Apgujeong private-room restaurant with blue crab stew: Aemo Kkotgejang

Apgujeong soy crab restaurant Aemo Kkotgejang Apgujeong Main Branch. It's a room-style restaurant, so it's great for group dinners.

I went for some good crab dishes in Apgujeong after a long while. This time I visited Aemo Kkotgejang Apgujeong Main Branch. I'd heard it was famous for soy-marinated crab and spicy seasoned crab, so I was curious — but this time I tried the blue crab stew and rolled egg instead. Since it's set up as private rooms, I felt comfortable the whole meal, and the staff were friendly too, so it was a pleasant meal overall. If you like crab dishes, this is a place worth checking out in Apgujeong at least once. I feel like I've been eating blue crab endlessly these days haha. Off to eat in-season blue crab at Apgujeong restaurant Aemo Kkotgejang Apgujeong Main Branch, let's go

What kind of restaurant is Aemo Kkotgejang?

Aemo Kkotgejang started in 1990 in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, and is now run by the second generation. Having made crab dishes for so long, you could feel the pride they take in their crab menu.

Aemo Kkotgejang's signature dishes are, of course, seasoned crab and soy crab. The spicy seasoned crab in particular reportedly builds its heat without capsaicin or artificial seasoning, and I heard it's fairly famous among spicy-food lovers. There's also a mild version of the seasoned crab for those who can't handle spice. The soy crab is said to go through a second aging process to cut down on saltiness and fishy taste, so I really wanted to try that next time.

This time around, I ordered the blue crab stew and rolled egg. I was craving something with a bit of a spicy kick~ classic uncle taste, haha

Where is Aemo Kkotgejang in Apgujeong, and how do you get there?

Aemo Kkotgejang is within walking distance of Apgujeong Station Exit 3. Head toward Gangnam Eulji Hospital intersection, turn into the alley by Four Points by Sheraton, and you'll find it a little further in. It's not immediately in front of the station, but the walk isn't difficult. If you're driving, just search 27 Nonhyeon-ro 152-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul in your navigation.

Private rooms: how do they work for family meals and work dinners?

Having private rooms made for a comfortable meal. Walking in, I was glad to see it was set up with rooms. For dishes like crab or crab stew, you often want to sit and eat leisurely with family or friends, and having a room meant I could eat without worrying much about the people around me.

I thought it would work well for anyone looking for a family meal spot or a gathering place. The staff were friendly too, which made for a comfortable atmosphere overall.

They also offer nationwide delivery, so you can enjoy the crab dishes comfortably at home too~

What side dishes come with the meal?

There was soybean broth with agar (from sea moss) that had a savory, nutty flavor~

Delicious napa cabbage pancake and pickled perilla leaves~

Stir-fried seaweed stems and quail eggs

Braised radish, seasoned bean sprouts, and seasoned mushrooms. Clean, comfortable side dishes just like home cooking.

The rice also came out in a form that's easy to mix with crab dishes~ Rice can be ordered separately!

How does the blue crab stew (kkotgetang) taste?

Refreshing and spicy-tangy blue crab stew.

The dish I was most looking forward to that day was the blue crab stew. It's made with a generous amount of blue crab, so I tried the broth first and it had a refreshing yet spicy-tangy flavor. With crab stew, I think that first spoonful of hot broth is really where the magic is.

The umami from the crab was well absorbed into the broth, so it went great with rice, and taking a sip every so often kept my palate feeling clean throughout the meal. Having the broth alongside the heavier dishes made the whole meal much easier to get through.

There was a generous amount of roe and gonad inside too, which was a real treat~

And the in-season blue crab meat was so sweet, honestly — really delicious. Guess everything really does taste best in season.

Octopus and shrimp too~ this crab restaurant really knows how to do crab stew as well. If you like crab-based soup dishes, I'd recommend ordering the blue crab stew alongside everything else.

Why order the rolled egg with the stew?

And the rolled egg we ordered together. Personally, when I eat spicy food, I love having something soft like egg or steamed egg alongside it. Aemo Kkotgejang's rolled egg had a fluffy, soft texture that went well with the spicy seasoned crab.

Taking a bite of the rolled egg after the spicy seasoned crab softened the heat nicely — the two really complemented each other. If you love crab, adding a side dish like this rather than eating the seasoned crab alone makes for a much more comfortable meal. Especially for those who like spicy food but find it too intense at times, the rolled egg felt like a great pairing.

Coming back for the soy-marinated crab

Apgujeong soy crab restaurant Aemo Kkotgejang Apgujeong Main Branch — this time I focused on the blue crab stew, but true to the restaurant's name, next time I want to properly try the soy crab and seasoned crab. Crab dishes are famous for making you eat bowl after bowl of rice, after all. When crab meat that's packed to the shell meets seasoning or soy sauce, it just keeps calling for more rice, so I'm definitely planning to try the crab dishes on my next visit.

If you've been looking for soy crab or seasoned crab dishes in Apgujeong, Aemo Kkotgejang Apgujeong Main Branch is worth checking out. Being able to enjoy a warm soup dish like the blue crab stew along with rolled egg made for a hearty meal, and eating comfortably in a private room was a plus too. Next time I'd like to come back for the soy crab — and this time I'll properly order an extra bowl of rice.