Seafood kalguksu in Hwaseong with grilled webfoot octopus: Yubok

A Dongtan kalguksu restaurant I visited with my parents

I’m leaving a record of Yubok Haemul Kalguksu Dongtan Direct Branch (유복해물칼국수 동탄직영점), the great Dongtan kalguksu spot I took my mom and dad to. It is the second directly operated branch of Gongju Yuga-ne Kalguksu, named one of the five best kalguksu places nationwide on “Delicious Guys”—and I’d actually eaten at the Gongju location before! Its taste was already guaranteed, so I went in trusting it.

It is near Dongtan Central Park in Dongtan 1, so it was very accessible from nearby Gaenari Park, Dongtan Station, and Starfield Dongtan. In Dongtan, where parking is scarce, you can park right in front of the restaurant, and they also support public-parking fees when it is full. We were lucky enough to get a spot right outside!

We visited early and did not have to wait, but, as you would expect from a popular Dongtan kalguksu place, it seemed like there is usually a wait. You write your name on the waiting list before going in ^^..!

Private inner seating and what we ordered

The clean interior was the first thing that caught my eye! Since I was having a meal with my parents, we settled into the separated inner space. Only two parties can sit there, so it was nice and private.

We ordered pufferfish seafood kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup; ₩11,000 per person) and charcoal-grilled webfoot octopus stir-fry (₩17,000 per person). They also had delicious-looking sides such as webfoot-octopus buchujeon (garlic chive pancake) and dumplings. But the ultimate combination is definitely ordering the kalguksu and octopus stir-fry together!

Barley rice and house-made geotjeori

The basic side dishes and barley rice arrived first. Unusually, Yubok Haemul Kalguksu serves plain shredded white radish that has not been dressed; add gochujang (Korean red chili paste) and sesame oil, then eat it with the barley rice, and it is mild and delicious. The kimchi was also wonderfully fermented napa-cabbage geotjeori (fresh kimchi). They make it themselves, and honestly, you could tell just by looking at it. Apparently it is such a popular item that people ask to buy it separately.

Extra side dishes are self-service.

Pufferfish seafood kalguksu made with wild milbok broth

What makes Yubok Haemul Kalguksu different from ordinary kalguksu is that its broth itself is not ordinary! They say they simmer wild milbok pufferfish for a long time to make a refreshing, clean broth without seasonings. Milbok is said to be good for circulation, high blood pressure, diabetes, neuralgia, adult ailments, detoxification, hangovers, skin, and muscle stiffness. My dad is actually managing his diet because he has diabetes, so I liked that we could still keep that in mind while eating out.

There was pepper and spicy chili at every table, but the pufferfish broth was already perfectly flavored, so we followed the owner’s advice and did not add any.

They first serve the seafood separately from the noodles so you can see the freshness of the ingredients yourself: live Manila clams, Tongyeong oysters, and omandungi sea squirts. You can really taste that deep sea aroma. >_<

How to enjoy the kalguksu

• Turn over the sand timer, then adjust the heat once it finishes and eat.
• Do not stir too much; just skim off the foam lightly for a clean broth!

They use house-made noodles, and maybe that is why they were truly soft and chewy. I had fallen for the charms of house-made noodles just a few days before, so I already knew how delicious they could be~ It was a very important point for me. Fresh noodles are the best~~♡

Charcoal-grilled webfoot octopus stir-fry that paired beautifully with kalguksu

The webfoot octopus stir-fry arrived looking gorgeous, too! It looked extremely spicy, but it was just the delicious kind of spicy—about the heat level of Shin Ramyun, I would say. It was perfect for mixing into rice. There was plenty of octopus, and above all, the sauce was sooo good! In the end, we added more rice and kept mixing—an endless run of bibim (mixed rice).

It paired especially well with the kalguksu: it was delicious spooned over the noodles, and it was also great to lift up the noodles and eat them with the octopus stir-fry.

If you are looking for a great Dongtan kalguksu restaurant, visit Yubok Haemul Kalguksu Dongtan Direct Branch~ It is not overly spicy and feels wholesome, so I think children would enjoy it too. Older diners can also have it comfortably, making it just right for a family meal everyone can enjoy. It is a great Dongtan kalguksu spot, but the webfoot octopus stir-fry is truly delicious too, so I also recommend it for an unusual menu and a different kind of date spot.