Bucheon Station monkfish restaurant, medium spice with friends: Haemul

Haemul Teukbyeolsi Bucheon Station branch (해물특별시 부천역본점) is a monkfish and seafood stew restaurant right in the middle of the Bucheon Station district. It has even been on the terrestrial TV info show Saengsaeng Jeongbotong, so it's apparently a Bucheon Station favorite with proven flavor.

The weather has been getting hot and my energy was a little low, so I was desperately craving a proper seafood dish that's spicy and wakes up the appetite. On a holiday, my friends and I searched like crazy and ended up at Haemul Teukbyeolsi Bucheon Station branch, a famous Bucheon spot that people in the know all know, with a monkfish stew that looks spectacular. I'll go through my honest review, plus parking and menu tips!

Where is Haemul Teukbyeolsi Bucheon Station branch, and where do you park?

Haemul Teukbyeolsi Bucheon Station branch is at 440-6 Buil-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon, Gyeonggi, on the 1st floor, in the heart of the Bucheon Station rodeo street area. If you drive, park in the basement of the Sangrok Free Zone building and walk over; parking is said to be free for up to 2 hours. Access and parking really matter when you go to a good restaurant, right?

• Address: 440-6 Buil-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon, Gyeonggi, 1st floor (Bucheon Station rodeo street and central shopping area)
• Subway: Get off at Bucheon Station on Line 1 and it's an easy walk. Even if you have no sense of direction, turn on a map and you'll find it quickly. It's in the middle of the big commercial area around the station, so going for a second round elsewhere after dinner is convenient too.
• Parking: Park in the basement of the Sangrok Free Zone building and walk; up to 2 hours free, they say. Personally I most recommend coming by public transport and enjoying a drink with the meal!
• Hours: Daily 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. (last order 10:00 p.m.)
• Facilities: Group seating available, takeout and delivery possible

What is the atmosphere inside Haemul Teukbyeolsi Bucheon Station branch?

The inside of Haemul Teukbyeolsi Bucheon Station branch had a stylish interior, clearly different from a typical monkfish stew place. Old-school places selling monkfish stew or seafood hot pot often have tables crammed together and look a bit shabby, don't they? But this Bucheon monkfish stew spot was very trendy and kept very clean.

Overall it felt bright and tidy, and the tables were spaced widely, so we could eat comfortably without being bothered by neighbors. Group seating is well set up too, so it suits family meals, office dinners, get-togethers with friends or even a date.

What side dishes come with the meal?

Once you order, Haemul Teukbyeolsi Bucheon Station branch sets out basic side dishes such as corn cheese, seaweed soup, white kimchi and steamed egg. Even before the main dish arrived, our chopsticks never rested because the lineup was so generous, and they seem to have picked only sides that pair perfectly with spicy monkfish stew.

First, the corn cheese came sizzling on an iron plate, raw-fish-restaurant style, sweet and nutty, perfect as a palate refresher, and the hot, deep seaweed soup gently soothed my stomach whenever the spice built up. The crisp, cool white kimchi tidied up my mouth, and the fluffy, soft steamed egg balanced the spicy sauce perfectly. I'd give the side dishes a pass mark right from the start.

How many spice levels can you choose for the monkfish stew?

At Haemul Teukbyeolsi Bucheon Station branch you can choose the spice of the monkfish stew in finely divided levels from 1 to 5. The moment I saw the menu I understood why this place is loved: the system satisfies everyone, from kids and older folks who can't handle spicy food to spice pros who want to blow off stress.

• Level 1: Mild (less spicy than Shin Ramyun, for spice beginners)
• Level 2: Regular (about Shin Ramyun level, a popular and tasty heat)
• Level 3: Spicy (about Buldak Bokkeummyeon level, for fans who enjoy the heat)
• Levels 4–5: Very spicy (for those who want extreme heat)

We wanted a deliciously spicy flavor that wasn't too intense, so we ordered the stone-plate seafood monkfish stew at the medium level.

