Daejeon octopus stir-fry restaurant with scallops: Chongil Nakji

A restaurant near Lotte Department Store Daejeon [Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch] :: Honest review of the spicy special octopus stir-fry

📍Hours 11:00 - 21:00 📍Break time 15:00 - 17:00 📍Last order 20:30 📍Closed every Sunday

Where is Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch in Daejeon?

This is Hyunbly's blog, where I keep records of good restaurants. I was craving delicious octopus dishes, so I went to Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch, located in Tanbang-dong, Daejeon. 👐 If you like stir-fried octopus, Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch will satisfy anyone! It's fairly close to Tanbang Station and Daejeon City Hall, and especially near Lotte Department Store Daejeon and the Hanbat Arboretum, so it's a great place to stop for a meal before or after shopping or an outing.

Parking at the Fine Ormi tower: 1 hour free per table

For parking at Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch, you can use the parking tower in the same building, Fine Ormi. The tower runs from the 3rd to the 9th floor, so there's a decent amount of parking space. They say every dining guest gets 1 hour of parking support per table.

Thank-you event coupon & free bulbaek 100% with a photo review. The event is currently running.

Ordering at the entrance kiosk

Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch, a restaurant near Lotte Department Store Daejeon. There's a kiosk set up at the store entrance, which is convenient for checking the menu and ordering in advance. You can see the various meal options at a glance and easily select what you want, so it's not difficult to use even on your first visit.

Inside Chongil Nakji: atmosphere and seating

Overall the vibe is clean and calm, so it's fine for family meals, and the tables have plenty of space, making it good for office worker lunches or group dinners and gatherings too. There are several tables, mostly for 4 people, so it's comfortable even when visiting with a group. I'd recommend this place to anyone looking for a good Korean restaurant in Tanbang-dong or a local octopus restaurant that Daejeon locals actually go to.

What is on the menu at Chongil Nakji?

Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch, a Tanbang-dong octopus restaurant that Daejeon locals visit. Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch has more than just stir-fried octopus — there's also whole-octopus-and-nakji hot pot and hot pot sets, among other menu items. The signature dish, the Chongil assorted special stir-fry, is a premium menu combining whole octopus, nakji (small octopus), beef and scallops, they say. The whole-octopus-and-nakji hot pot set also lets you try whole octopus, nakji, scallops and beef shabu together, making it a good choice for a family meal out or a nourishing meal. Best of all, it's close to Tanbang Station and Daejeon City Hall, and near Lotte Department Store Daejeon, so it's a great place to visit when looking for a restaurant near Lotte Department Store Daejeon.

I ordered the special octopus stir-fry (2 servings) + added scallops + tasting bulbaek. Chongil Nakji's premium signature — octopus stir-fry! An amazing combination of octopus + scallops + beef!

Side dishes and cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew)

Bean sprouts, spicy radish salad, pickled onion in gochujang, rice.

The savory cheonggukjang was a total highlight. It's not overpowering, and the broth has deep, rich umami and nuttiness from the soybeans, with soft tofu in it making it even more delicious.

Tasting bulbaek and the complimentary bulbaek side

On the left is the tasting bulbaek I ordered, and on the right is the bulbaek that comes as part of the basic side dishes. Perilla leaves and lettuce also come out so you can wrap it. It's stir-fried with onion, giving it a subtle sweetness, and the smoky char combined with the salty seasoning made it a perfect side dish for rice! It has a different, milder and sweeter flavor from the spicy octopus stir-fry, so it was nice to alternate between the two.

What does the special octopus stir-fry taste like?

Today's highlight, the main dish. The special octopus stir-fry looks mouthwatering just to see. It's loaded with chunky octopus, beef and scallops, with noodles piled on top in the middle — a completely generous presentation. The seasoning is evenly soaked into every ingredient, so it's spicy and tangy and delicious, and since the octopus pieces are big, the chewy texture is really great. 👍

Octopus + beef + scallops + noodles, the best combination. Chongil Nakji's special octopus stir-fry combines octopus and beef stir-fried together. Add scallops and noodles on top of that. The chewy octopus paired with tender beef gives you contrasting textures and a richer flavor overall! The seasoning is spicy yet deeply savory, and mixing it into the rice is absolutely delicious. You can choose the spice level — mild, medium, or hot — so even people who can't handle spicy food much can order to their taste.

Mixing the octopus stir-fry with rice and somyeon noodles

Octopus stir-fry tastes even better mixed with rice. Put octopus, beef and scallops on top of rice, add plenty of sauce, and mix — spicy and bursting with umami. The chewy octopus, tender beef and plump scallops combine for a variety of textures that made it even more delicious. The spicy sauce is addictive, a total rice thief. It's a quick and easy meal to finish, so it would also be great for office workers' lunch.

Is Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch worth a visit?

• 🔸️Various octopus dishes including special octopus stir-fry and hot pot
• 🔸️Choice of mild, medium or hot spice level
• 🔸️Close to Tanbang Station and Daejeon City Hall
• 🔸️A restaurant near Lotte Department Store Daejeon
• 🔸️Recommended for family meals, office worker lunches, dinners and group gatherings

The special octopus stir-fry is filling, packed with not just octopus but also beef and scallops. With the rich flavor of seafood added, the chewy octopus, the spicy-sweet sauce, and the combination with rice come together perfectly. ❣️ If you're looking for a restaurant near Lotte Department Store Daejeon or a lunch spot in Tanbang-dong, try the spicy octopus stir-fry at Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch. If you're looking for a good Korean restaurant in Daejeon for a family meal out, office worker lunch, dinner, or group gathering, I highly recommend it. 🙌