Yeongjong octopus stir-fry and seafood pancake dinner: Haesanggung

Hi everyone~ It's Jena! I took my mom out for dinner right after she got back from a week-long trip to Vietnam. You know how much you crave Korean food after being abroad for a while — I've been there, and I figured my mom would feel the same way, so I headed straight for the place that instantly came to mind. Haesanggung on Yeongjong Island, famous for its kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) and octopus stir-fry — even after not visiting for a while, it didn't disappoint. The weather's been so nice lately too, perfect for a drive out there^^ Let's get into the honest review!

Where is Haesanggung, and is parking easy?

Haesanggung is located at 411 Marisan-ro, Eulwangri, Yeongjong-gu, Incheon, making it a perfect stop for a drive around Yeongjong Island. Parking was plentiful, both in front of and beside the restaurant. Driving out on a nice day already puts you in a good mood, and having a great destination to go with it made it even better. No circling around looking for a spot — I could park with ease, and that put me in a good mood right from the start. Little things like that quietly affect your mood before a meal haha.

A genuine local favorite that's even been on TV! I enjoyed every bite too hahaha.

Inside Haesanggung: the dining room and outdoor tables

Haesanggung runs both indoor and outdoor seating, and by evening it was completely full. My mom's flight landed at an odd time, so our mealtime ended up a bit off-schedule too haha, but the place still filled right up by evening!

The inside is neat and tidy, and there's a separate outdoor seating area too. With the weather being this nice lately, the outdoor seats seemed more than good enough. Eating with a gentle breeze changes the whole mood, doesn't it^^

We sat indoors, and it was a clean, comfortable atmosphere. My mom looked relaxed the moment she sat down, which was a relief^^

The set menu lineup was varied, so choosing wasn't hard at all. Some places make you agonize over what to order, but here the sets were laid out neatly, making ordering easy.

How do the octopus stir-fry and kalguksu taste?

Haesanggung's octopus stir-fry has a sauce that's not overly sharp but still packs deep flavor. Even the look of it stirs up your appetite, and it had that spicy, savory kick that's so distinctly Korean.

The set comes with turmeric rice too, which is such a nice touch~

My mom, who'd been eating local food throughout her Vietnam trip, took one bite and her expression instantly relaxed haha. Koreans really do need Korean food hahaha.

Mixing the turmeric rice served in a big bowl with bean sprouts and octopus stir-fry and scraping the whole thing clean — that's how you finish a bowl in no time hahaha.

The kalguksu noodles are springy and the broth is clean. Paired with the octopus stir-fry, the combination is spot on.

You eat something spicy, then take a chopstick-full of kalguksu to cool your mouth down, and then your hand reaches right back for the octopus stir-fry — that cycle just keeps repeating haha.

Seafood pancake and the self-serve side dish bar

We also ordered Haesanggung's seafood pancake, and it was loaded with seafood — satisfying from the first bite to the last!

Crispy on the outside, moist on the inside, with the seafood flavor really coming through — I'd especially recommend it to anyone who loves pancakes.

I also loved that you could freely grab extra side dishes from the self-serve bar. You just walk over and help yourself whenever you need more, no need to feel awkward about it. The side dish lineup was quite generous too, keeping the table well-stocked. Having a self-serve bar like this makes the whole meal feel more relaxed^^

Why Haesanggung is worth a dinner stop in Yeongjong

• Plenty of parking front and back makes it easy to visit
• Outdoor seating too, perfect for a nice-weather visit
• Varied set menus mean no hassle deciding what to order
• The octopus stir-fry sauce is deep and spicy — perfect when you're craving Korean food
• The kalguksu and octopus stir-fry combo keeps you eating happily till the last bite
• Free self-serve side dishes make the whole meal feel relaxed

You can also take a walk before or after your meal, and it's nice to grab an outdoor seat and enjoy the cool air here^^

If you're looking for an octopus stir-fry restaurant on Yeongjong Island, I highly recommend Haesanggung. It's great for a drive, parking's easy, the food is delicious, and the whole setup is generous. Seeing my mom, who'd been away so long in Vietnam, enjoy her meal made me weirdly proud too haha. This was my honest review of Haesanggung, the Yeongjong restaurant that filled us up with Korean food after a long while.