Seafood restaurant in Yeongdeungpo with a generous small clam hot pot

Personally, I am not very fond of steamed clams. The biggest reason is that they are often not properly purged, so I end up chewing sand every time, which makes the meal unpleasant. Also, it is tedious to open every clam, and because the clams are small, I never seem to feel full no matter how many I eat.

But I was so satisfied with the place I visited this time that I had to write a recommendation. The shellfish were so well purged, and the clams were enormous in an equally enormous steamer—it immediately made me forget the hassle of opening them.

Gaetbeol-ui Jogae Yeouido Main Branch: Basic Information

• Location: 15-1 Gukhoe-daero 70-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울 영등포구 국회대로70길 15-1 극동VIP빌딩 2층)
• Hours: Daily 11:00–22:00 (last order 21:00); closed on Chuseok Day, September 25
• Parking: Underground building parking available (entrance by Twosome Place)
• Amenities: Groups welcome / Wi-Fi / separate restrooms for men and women
• Corkage: Free, with no limits on alcohol or number of bottles

How do I get there from National Assembly Station?

By subway, turn right into the alley in front of the SK gas station from Exit 1 of National Assembly Station (Line 9), then walk about five minutes. By bus, take routes 163, 5615, 5618, 6713, or 7613 to the National Assembly stop, cross the street, and enter the Starbucks alley.

A Spacious, Pleasant Setting

Located on the second floor of Geukdong VIP Building, the spacious, comfortable dining room was the first thing I noticed. Its layout seemed well suited to everything from family gatherings and company dinners to dates and all kinds of get-togethers, with no trouble accommodating groups. Separate restrooms for men and women and Wi-Fi also left nothing to be desired in terms of convenience.

Three Things That Stood Out

Fresh seafood delivered every morning

They say they bring in a range of seafood every morning from clean waters, including pen shell, abalone, scallops, hard clams, mussels, octopus, whole squid, and shrimp.

Impeccably purged shellfish

When I tried them myself, there was not a single gritty bite. I was impressed that they handled purging—the most important part of clam dishes—so perfectly.

Free corkage, no bottle limit

Even if you bring your own alcohol, corkage is free with no limit on the number of bottles, making this an easy place to visit without the extra burden.

Giant Clam Hot Pot and Seafood Menu

Signature dishes

• Seafood Boil: ₩59,000–₩149,000 (small/medium/large/special)
• Giant Clam Hot Pot: ₩59,000–₩119,000 (small/medium/large/special; spicy version +₩1,000)
• Spicy Boneless Clam Kalguksu or Clam Kalguksu, lunch: ₩22,000–₩44,000 (for 2, 3, or 4 people)
• Giant Seafood Kalguksu, lunch: ₩17,000 (minimum 2 people; spicy version +₩500 per serving)
• Namhae Spicy Cockle Rice Bowl, lunch: ₩11,000 / Namhae Cockle Bibimbap, lunch: ₩10,000

Drinking snacks, sides, and add-ons

Gaetbeol Samhap is ₩19,000; spicy vinegared cockle salad, spicy cockle somyeon noodles, and boiled squid are ₩15,000 each; and chopped live octopus is ₩30,000. There are also cheese-loaded steamed egg for ₩8,000, mini seafood scallion pancake for ₩6,000, mayo corn cheese for ₩3,000, and flying-fish-roe rice balls for ₩5,000.

Shabu beef is ₩9,900; cod roe and milt, live octopus, abalone, scallops, and octopus are ₩20,000 each; mushrooms and vegetables and shrimp are ₩5,000 each. Kalguksu noodle add-ons and cheese sauce are ₩3,000 each, while wheat-cake skewers and fish-cake skewers are ₩1,000 each.

The Small Giant Clam Hot Pot Was Really Generous

The dish we ordered that day was the small Giant Clam Hot Pot. I did not expect too much because it was the small size, but I could not hide my surprise at the quantity and scale the moment it arrived at the table. Even in the small size, the seafood filled the pot to the brim and looked impressive.

The most satisfying part was how well the shellfish had been purged. I have often had the unpleasant experience of biting into sand while eating clam dishes, but there was nothing like that here. Thanks to that thorough purging, I could enjoy the broth and all the ingredients comfortably to the very end.

And if you order the Giant Clam Hot Pot, I felt that adding kalguksu noodles was essential rather than optional. Once the noodles went into the broth infused with clams and all kinds of seafood, they absorbed its deep flavor completely and gave the hot pot a perfect finish.

Pre-Meal Barley Rice and Final Thoughts

Having the barley rice bibimbap before the meal gave it a healthy feeling.

Gaetbeol-ui Jogae Yeouido Main Branch was a place where even one small portion delivered real satisfaction in both quantity and freshness. The perfectly purged shellfish meant I could enjoy it without worrying about sand, and finishing with kalguksu noodles was especially satisfying. I recommend it if you are looking for great clam dishes near National Assembly Station.