Tanbang-dong dinner of pork and octopus stir-fry for 3: Chongil Nakji

I found the perfect place to add to a shopping or bakery-hopping course in Daejeon!

You know how it's always a bit of a struggle to pick a meal near Lotte Department Store or Sungsimdang? I was in the area and got a craving for something spicy, so I headed over to Chongil Nakji in Daejeon!

Where is Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch? 10 minutes on foot from Sungsimdang

Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch is only about a 10-minute walk from Lotte Department Store Daejeon and Sungsimdang. If you're taking the subway, it's about a 5-minute walk from Tanbang Station, so the transit access is excellent!

The location here is honestly perfect. Even people coming from far away should be able to find it easily without getting lost. I heard there's also a branch in Gwanpyeong-dong, but I visited the Tanbang location this time! The interior was clean and tidy, and there were a lot of people in for dinner.

Pork and octopus stir-fry for 3: how smoky was it, and how was the octopus?

The dish I picked at Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch was the pork octopus stir-fry for 3. Just octopus alone felt like it might not be quite enough, and I thought having some pork to chew on too would be nice, so after some deliberation over the menu, that's what I decided on!

The moment the food arrived, the smoky char hit my nose and it was no joke! The octopus was so plump and firm that I could feel the bounce just from cutting it with scissors. The pork and octopus blended so well with the sauce that it felt like a party in my mouth!

The sauce wasn't just spicy for the sake of being spicy — it was deliciously spicy, so my chopsticks kept going back for more. It came in a pretty generous portion for 3 servings too, so we had plenty and left full! Honestly the amount was so large that I worried three of us might not finish it all, but I kept craving more as I ate, and once I started I couldn't stop... hahaha.

Order the octopus stir-fry and cheonggukjang comes included

The biggest draw of Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch is that cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew) comes automatically with your octopus stir-fry order, no separate ordering needed. Pretty surprising, right?

This wasn't a broth just for show — it was packed with tofu and hearty ingredients. I was surprised how well the savory smell paired with the spicy octopus sauce! When the spiciness starts building up, a spoonful of cheonggukjang resets your whole mouth.

Loading the mixed rice that comes with the meal up with plenty of octopus and a couple of spoonfuls of cheonggukjang, then mixing it all together — that's pure happiness right there! The seasoned vegetable side dishes were also served neatly, so it was easy to add whatever you liked and make your own bibimbap. It's such a satisfying meal that I wanted to tell everyone I know about it!

Honestly, I love the cheonggukjang here so much that I think about it often, and if you're a cheonggukjang fan, I think you'll really love this one too, haha!

Is Chongil Nakji worth it for a filling dinner?

If you're planning to visit Chongil Nakji in Daejeon, it's good to check the location beforehand. Their octopus stir-fry is so good it's practically the textbook version — a place I'd recommend without hesitation — and it's an easy stroll from the department store, making it a perfect course.

The combination of spicy octopus and savory cheonggukjang is the kind of flavor that keeps popping into your head once you've tried it! After filling up, I felt like a whole day's fatigue melted away. I'd recommend it for a satisfying meal whether it's lunch or dinner, haha!