Amsa Station seafood restaurant: minari cuttlefish lunch, Gapmaejeong

My wife and I got her hair done near the Cheonho-dong Rodeo area, and by the time we finished it was already lunchtime. While we were trying to figure out what to eat nearby, I remembered Gapmaejeong, a place we'd visited together about two months earlier.

I still remembered how much I enjoyed the minari (water celery) and cuttlefish combination back then. Places that were good the first time naturally come to mind again when you're picking your next meal, and this was exactly that kind of day.

Where is Gapmaejeong near Amsa Station, and is there parking?

Gapmaejeong is about 150m from Exit 4 of Amsa Station. As for parking, there was space for about one car beside the restaurant. The owner came out to guide us in, so it was easy.

When you look for good restaurants in Gangdong, Seoul, there are so many options from meat places to soup joints, but that day I was craving spicy seafood. Since we'd already tried some of the menu before, there wasn't much deliberation when ordering.

Gapmaejeong's menu and what the couple ordered

Looking at the menu, they also had yellowtail flatfish stew and cockle bibimbap, as well as fried cuttlefish and blanched cuttlefish. We don't know how those taste yet, but as a couple who loves seafood, it was nice to know we have more options for next time.

We went with the minari cuttlefish stir-fry and minari cuttlefish seafood pancake again. The stir-fry alone would have been fine, but we kept thinking about the fragrant minari pancake, so we couldn't pass it up.

Lunch at Gapmaejeong comes with rice and fried rice

There was one pleasant surprise that day. Ordering the cuttlefish stir-fry for lunch got us free rice and fried rice.

At first we mixed the rice with the sauce, and then finished off with fried rice, making for a pretty filling lunch. This was what we were given during our visit, so if you're hoping for this same perk, it's worth checking before you order.

Second-floor group seating and service at Gapmaejeong

The restaurant also has a second-floor space. It was spacious and comfortable, so it seemed like a good spot to eat with a group. Since group reservations are apparently possible, this could be worth checking out if you're looking for a get-together spot nearby.

The service from the owner and staff was good too. They greeted us kindly from the moment we walked in, and kept an eye on our table throughout the meal.

What I especially liked was that when the side dishes ran low, they refilled them before we even had to ask. Not having to raise a hand every time we needed something meant we could just relax and chat while eating.

How the minari cuttlefish stir-fry tasted

The stir-fry we'd been waiting for had plenty of minari mixed into the red sauce. Taking a bite, the fragrant minari flavor hit first, followed by the chewy texture of the cuttlefish.

The cuttlefish had thick flesh, so there was definitely something to chew on. Combined with the crisp texture of the minari, it was fun eating them together. It reminded me all over again why I enjoyed it so much last time.

The sauce was nicely spicy for my taste. Mixing a bit of the stir-fry and sauce into the rice made for a delicacy in itself. Unlike eating the cuttlefish on its own, the rice soaked up the sauce's flavor and I kept going, spoonful after spoonful.

The minari cuttlefish seafood pancake

The minari cuttlefish seafood pancake we ordered alongside had its own charm, different from the stir-fry. The crispy edges of the thinly cooked pancake went well with the fragrant minari inside.

The bites of cuttlefish scattered throughout kept the pancake from being bland. It was nice to pair a piece with the stir-fry as we ate.

Finishing the meal with fried rice

Of course, we finished with fried rice. Even though we'd already mixed rice with the sauce earlier, the rice fried in that same sauce still had us reaching for more.

Even with the same sauce, the flavor was different between the mixed rice and the fried rice, so being able to enjoy both was a pretty satisfying way to round out lunch for us.

Was the return visit to Gapmaejeong worth it?

Coming back to Gapmaejeong after two months left us with good memories, both of the food and the friendly service. We ended up having a solid lunch after getting my wife's hair done in Cheonho-dong. If you enjoy the aroma of minari or find yourself craving chewy cuttlefish dishes, Gapmaejeong is worth adding to your list of good restaurants in Gangdong, Seoul. As a couple, we think we'll be back again whenever this combination crosses our minds.