Korean restaurant in Seo, Daejeon for spicy octopus and pork: Chongil Nakji

I visited Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch (촌길낙지 탄방점) for dinner in Tanbang-dong, Daejeon. Since I like both pork and octopus, I chose samgyeop jeyuk nakji-bokkeum (spicy stir-fried octopus with pork belly and seasoned pork), and enjoyed the two ingredients’ contrasting textures on one plate.

Where is Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch, and is parking available?

The address is 105, 23-19 Gyeryong-ro 571beon-gil, Seo-gu, Daejeon, South Korea. I felt it was easy to reach from Tanbang Station and Daejeon City Hall, and it also seemed like a good place for a meal before or after visiting a nearby department store.

Dining customers could receive one hour of free parking for one vehicle per table.

The hours listed in the original post were 11:00 AM–9:00 PM, Monday through Saturday. There was a break time from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, and last orders were at 8:30 PM. Sunday was listed as the regular closing day.

What is the atmosphere like for dining in a group?

The restaurant was clean and cozy. The tables were well spaced, so I could eat comfortably, and there seemed to be plenty of seating. It looked suitable for family meals, gatherings with friends, office lunches, and work dinners. The staff were also kind throughout the meal.

What was on the menu, and what did I order?

There was a range of choices, from stir-fried octopus to yeonpo-tang (clear octopus soup) and bulbaek (marinated pork barbecue). I ordered the small samgyeop jeyuk nakji-bokkeum, which is for two people.

When the food arrived, the thick octopus legs caught my eye first. Pork and octopus were served together, and even the small portion felt generous.

How did the samgyeop jeyuk nakji-bokkeum taste?

The spicy seasoning was evenly absorbed into the pork and octopus. The octopus was chewy and bouncy, while the pork was tender and savory. Picking up octopus and pork together made the different textures fun to eat.

To me, the seasoning had savory depth rather than just an aggressively spicy taste. It went well with rice when I placed the octopus and pork on top together. The accompanying cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew) was moderately seasoned and paired well with rice, making it feel like a home-style meal.

Other options included Chongil Assorted Special Stir-fry with whole octopus, octopus, beef, and scallop meat, as well as a set of octopus-and-nakji yeonpo-tang. I had the samgyeop jeyuk nakji-bokkeum this time, but I would like to order another octopus dish next time.

It was a place I would think of when I wanted spicy stir-fried octopus with meat alongside it. The generous table spacing, kind service, and parking support also helped make the meal comfortable.