Korean restaurant, Seongnam: family dinner at Morang Haemul Sotbap

What were the atmosphere and seating like for a family meal with a child?

I visited Morang Haemul Sotbap Jungja Station branch (모랑해물솥밥 정자역점) for dinner with my family. It is on the second floor of Prugio City 2 at 197 Jeongja-il-ro. When I had passed by before, its clean, upscale atmosphere made me wonder whether it would be expensive, but the menu felt more affordable than I had expected.

There was also a waiting area.

There was a range of seating, from tables for solo diners to tables where several people could sit together.

What did we order for family dinner, and how much was it?

We ordered two kinds of sotbap (rice cooked in an individual pot), along with smoked duck to share with our child. Prices at the time of my visit were as follows.

• Octopus-scallop sotbap ₩16,000
• Spicy octopus sotbap ₩14,000
• Smoked duck with chive salad ₩24,000

How was the smoked duck we shared with our child?

For something that seemed suitable to eat with our child, I had considered the smoked duck and bulgogi sotbap, but my child chose the smoked duck. They ate it so well that they kept picking at it even while I was cutting it up. Still, it was too much for one child, so the adults shared it as a side dish too.

The chive salad served alongside it was sweet and tangy with a slight kick. Piled generously onto the mild, savory smoked duck, it cut through the richness and paired well with it.

How spicy was the spicy octopus sotbap?

The spicy octopus sotbap was topped with seasoned octopus and crisp bean sprouts. To me, it was spicier than Shin Ramyun but less spicy than Buldak 볶음면. I have become less able to eat spicy food than before, so I was worried, but with the rice it was an enjoyable level of heat.

Dried seaweed sheets were served with it too. Rather than wrapping it in seaweed, I put the octopus on the rice and enjoyed the heat as it was.

It felt like there was a generous amount of octopus. The chewy octopus, crisp bean sprouts, and seasoning went well with the rice, and I kept reaching for it even when I was full.

What ingredient stood out most in the octopus-scallop sotbap?

The octopus-scallop sotbap was generously topped with butter-sautéed potatoes, scallops, and octopus. The scallops were tender rather than tough, while the octopus was soft and chewy.

The potatoes especially stayed with me. The pieces of potato throughout were fluffy and savory, with a subtle buttery flavor. I liked how the soft potatoes joined the chewy textures of the octopus and scallops. Next time, I would like to come with my parents and have this dish.

Would it suit a work dinner or gathering with friends as well as a family meal?

We visited for a family dinner, but the clean atmosphere and tables for several people made me think it would also suit a meal with friends, a date, or a work dinner with colleagues. The menu also had dishes to have with drinks, such as cheese bulgogi potato pancake and stir-fried pork belly with shishito peppers.