Mild squid stir-fry set in Dongtan Mokdong: Ossamgak Korean restaurant

I visited Ossamgak in Mokdong, Dongtan, a place where you can enjoy squid stir-fry and bossam (boiled pork wrap) together in one meal. Both dishes are familiar on their own, but I wondered whether a place serving both together might fall short on one side. As it turned out, the Ossam set meal I tried was satisfying across the board — the thickness of the squid, the cut of pork used for the bossam, and even the side dishes. What stood out most was how it felt like a home-cooked meal made with real care, but with slightly more attention paid to the ingredients.

Where is Ossamgak, and where do you park?

Ossamgak is located in Mokdong, Hwaseong. It sits in the Mokdong commercial area of the Dongtan 2 district, close to the Sindong new residential and cultural town. We visited around 5pm.

We were able to park right in front of the restaurant, and there's also a public parking lot nearby — good to know if you're driving.

Inside Ossamgak: a white-and-wood dining room

Walking in, the white and wood-toned interior gave a clean impression.

Taste is obviously the most important thing at a restaurant, but when you're eating with family or friends, the space matters too. The clean atmosphere made it feel like a good spot for a family meal out or a gathering. The staff were friendly too, which got the meal off to a good start.

There's a wide range of menu items. We wanted to try everything, but there's only so much room in one stomach — so on our first visit, we went with the set meal haha.

Ah, that skate sannakji platter looks so tempting too. While we waited after ordering, the basic side dishes were set out.

Yuzu-sauce cabbage salad and warm japchae

Among the basic side dishes of Ossamgak's Ossam set, the first I want to mention is the cabbage salad. I tend to think side dishes matter just as much as the main dish.

The cabbage salad came with a tangy yuzu sauce that gave a refreshing lift.

Alternating between squid stir-fry and bossam, a bite of the salad in between cleansed the palate nicely. And then — the thing I judge side dishes on most seriously — japchae (stir-fried glass noodles)!

I believe japchae only tastes right when it's warm. Sometimes a cold japchae at a restaurant just tastes overly greasy, which is disappointing. Here, it came out warm, and that was great. Being served warm japchae might seem like a small thing, but for me it really raised the overall satisfaction of the meal. The other, non-spicy side dishes also paired well as a break from the squid stir-fry.

The full set meal felt substantial. And the neat little side-dish bowls didn't look ordinary either — turns out they use Korean and Japanese ceramics designed and made by domestic and international artists. That probably explains why it felt like being treated to something a bit special.

What comes with the 38,000-won Ossam set for two

What we ordered was Ossamgak's Ossam set for two — ₩19,000 per person, ₩38,000 for two. It comes as one full spread with fire-grilled squid stir-fry, bossam, and several side dishes.

When the spread was laid out, the portions looked quite generous. The real advantage of this set is that you get to try both squid stir-fry and bossam without ordering them separately.

Mild squid stir-fry: how thick and how smoky is it?

First, the squid stir-fry. Looking at the pieces on the plate, each one was really substantial. What stood out most was the thickness of the squid.

This wasn't thinly sliced squid — it had real chew, thick enough to properly bite into. If you like that classic springy squid texture, this will likely satisfy you. We ordered it at mild spice level. I don't handle spicy food well — if it's too hot, I give up on enjoying the flavor before I even get there. But the mild level wasn't too spicy for my taste, and I was able to eat it happily.

The smokiness was nice too. Sometimes dishes are deliberately given a strong smoky char that ends up overwhelming, but here it was subtle enough not to get in the way of the squid's own flavor. And there's one more thing I take seriously — sweetness. Lately, plenty of spicy dishes out there are also oddly overloaded with sugar, to the point that a few bites in, you're already tired of it. Ossamgak's squid stir-fry didn't overdo the sweetness. The spiciness, the gentle smokiness, and the chew of the squid felt well balanced together.

Pork belly bossam with house-made bossam kimchi

Just as appealing as the squid stir-fry was the bossam. Ossamgak uses pork belly for their bossam.

Pork belly is one of the pricier cuts used for bossam, so it gave the impression that they don't skimp on ingredients. Of course, using pork belly doesn't automatically guarantee good flavor — what matters in the end is the actual taste. This bossam worked well eaten together with the garlic, kimchi, and julienned radish served alongside.

It was a different experience from eating the meat plain. The garlic added depth, and the kimchi and radish made it feel lighter and cleaner. It tasted so good that I asked about it — turns out the bossam kimchi is made by the owner's mother herself, drawing on 20 years of running a bossam restaurant in Gwangju, Jeolla-do. Personally, it felt like an elevated version of home cooking. It's not an unfamiliar dish by any means, but sometimes the more familiar a dish is, the more clearly you can notice differences in ingredients and combination.

Squid bibimbap with a fried egg and seaweed flakes

While eating the squid stir-fry, I noticed a separate mix bowl set aside. It held a fried egg, seaweed flakes, and sesame oil. Add the squid stir-fry to this and mix it together, and you get squid bibimbap (mixed rice)!

Eating the squid stir-fry on its own, I loved the thick, chewy bite and the subtle smoky flavor — but mixed into rice, it had a whole different charm. The nuttiness of the fried egg, plus the seaweed flakes and sesame oil, softened the spicy seasoning of the squid stir-fry into something gentler.

Squid stir-fry on its own, bossam on its own, and finally bibimbap — being able to enjoy so many different flavors from one set meal was really satisfying.

Free self-serve coffee to finish

After the meal, we were able to grab free self-serve coffee.

The portions were generous, and having coffee to finish made the whole meal feel complete. The friendly service also stuck with me. No matter how good the food is, if the service is uncomfortable, you hesitate to come back — but here, we left without any of those regrets.

Is Ossamgak worth a visit?

What stood out most from this visit to Ossamgak was the thick texture of the squid, the seasoning that wasn't overdone, and how well the pork belly bossam paired with its side dishes. I especially appreciated that the squid stir-fry wasn't overwhelming even for my palate, which is sensitive to spice and sweetness. The portions were generous too, making it a satisfying meal for two people to share a variety of flavors.

If you're ever torn between squid stir-fry and bossam, Ossamgak's appeal is that you can enjoy both in one spread. If you're looking for a Korean restaurant in Mokdong, Dongtan, or thinking about a hearty lunch, this one's worth keeping in mind. We had a great meal!