Amsa cuttlefish restaurant in Seoul: fried set for two at Gapmaejeong

Gapmaejeong

Today my boyfriend and I went to Amsa Market and stopped by Gapmaejeong, which is famous as a Gangdong-gu favorite nearby.

Where is Gapmaejeong? Exit 4 of Amsa Station, across from the market

Gapmaejeong is located near exit 4 of Amsa Station, and there's Amsa General Market right across the street, so it's the perfect combo of eating and then wandering around the market afterward 💚

I went during weekday lunch and wow, every table was packed〰️ There were quite a few neighborhood locals too, and you know a place is a real local favorite when it's full of local regulars, right? ☺️

Gapmaejeong set prices and the free fried rice at lunch

Stir-fried cuttlefish for two + cuttlefish frying set came to ₩54,000, and here's the important part — ✔️at lunch, fried rice or plain rice is free‼️ Wow!! Of course you have to get fried rice after eating stir-fried cuttlefish, and they said it's free at lunch ❤️ (Fried rice ordered separately is ₩2,500!! Owner, you're the best...)

They're running a review event where you get a free drink or a bottle of alcohol, so make sure to take part 🙂

Side dishes at Gapmaejeong: minari, icy dongchimi, roasted seaweed

Then these basic side dishes came out — the minari (water dropwort) is crunchy and so good eaten with a bit of chojang (vinegar-chili sauce).

They also give you dongchimi (radish water kimchi), and it's got a slushy icy layer... totally my thing;; Plus the roasted seaweed is so good too〰️ You can wrap it with the cuttlefish later.

Cuttlefish hot plate for two, piled with minari in spicy sauce

Here's the cuttlefish hot plate for two 🦑🦑 They piled it high with minari on top, which I really loved.

It looks so delicious ㅠㅠ Honestly with sauce that looks this good, it would be a crime if it didn't taste good〰️〰️ It comes already cooked, so you can dig in right away!!!

I think this might be the plumpest cuttlefish I've ever had in my life! Great texture too — so tender and not chewy at all.

There were rice cakes and king oyster mushrooms mixed in too, so you get to try a bit of everything 🧡🧡

And wrapping it with minari — the combo is genuinely the best ㅠㅠ The minari's fragrance is amazing and pairs so well with the cuttlefish. The sauce isn't super spicy but it's not mild either, just the right amount of spicy-hot, totally my kind of flavor!!!

The owner's way to wrap the cuttlefish in seaweed

Following the way the owner showed us, wrapping the cuttlefish with seaweed, onion, and bean sprouts together was such a special treat 🖤 The seaweed was seriously delicious...

The bean sprouts mixed with the hot plate sauce were such a good combo that I got a refill twice ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

And my boyfriend said the icy dongchimi was so good he finished it all and got a refill ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ The main dish is delicious, but the side dishes pair perfectly too〰️〰️

Fried cuttlefish with a salty, old-school fried chicken batter

Next came the cuttlefish frying that was part of the set 🦑🦑 ⭐️ You guys, this is amazing.... you absolutely have to order it ㅠ

The owner told us to cut it up right away and eat it in big pieces.

The frying is packed with big chunks of cuttlefish inside, and the batter is seriously amazing...!!! The seasoning on the batter is salty in a way that reminds me of old-school fried chicken batter...?!??!?? The seasoning was just perfect!!!

I honestly ate this while sighing in amazement... The cuttlefish frying is a must — actually, just get the set menu no matter what ⭐️‼️⭐️‼️⭐️

Finishing with the complimentary minari fried rice

Then, since it was lunch, they stir-fried a batch of minari fried rice for free using the leftover sauce on the hot plate!!!

They topped the fried rice with the remaining stir-fried cuttlefish, and eating it together... it just starts all over again;;;

Mixing the fried rice with the moist leftover sauce on top... ahh, guys, I'm already thinking about this flavor again ㅠ I'll probably end up going back again soon because I miss it so much!!!🥹🥹 The sauce here is seriously a signature dish... it'll really suit your taste, I promise, seriously seriously 🔥🔥

I said I was so full, but I scraped the plate clean to the very end and walked out... Gapmaejeong, a Gangdong-gu favorite, is seriously the best!!!!! This is what a real local restaurant looks like.

What local regulars order: cold cuttlefish buckwheat noodles

And while we were eating, regulars? neighborhood locals? kept steadily coming in! Most of the older folks ordered cuttlefish naengmomil (cold buckwheat noodles with cuttlefish), and it clearly wasn't their first time trying it ㅋㅋㅋ Now I'm so curious that I think I need to come back before summer ends to try the cuttlefish naengmomil myself 💙

Gapmaejeong, a favorite spot among neighborhood regulars, was genuinely delicious in a way I haven't experienced in a while, so I'd definitely go back! The owner is super kind too, so you should really visit!!