Ilsan soy crab buffet: 7 teams ahead Sunday, tree-divided lot, Deodeo

Soy-marinated crab (ganjang gejang) is the rice thief I want to eat any time, always..? I heard Deodeo Ganjanggejang Muhalliripil (더더간장게장무한리필), near my place, had become even more popular as an Ilsan soy crab spot, so I braced for a wait and went haha.

Is parking easy at Deodeo?

The parking lot has plenty of space, so no worries there. The only thing is that the parking areas are divided by trees lol, so you just squeeze in between the trees!

How long is the Sunday lunch wait at Deodeo?

I arrived at 11:30am on a Sunday, there were 7 teams ahead of me, and I got in after waiting about 20 minutes! It's all-you-can-eat so I thought it'd be a long wait, but the line cleared faster than expected. With 7 teams ahead, figure on 20-30 minutes.

There's a waiting area in front of the restaurant, so you can wait comfortably there. They don't hand out numbered tickets and call your name instead, so stay nearby..!

I hear Deodeo was featured on the TV show Saengsaeng Jeongbotong. It's that good.. and it even has a Blue Ribbon! A Blue Ribbon is a sign of a place you can trust, and even though this isn't my first visit, I was excited before going in. Ilsan soy crab spot.. you're mine..

What size are the tables?

The inside is bigger than you'd think. The tables are basically for four, so a group of six may need to wait a bit longer or sit separately. Just so you know! Four is kind of the ideal group size,,

Deodeo menu and prices

I brought the exact menu. Deodeo's all-you-can-eat soy crab set is soy crab + spicy crab + crab stew, with steamed rice separate. Kids aged 6 to 10 are ₩10,000! The buffet can be ordered from 2 servings, and one order per person is required~

• One-crab set (한마리정식) ₩15,000 × 2
• Crab stew ₩5,000
• Steamed rice ₩1,000

The soy crab was set out right after we ordered ^^ No long wait, which gets a pass^^ Each person gets 1 soy crab + 1 spicy crab right away!

Here are the small plates for sharing the crab stew, the plastic gloves you get if you ask, and the bin for crab shells! Gloves and wet wipes come only on request, so be sure to ask.

Side dishes served with the crab

The sides are seasoned cucumber, kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), bean sprouts, burdock root, flying fish roe and roasted seaweed. Seaweed and fish roe go perfectly with soy crab, and the burdock and bean sprouts are mild. Add well-ripened cucumber kimchi and radish kimchi, and the sides aren't fancy but have just what you need haha.

How does Deodeo's soy crab taste?

The soy crab isn't overly salty and doesn't feel heavy, which I love. It's clean-tasting yet incredibly savory, the crab isn't too hard so it's easy to eat, and the shell is thin so you can eat it right off with your teeth!! It looks so good it makes my mouth water...

As soon as the crab comes out, first things first: mix rice in the soy crab shell.. The roe and sauce are just right inside, so mix in a little rice, wrap it in seaweed and eat, and it's hallelujah time TT

The savoriness and freshness of the crab shell here is truly the best. I'm so blessed to have a place like this in Ilsan, please stay open forever, boss. There's not a single fishy bite..

Spicy marinated crab and steamed egg

My beloved spicy crab TT The spicy crab here isn't too hot, it's sweet, and the meat inside is tender, so it was really, really good. Is there anywhere with all-you-can-eat spicy crab only,,

Freshly made, piping hot steamed egg! Honestly I had no room for steamed egg (crab comes first lol), but it was so tasty and mild, and a thumbs up for calming the heat after spicy crab~

Boiling ramyeon noodles in the crab stew

The crab stew at Deodeo has a whole crab in it, so I added ramyeon and boiled it down well. You know, soups just get richer the longer you boil them..

My number one is spicy or soy crab wrapped in seaweed TT The sides are refillable too at Deodeo, so just ask for more without feeling awkward! The seaweed is really crispy, with no stale smell, and so good. It pairs so well with the spicy crab ♥️

I'm team spicy crab and my boyfriend is team soy crab, so we each ate what we wanted, and yep, as expected lol. We both just swiped our crab into rice and wrapped it in seaweed~

The crab stew is honestly so good it knocks you backward, okay? The crab is a natural seasoning so it's really tasty, and the crab is packed with meat, so it's not a hassle to eat with your teeth; the shell crunches apart and the meat pushes out.. Don't skip the stew crab because it's a bother to eat, please try it TT It's the best. Honestly my number one Ilsan soy crab spot..

Can you get Deodeo's crab to go or delivered?

I hear Deodeo does crab takeout and nationwide delivery. A lot more people take crab to go than I expected~ The soy crab is sold separately as female and male crab, and they sell spicy crab too..! I should go again next time with my parents lol

Finish with a coffee for dessert and your Ilsan soy crab tour is complete! Weekend waits are long, so I recommend going a bit early or late~ 👍