Icheon Korean restaurant: 99,000-won octopus kodari braise, Seonghone

I was in Icheon, Gyeonggi and wanted a hearty Korean dinner, so I stopped by Seonghone Wang Kodari Dongtaetang, Icheon Seolseong Branch! I love spicy kodari (dried pollock) braise, so the moment I saw the menu I didn't even hesitate haha

Where is Seonghone Wang Kodari Dongtaetang in Icheon Seolseong, and what are the hours?

Seonghone Wang Kodari Dongtaetang, Icheon Seolseong Branch

There was a wide parking area right in front of the restaurant, and the big sign for wang kodari and dongtaetang was easy to spot from the outside, so it wasn't hard to find even on my first visit

• 11:00 - 21:00
• 15:00 - 17:00 break time
• 20:30 last order
• Closed on Mondays

Inside Seonghone Wang Kodari Dongtaetang: a spacious hall and TV appearance photos

Once inside, the place was bigger than I expected with quite a lot of tables. The vibe was kind of like a neighborhood hidden-gem spot,,?

The walls were covered with photos from TV appearances! Seeing all the shows it's been featured on got my expectations up before the food even arrived lol

Menu and side dishes at the Icheon Seolseong branch

The menu had quite a lot of options, from dongtaetang to kodari braise, mackerel, and braised cutlassfish, but we ordered the flower octopus kodari braise since it looked like it would have a killer visual

The side dishes were kimchi, stir-fried fish cake, seaweed, pickled onions, and bean sprouts — a lineup that pairs well with kodari braise. And you all know the seaweed and bean sprouts are for wrapping with the kodari later, right

Flower octopus kodari braise (small), 99,000 won: sized for two, enough for four

After a short wait, the main dish — flower octopus kodari braise — arrived✨ But wait, we ordered the small size for two,, and it was enough for four people to eat. I literally checked whether this was really the small size,,,, On a huge plate, kodari and siraegi (dried radish greens) sat in a generous layer of sauce, topped with a whole octopus, so the visual alone was overwhelming

Cod jiri soup, the clear broth that comes with the braise

The cod jiri soup that came with it was also really tasty!!! The kodari braise is spicy with strong seasoning, while the jiri soup is the opposite, with a clean broth, so it was perfect to alternate between the two

It had tofu and vegetables in it, and since the broth was hot, having a spoonful in between bites of the braise was a really good combo

Volcano-eruption steamed egg

And the volcano-eruption steamed egg!🐣 lol the owner waited for us to film it lol It's honestly the tastiest steamed egg I've had so far👍 Completely soft and warm, it did a great job of toning down the spiciness of the kodari braise between bites,,!!! Personally, when I eat spicy dishes like this, I always feel like something's missing without steamed egg, so I was so happy it was included in the set

The giant octopus carving show at the table

The giant octopus takedown showww🐙 The octopus was seriously- huge! I could see why it's called flower octopus kodari braise. Each leg was thick and plump with a real chewy bite,, I was worried it might be tough since it was so big at first glance, but it turned out really tender and delicious😋

Being able to alternate between octopus and kodari instead of just eating kodari alone really changed up the texture, making it even more enjoyable to eat!

Best way to eat the kodari braise: wrap it in gim (dried seaweed)

There was a guide for how to eat it best posted on the wall, so I gave it a try too

The method everyone knows hahaha — put a piece of kodari on the seaweed, wrap it up with siraegi and bean sprouts, and eat it in one bite! Compared to eating kodari alone, the seaweed adds aroma and the bean sprouts add a nice crunch, so this combo was my favorite. I tried wrapping the octopus the same way too, and its plump texture really came through, pairing quite well!haha

The portion was really, really generous, so it was great for eating with a group, and it wasn't just a single kodari braise dish — with the octopus, cod jiri soup, and volcano-eruption steamed egg, there was a lot of variety to enjoy. If you like spicy kodari braise, or you're looking for a Korean restaurant in Icheon to visit with your parents or for a family meal, give Seonghone Wang Kodari Dongtaetang, Icheon Seolseong Branch a try😊