# Gangnam seafood restaurant for octopus pufferfish soup: Bokio Bokguk - By Suyeon (https://superchart.com/en/@dinner-bell-pages/) - Written Sep 3, 2026 - Updated Sep 11, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Gangnam, Seoul - Sponsored: This visit was sponsored by the business. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@dinner-bell-pages/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@dinner-bell-pages/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/index.md) ## In short Bokio Bokguk is a pufferfish soup restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul. I ate live-octopus pufferfish soup and seasoned pufferfish skin alone; the staff cut the octopus for me, and a few drops of vinegar made the clear broth more savory. ## Good to know - **Address**: 2F Cheongdam Deokyoung Building, 540 Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea - **Live-octopus pufferfish soup**: ₩32,000 at the time of my visit; presented as a daily limited menu item - **Seasoned pufferfish skin**: ₩16,000 at the time of my visit - **Pufferfish soup varieties**: Milbok, chambok, and live chambok - **Seating**: Solo seats, group seating, private rooms, and rooms for up to six people - **Dining service**: At the time of my visit, a staff member cut the live octopus with scissors. *as written by the visitor on Sep 3, 2026* After finishing an errand near Cheongdam Station in the morning, I stopped by Bokio Bokguk (복이오복국) because I wanted a warm, refreshing bowl of pufferfish soup. This time, I ordered live-octopus pufferfish soup and seasoned pufferfish skin for lunch on my own. ![Visit to Bokio Bokguk near Cheongdam Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch-01-14r5h-1200.webp) ## Where is Bokio Bokguk? Bokio Bokguk is on the second floor of Cheongdam Deokyoung Building at 540 Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. It was not difficult to find from Cheongdam Station, and I followed the building signs up to the second floor. ![Directions to Bokio Bokguk's second-floor restaurant](https://img.superchart.com/images/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch-02-1837a-966.webp) ## Was it comfortable to have lunch alone? It was my first time eating pufferfish soup alone, so I felt a little awkward, but the staff guided me kindly and I could eat without feeling self-conscious. Once I was seated, they set out a rice bowl and water jug; the rice bowl caught my eye because it looked like a drinking cup. ![Rice bowl and water jug at Bokio Bokguk](https://img.superchart.com/images/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch-03-x0sbq-966.webp) From my seat, I could look out over Yeongdong-daero. Eating warm pufferfish soup while looking outside gave me a brief moment to relax. ![Yeongdong-daero viewed from a Bokio Bokguk seat](https://img.superchart.com/images/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch-04-ff5ay-966.webp) There were group tables as well as seats for solo diners, and the interior was clean and pleasant. The air conditioning was running cool, too. I visited slightly outside the lunch rush, so I ate quietly in a relatively uncrowded atmosphere. ![Interior with solo and group seating](https://img.superchart.com/images/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch-05-9wtgm-966.webp) ![Clean indoor seating area at Bokio Bokguk](https://img.superchart.com/images/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch-06-d7jdg-966.webp) ## What did I order, and how much was it? This restaurant serves Gyeongsang-do-style pufferfish soup in a ttukbaegi (earthenware pot), with several varieties including milbok, chambok, and live chambok. I chose the live-octopus pufferfish soup, which was described as a daily limited item. ![Menu guide introducing several pufferfish soup varieties](https://img.superchart.com/images/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch-07-1421e-966.webp) ![Menu guide reviewed before ordering at Bokio Bokguk](https://img.superchart.com/images/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch-08-1fzix-966.webp) At the time of my visit, the live-octopus pufferfish soup was ₩32,000, and the seasoned pufferfish skin I also wanted to try was ₩16,000. During the meal, I additionally ordered minari (water parsley) to have with the seasoned skin. ## How was the live-octopus pufferfish soup served? About 10 minutes after I ordered, the food started arriving. A staff member used scissors to cut the live octopus into easy-to-eat pieces in front of me, so I could eat it right away. ![Staff cutting live octopus for pufferfish soup](https://img.superchart.com/images/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch-09-1kd14-966.webp) ![Pufferfish soup prepared while live octopus is cut](https://img.superchart.com/images/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch-10-1h9i9-966.webp) The clear pufferfish soup arrived bubbling in