By the way, through a Naver review event they offer a squid or octopus topping at half price.

How big is the stone-plate seafood monkfish stew, and how does it look?

The signature seafood monkfish stew full table (해물아구찜 요리한상) at Haemul Teukbyeolsi Bucheon Station branch comes generously heaped on a huge plate. The moment I saw it, I strongly understood why it was on Saengsaeng Jeongbotong. With that enormous amount and showy look, everyone grabbed their cameras for photos as if we'd agreed on it.

Easy-to-eat boneless monkfish and fresh seafood

One of the biggest perks of the monkfish stew here is that the monkfish comes boneless! There's no hassle of picking out bones or spines; you just grab plump, tender monkfish meat, so the flow of eating never breaks and it was so convenient. That mild, moist texture of monkfish filling your mouth with every bite was a work of art.

On top there are big whole squid and octopus, and I could feel the softness through my fingers just cutting them with scissors. Maybe because they were cooked quickly over high heat, there was no toughness at all, just very chewy and springy.

Beyond that, there were omandungi (sea squirts) with a fun pop, rich and nutty fish milt (igori), and plump shrimp. The seafood was packed in without holding back, so picking through it was great fun. I could feel a freshness as if the whole sea had been scooped into the pot.

Crunchy bean sprouts and fragrant water dropwort

The seasoning had soaked deep into the ingredients, yet the bean sprouts weren't wilted and were incredibly crunchy. Texture of the vegetables really matters in seafood stews and monkfish stew, right? Some disappointing places have vegetables so limp that lots of water pools, but not here. The subtle fragrance of the water dropwort (minari) spread and cleanly balanced the spicy sauce, so I never got tired of it and enjoyed it to the end.

How is the monkfish stew wrapped in flat dumplings?

At Haemul Teukbyeolsi Bucheon Station branch, a plate of golden grilled flat dumplings (napjak mandu) comes along with the monkfish stew, and this was the place's unique killer combo, a stroke of genius! The dumplings come fresh out of the oil, golden and nutty, and they go amazingly with the stew.

The writer's flat dumpling wrap tip

Spread one crispy, golden flat dumpling wide on your small plate. Top it with crunchy bean sprouts coated in the spicy sauce, a plump octopus piece and fragrant water dropwort, then roll it up like bossam (a wrap). The nutty, oily dumpling wrapper and the spicy, crunchy seafood stew come together in your mouth, and the synergy was a truly record-breaking treat. It's an original flavor you can only get here, so I strongly recommend it.

Checkpoints before visiting Haemul Teukbyeolsi Bucheon Station branch

• Flavor recognized by the media: A Bucheon favorite that has appeared on several broadcasts, including KBS Saengsaeng Jeongbotong
• Custom spice: Divided into levels 1 to 5, so both spice-lovers and spice-wimps can choose
• Boneless convenience: Plump boneless monkfish with no spines or bones, so it's a tidy meal even with kids or a partner
• Flat dumpling stroke of genius: The signature combo of spicy seafood and bean sprouts wrapped in nutty flat dumplings
• Good space for gatherings: A stylish, clean restaurant with wide seating, recommended for company dinners or meetups around Bucheon Station

Verdict: Bucheon Station monkfish stew I want to revisit with friends

Haemul Teukbyeolsi Bucheon Station branch is a place where I fully understood why so many bloggers and locals rave about it as a Bucheon Station favorite. It's not just a predictable, merely hot and stimulating sauce; I was impressed by a seasoning that really brings out the natural savoriness of fresh seafood. The combination of crunchy bean sprouts and octopus wrapped in flat dumplings especially stuck with me so strongly that my mouth waters even as I write this post.

If you want to share a hearty, spicy seafood dish with people you care about on the weekend, have a drink and blow off a week of stress, don't hesitate and head to Haemul Teukbyeolsi, the boss of Bucheon monkfish stew! I'm definitely planning to go back soon.