Samseong Station lunch for two: ₩14,000 kalnakji at Obongjip

Lunch near Samseong Station after COEX: why Obongjip Samseong Branch

Obongjip Samseong Branch is a Korean restaurant on Teheran-ro 81-gil, within walking distance of the COEX exhibition hall. My husband and I spent the weekend wandering around the COEX Baby Fair, and by lunchtime we were seriously starving.

Looking around for somewhere near COEX, we came across this Samseong Station favorite, Obongjip.

📝 Quick note — it's right by the COEX exhibition hall, so it's super convenient to walk over after a fair or event.

What comes with the meal: 9 banchan, seaweed soup and lunchtime rice refills

As soon as we sat down at Obongjip Samseong Branch, a silver tray with 9 banchan (side dishes) and seaweed soup arrived first. The moment we walked in, this retro-yet-tidy silver tray was already set with all 9 sides.

From nostalgic sausage to appetite-whetting namul (seasoned vegetables) and warming seaweed soup, it was a generous spread that gently opened up our appetites before the main dish.

There's a self-serve bar on one side where you can freely grab extra banchan and seaweed soup.

During lunch hours, you can also scoop as much rice as you like from the self-serve bar. Just note that rice refills aren't available in the evening, according to the sign — so rice lovers, make sure to visit during the lunch special hours!

Kalnakji for two at Obongjip: chewy knife-cut noodles and a smoky edge

We ordered two servings of the lunch special kalnakji (octopus and noodle soup), priced at ₩14,000 per person. The spice level is adjustable, and we went with the basic/mild option.

Following the 'how to enjoy kalnakji' instructions on the wall, they first cut the plump octopus into bite-sized pieces for us.

When the kalnakji arrived, our jaws dropped at the sight of the bowl. We'd ordered two servings, but there was enough left over even after three people ate!

The noodles weren't your standard kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) — they were soft and wavy, almost like dosakmyeon (hand-shaved noodles), which let the sauce soak in beautifully and gave a really unique chew. Even at the basic spice level, the savory-sweet-spicy balance was just right.

Octopus bibimbap: self-serve rice mixed with sesame oil in the leftover sauce

The real highlight of Obongjip Samseong Branch's kalnakji was the finale: mixing self-serve rice into the leftover sauce. The noodles were so generous that by the time we finished them, we were craving rice mixed into that spicy sauce.

So we scooped up warm rice from the self-serve bar and mixed it with the plump octopus, sauce, banchan, and a generous drizzle of the fragrant sesame oil on the table.

This turned out to be a genuine masterstroke. The chewy noodles and hearty rice came together so well that we couldn't put our spoons down. If you're someone who prefers rice over noodles — a true 'rice person' — you'd probably be just as satisfied ordering the nakji-bokkeum (stir-fried octopus) instead of kalnakji.

Who is Obongjip Samseong Branch's lunch special best for?

The lunch kalnakji at Obongjip Samseong Branch was a great fit for anyone looking for a hearty Korean meal after a COEX event. Here's who I'd recommend it to:

• Anyone wanting a filling Korean meal after the COEX Baby Fair or other exhibitions
• Office workers looking for a good-value lunch outing with coworkers
• Anyone who wants spicy octopus stir-fry and kalguksu noodles in one dish

At a great lunch special price, we got a full course of hearty noodles, octopus, and a savory rice mix-in — a real Samseong Station find. If you're near COEX and looking for a can't-miss, filling lunch spot, this one's worth a stop.