its ttukbaegi. It had about four pieces of pufferfish, and with the live octopus added, it felt substantial for one meal. ![Clear ttukbaegi pufferfish soup with pufferfish and live octopus](https://img.superchart.com/images/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch-11-18s5s-966.webp) ## How were the seasoned pufferfish skin and side dishes? It was my first time trying pufferfish skin, and I was struck by its soft yet chewy, slightly clingy texture. Onion and vegetables were mixed with a sweet-and-tangy cho-gochujang sauce, making it easy to eat a little at a time before the meal. The rice portion did not fill the bowl, but it was enough for me. Eating the pufferfish soup and seasoned skin together left me comfortably full. ![Steamed rice eaten with pufferfish soup and seasoned skin](https://img.superchart.com/images/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch-12-plb6y-966.webp) ![Rice and accompanying dishes at Bokio Bokguk](https://img.superchart.com/images/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch-13-wagm4-966.webp) The basic side dishes were neatly prepared and mild, so they went well with the pufferfish soup. I liked that they did not overpower the broth; I especially kept reaching for the salty stir-fried anchovies. ![Basic side dishes served with pufferfish soup](https://img.superchart.com/images/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch-14-1mkm2-966.webp) ![Mild basic side dishes served with pufferfish soup](https://img.superchart.com/images/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch-15-6byue-966.webp) ![Side dishes from a Bokio Bokguk lunch](https://img.superchart.com/images/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch-16-n6sqi-966.webp) ## How were the textures of the pufferfish and octopus, and the broth? The portion felt generous enough that two people could share it and be full, but I ended up finishing the whole ttukbaegi by myself. The octopus was so smooth and springy that it slipped when I picked it up with chopsticks. I dipped it in a little soy sauce mixed with wasabi. ![Octopus from pufferfish soup with wasabi soy sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch-17-13h3u-966.webp) ![Springy octopus lifted from pufferfish soup](https://img.superchart.com/images/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch-18-1ykb4-966.webp) The pufferfish meat was firm and springy, with a satisfying bite, and it was clean-tasting rather than rich. I was told that adding a little vinegar would make the broth more refreshing, so I tried a few drops myself. ![Clear pufferfish soup and meat tasted with vinegar](https://img.superchart.com/images/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch-19-1uw7p-966.webp) *This is the cool, refreshing pufferfish soup I had at Bokio Bokguk.* I had not noticed any fishiness to begin with, but the vinegar made the broth feel even cleaner and brought out more savory flavor. The sourness was not pronounced to me, so this method suited my taste. ![Pufferfish soup broth tasted with a few drops of vinegar](https://img.superchart.com/images/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch-20-1kkm8-966.webp) I ate the added minari with the pufferfish skin. Its texture went well with the chewy skin, and its fragrant flavor made my mouth feel refreshed. ![Pufferfish skin served with added minari](https://img.superchart.com/images/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch-21-wwzji-966.webp) ## Who would I like to return with next time? I was comfortable eating alone, but after enjoying the meal and getting up, I felt a little disappointed that I had no one to share it with. Next time, I would like to come with my husband and have a glass of soju with the pufferfish soup. ![Visit to Bokio Bokguk after finishing lunch alone](https://img.superchart.com/images/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch-22-7ad55-966.webp) ![Record of my Bokio Bokguk visit after the meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch-23-14gby-966.webp) ![Finishing lunch at Bokio Bokguk in Cheongdam](https://img.superchart.com/images/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch-24-1p073-966.webp) There were private rooms as well as rooms that can seat up to six people. What stayed with me from this visit was how easy the staff member's octopus preparation made the meal, and the relaxed time I spent eating while looking out over Yeongdong-daero. ## Where it is - Bogi-o Boguk (복이오복국) (복이오복국) - 2F Cheongdam Deokyoung Building, 540 Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 강남구 도산대로 540 청담 덕영빌딩 2층 - 37.524594, 127.0527876 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EB%B3%B5%EC%9D%B4%EC%98%A4%EB%B3%B5%EA%B5%AD/@37.524594,127.0527876,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@dinner-bell-pages/bogio-bokguk-cheongdam-octopus-lunch/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt