture of the flying fish roe combined with the savory melted cheese made it a great finishing dish. Scraping up the crispy rice stuck to the plate, I kept reaching for more even when I was already full.

Overall thoughts on Jju Baksa near Seoul Botanic Park

This place suits anyone looking for a filling meal near Seoul Botanic Park. The octopus came out generously portioned on the hot plate, nicely rounded out with rice cakes and bean sprouts. Even the milder spice level has a decent kick, so if you like spicy food, you'd be even more satisfied. I especially thought it's a style younger crowds would enjoy. The soft and cheese egg custards both comfortably tamed the spiciness, and wrapping the octopus in perilla leaf and radish added fragrance and crunch for a nice extra treat. Finishing with the flying fish roe cheese fried rice rounded off the meal nicely. Visiting with a group also meant we got to try a variety of the free menu items together.

The restaurant's atmosphere was comfortable too, with plenty of seating, so it seemed like a fine spot for family gatherings or meals with friends without feeling like a stretch. The flow from main dish to side dishes to fried rice felt natural, which made for a satisfying meal overall. If you want to enjoy something spicy and filling before or after a stroll through Seoul Botanic Park, this is a place worth visiting at least once.