Restorative octopus-abalone dakhanmari in Guri: Gangnam Dakhansang

When I want chicken stew (dakdoritang) or dakhanmari (a whole chicken simmered in a pot) in Guri, this is my own go-to spot: Gangnam Dakhansang Guri Dolidari branch. This time I added live octopus and live abalone to the dakhanmari for a proper restorative meal. Chewy octopus, fresh abalone and tender chicken, all in one generous pot, so I'm going to tell you all about it.

Where is Gangnam Dakhansang Guri Dolidari branch, and what about hours and parking?

Gangnam Dakhansang Guri Dolidari branch is at 36 Angol-ro 85beon-gil, 1st floor, Guri, Gyeonggi, near the Guri Dolidari gopchang (grilled intestines) alley, so it's not hard to find. It's open 11:30–24:00 Monday to Saturday (last order 22:30) and 11:30–22:30 on Sunday (last order 21:00). They also give a 1-hour free parking ticket for the Guri Traditional Market public parking lot.

• Address: 36 Angol-ro 85beon-gil, 1st floor, Guri, Gyeonggi
• Mon–Sat: 11:30–24:00 (last order 22:30)
• Sun: 11:30–22:30 (last order 21:00)
• Parking: 1-hour free parking ticket for the Guri Traditional Market public parking lot

A standing sign out front shows the signature dishes, dakdoritang and dakhanmari, at a glance, so you can spot it from far away. It's close to the Guri Traditional Market public parking lot too, which makes it convenient if you come by car.

What are the atmosphere and seating like, and does it work for groups?

The inside is much bigger than I expected, with retro-style decor that I really liked. The space is kept clean, with moody lighting and little props here and there, plus wide tables and comfortable chairs, so you can eat at a relaxed pace.

It holds up to 80 people, and the roomy, pleasant space works for family meals as well as company dinners and group gatherings.

Gangnam Dakhansang menu: dakdoritang, dakhanmari and the special restorative add-in

The signature dishes are dakdoritang and dakhanmari, simmered in a giant pot lid. There are plenty of add-ins such as rice cakes, ramen noodles, udon noodles, kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) and sweet potato handmade glass noodles, plus sides like stir-fried chicken neck meat, stir-fried chicken gizzards, rice balls and fried rice.

There's also a menu unique to Gangnam Dakhansang, the special restorative add-in. Adding live octopus and live abalone makes the meal even more generous and hearty, so it's a good place to come when you need to recharge.

Self-serve aprons are available too, so you can enjoy soupy dishes and dakdoritang without worrying about splashes on your clothes.

What did two people order, and what comes as the basic spread?

There were two of us, and we ordered the dakhanmari and the A set (1 live octopus + 2 live abalone).

After ordering, a big pot lid is set up first. The dakhanmari comes out already partly cooked after a short wait. The basic side dishes were kimchi, bean sprouts, chili peppers, onion and ssamjang (dipping paste).

Along with the sides came a special sauce for dipping the dakhanmari and green onion to put into the pot. Now all we needed was the dakhanmari itself!

There's a restroom inside, and a self-serve corner where you can help yourself to more side dishes.

How does dakhanmari with the A set (1 live octopus, 2 live abalone) taste?

The dakhanmari came out first, piled generously in the big pot lid.

The clean look of chicken, rice cakes, potatoes and green onion already made my mouth water. Since it arrives partly cooked, you only need to boil it a little longer at the table before eating, which is nice.

Once the broth was boiling well, a staff member put in the live octopus and live abalone for us.

With the live octopus and fresh abalone in, the pot looked even more generous, and just seeing it made me feel like I was properly restoring my strength. The savory depth of the octopus and abalone joined the chicken broth, making it deeper and richer, and the longer it boiled, the more the dakhanmari's flavor came alive.

The well-simmered chicken was so moist that the meat came off with just a touch of the chopsticks, and it was clean and mild with no gamey smell. It was both chewy and tender, and I kept reaching for more.

The abalone was plump and chewy, and the more I chewed, the nuttier it tasted. The octopus wasn't tough but tender, with its signature chewiness, and you could tell it was fresh.

Dipping things in the special sauce that came with it added extra savory flavor. The rice cakes and potatoes in the pot were really good too. The rice cakes soaked up the broth and stayed delightfully chewy, and the potatoes were cooked through and fluffy.

Finishing the dakhanmari with porridge

After enjoying the dakhanmari, we ordered porridge, the finishing dish you can't skip.

The porridge, made by cooking rice in the rich chicken broth, was full of the broth's depth, nutty yet mild, and I kept eating it even though I was already full.

Leftover food can be packed to go on a self-serve basis, so you can take it home without any pressure.

There's also a receipt review event that gives extra add-ins when you write a review, so it's worth joining.

Is Gangnam Dakhansang Guri Dolidari branch worth going back to?

If you're looking for a good dakhanmari or chicken stew place in Guri, I'd recommend Gangnam Dakhansang Guri Dolidari branch. I was happy with the spacious, pleasant interior and cozy mood, as well as the generous portions and rich broth. This time I added live octopus and live abalone for an even more special restorative dakhanmari. The combination of tender chicken, chewy octopus and plump abalone was really good, and after finishing with the porridge too, I felt properly restored.

If you're looking for a place for a family meal, company dinner or group gathering, I recommend Gangnam Dakhansang Guri Dolidari branch in Guri.