Medium-spicy webfoot octopus with smoky wok flavor, Hongseong: Sonui

An octopus restaurant in Naepo that won me over with its smoky wok flavor — I cleaned my whole bowl of rice at Sonui Son.

I was craving webfoot octopus (jjukkumi) in Naepo, so I headed to Sonui Son Hongseong Naepo New Town Branch. I ordered the stir-fried octopus for three plus perilla oil buckwheat noodles, and the plump octopus with that subtle smoky wok flavor was delicious. I went with medium spice, and it was less intense than I expected — before I knew it, I'd mixed it into my rice and finished the whole bowl. (๑´ڡ`๑)

When you want a solid, filling meal in Naepo, this octopus spot was pretty good. Here's an honest rundown of the location, menu, and taste.

Location and parking

Sonui Son Hongseong Naepo New Town Branch is located at 117, 118, 1F Seum Pellipia, 273 Uihyang-ro, Hongbuk-eup, Hongseong-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea. It's near the Chungcheongnam-do provincial government and education offices — from the Starbucks Naepo New Town branch, head toward Lotteria and Yeopgi Tteokbokki and you'll find it on the main road.

You can use the building's underground parking lot, and registering at the store gets you 2 free hours. There's also a free public parking lot to the left of the building, so use whichever suits the parking situation.

If it's your first visit, look for the parking lot entrance next to the Hongbuk Nonghyup Naepo Central Branch — it's easier to find the underground entrance that way. Evenings can get busy though, so it's a good idea to leave some extra time depending on when you're going.

Atmosphere and seating

Walking inside, the whole space felt clean and pleasant. The tables had generous spacing so it didn't feel cramped, and with seating from tables of 4 up to larger group tables, it looked like a solid choice for family meals or gatherings.

When I visited, it was a bit past lunch hour, but customers kept coming in.

There were family groups as well as tables of older diners, so it felt like a comfortable spot for any age group.

The tables came neatly set with utensils, wet wipes, and tissues, and you could grab extra side dishes or broth from the self-serve bar, which was convenient.

Overall it felt clean yet comfortable — a good fit for lunch or a family meal out.

Menu and prices

Looking at the menu board, there were more options than I expected.

🐙 Octopus menu

• Stir-fried octopus (jjukkumi bokkeum) ₩13,000
• Cheese bomb octopus ₩15,000
• Water dropwort octopus hot plate (medium) ₩38,000
• Water dropwort octopus hot plate (large) ₩48,000
• Octopus brisket hot plate (medium) ₩38,000
• Octopus brisket hot plate (large) ₩48,000

🍜 Meals & sides

• Perilla oil buckwheat noodles ₩10,000
• Warm brisket noodles ₩10,000
• Cold brisket noodles ₩10,000
• Spicy mixed brisket noodles ₩10,000
• Pork cutlet ₩10,000
• Shrimp tempura (2pc) ₩5,500
• Shrimp tempura (4pc) ₩10,000
• Potato pancake ₩5,000

The stir-fried octopus lets you choose spice level: mild, medium, or spicy. That day we ordered the stir-fried octopus for three plus perilla oil buckwheat noodles.

Beyond the octopus menu, there's pork cutlet, noodles, and sides too, so it looked like a good place to split up orders when visiting with a group.

Honest review of the stir-fried octopus

Plump octopus with a subtle smoky flavor

After a short wait, the stir-fried octopus arrived. The octopus looked plump and glossy — pretty appetizing at first sight.

I piled bean sprouts and radish salad onto my rice, added a generous amount of octopus, and mixed it all together.

The bowl was deep, so mixing the rice and ingredients was easy. The first thing I noticed with the first bite was the smoky wok flavor.

It wasn't an overpowering smokiness — more of a subtle note rising through the spicy sauce, which actually made it easy to eat without feeling too heavy. The sauce itself wasn't muddy or overly harsh either — it was fairly clean.

With the smoky flavor plus savory depth, it was a bit different from a stir-fried octopus that's just plain spicy. What I liked most, though, was the texture of the octopus — not mushy at all, but bouncy and chewy.

Octopus can turn rubbery if it's cooked wrong, but here it had just the right springiness and a satisfying bite that went well with rice.

How spicy is medium, really?

I prefer food I can enjoy while eating rather than something painfully spicy, so I went with medium. By my own standard, it was slightly milder than Shin Ramyun. The spiciness was definitely there, but not enough to have me constantly reaching for water — just about right to eat alongside rice.

I paired the octopus with bean sprouts and radish salad, taking a spoonful of the broth here and there — and the broth turned out to be better than expected. At first I figured it was just a basic side broth, but it was refreshing and clean, so I went back for more several times. After a bite of spicy octopus, a sip of the broth cleared my palate nicely — they worked well together.

Pairing with the perilla oil buckwheat noodles

Eating only spicy food felt like it would be a shame, so I also ordered the perilla oil buckwheat noodles. A subtle, nutty perilla aroma came through, and overall it had a light, clean flavor.

Switching between the octopus and a bite of buckwheat noodles changed things up nicely. Alternating between the spicy octopus and the nutty noodles turned out to be a better combination than I expected. Personally, I'd say pairing the stir-fried octopus with a side and the perilla oil buckwheat noodles is a solid choice.

Final verdict

Overall, Sonui Son was the kind of place that pairs well with rice.

What stood out most to me:

• ✔ Plump, bouncy octopus
• ✔ A subtle smoky wok flavor
• ✔ Spicy sauce that wasn't muddy or heavy
• ✔ Medium spice that wasn't overwhelming
• ✔ A basic broth that was better than expected
• ✔ Perilla oil buckwheat noodles that paired well with the spicy octopus

That's about it.

Rather than an intense or flashy flavor, this was more of a stir-fried octopus that naturally goes well with a bowl of rice. I especially liked that the smoky flavor wasn't overdone but still noticeable with every bite, and the octopus being springy rather than tough was satisfying too.

The restaurant was clean with roomy seating, so it worked well for a meal with family or friends, and easy parking was a plus. If you're looking for a solid lunch or dinner spot in Naepo, this octopus restaurant is worth a visit.

If you're looking for a place to eat in Hongseong, this is worth keeping in mind — and especially if you're in Naepo New Town craving a smoky bowl of octopus with rice, I'd recommend Sonui Son Hongseong Naepo New Town Branch. I left having had a really satisfying meal.