Family lunch with kids' pork cutlet at Bulnaneun Jjukkumi, Cheonan

It was on the way to a weekend glamping trip. Before heading out, I wanted a hearty lunch, and since I'd been craving something spicy lately, I stopped by Bulnaneun Jjukkumi Yuryang Direct Branch, a well-known jjukkumi (webfoot octopus) spot in Yuryang-dong, Cheonan.

The set comes with spicy jjukkumi stir-fry and freshly cooked hot pot rice together, so it made for a satisfying meal.

Location and hours of Bulnaneun Jjukkumi Yuryang Branch

• Bulnaneun Jjukkumi Yuryang Direct Branch
• 5 Yangjimal 1-gil, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan, Chungnam, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 11:00 - 20:50
• Last order 20:00 / no break time

Parking and the garden out front

Bulnaneun Jjukkumi Yuryang Branch has a large dedicated parking lot right in front, so there was nothing to worry about. Even with plenty of weekend lunch crowds, there was enough parking space to pull in comfortably.

After the meal, I noticed a garden-like space out front that looked perfect for a coffee and some fresh air. It's a great spot to stop by leisurely before heading to a glamping site.

Inside the restaurant, the private room, and even a baby chair

Inside, the space is split into two areas. One hall was nearly full, and the other had a private room. There were plenty of families dining by reservation too, so it seemed like a good spot for family outings.

And here's what I really liked! Along with the side-dish self-bar, there was even a portable charger and a baby chair, which felt like thoughtful attention to guests. Families with young kids could clearly use the place with ease.

What we ordered

We ordered the signature medium-spicy jjukkumi stir-fry with hot pot rice for two. At ₩13,000 per person including the rice, it felt like decent value, and we added a kids' pork loin cutlet for our child. Since there's a non-spicy option on the menu, it's a good spot to visit as a family.

Basic side dishes and cold seaweed soup

The basic side dishes come out nicely arranged too. Lettuce, bean sprouts, radish salad, and cabbage salad, along with a refreshing cold seaweed soup, are served alongside. The cabbage salad in particular had a ketchup-mayo dressing on top, which paired surprisingly well with the spicy Yuryang-dong jjukkumi.

And the cold seaweed soup was refreshing — after a bite of jjukkumi, a spoonful of the soup cleaned the palate perfectly. If the side dishes ran low, we could refill as much as needed from the self-bar, which was another nice touch.

The jjukkumi stir-fry and hot pot rice

Soon the main dish arrived, and the visual alone — with a faint smoky char aroma rising — was mouthwatering. The octopus pieces were plumper than expected, so the portion was quite generous.

We ordered the medium spice level, and at first the sweet, savory sauce came through before the heat built up the more we ate. It wasn't just spicy for spice's sake — it paired really well with rice.

How to eat the hot pot rice

First, scoop the rice out into a bowl, then pour hot water into the pot to make scorched rice (nurungji) for later.

I piled a big bowl with plenty of lettuce, bean sprouts, and radish salad, topped it with jjukkumi, and mixed it all together — the combination was fantastic.

The crunchy vegetables, springy octopus, and rich sauce came together for a satisfying bite every time. By the time we'd eaten most of the jjukkumi, a little sauce was left, and it was too good to waste, so we scraped it up with a spoon. Truly a top spot in Yuryang-dong, Cheonan!

And the highlight of the hot pot rice is definitely the scorched rice tea (sungnyung). Sipping the warm, steeped nurungji settled the spicy heat and left a satisfying, filling feeling. If you love spicy food, I'd definitely recommend getting the hot pot rice set.

The kids' pork loin cutlet

The pork loin cutlet ordered for the kids' menu was tasty too. It came out crispy fried, our child ate it happily, and the portion was just right for a full meal.

Thanks to that, the adults got to enjoy the spicy Yuryang-dong jjukkumi while the kid had a pork cutlet — a satisfying combo for a family meal out.

Final thoughts

Smoky jjukkumi stir-fry, freshly cooked hot pot rice, and a clean finish with the scorched rice tea at the end! The combination of plump, chewy octopus, savory sauce, and crunchy vegetables mixed together was great, and having a kids' menu made it a satisfying spot to visit as a family. If you're looking for a hearty meal on the way to glamping or on a drive, I'd recommend this Cheonan favorite, Bulnaneun Jjukkumi Yuryang Branch.