Apgujeong seafood restaurant, extreme spicy crab: Aemo Kkotgejang

I heard that Gumi's famous, extremely spicy crab place, Aemo Kkotgejang, had landed in Apgujeong, Seoul, and I rushed over right away! My husband and I used to go to this crab spot all the time back when we lived in Gumi, so when I saw a place with the same name pop up in Apgujeong, I thought... wait, is it actually them? Turns out it really was! I was so happy I ran straight there haha.

Where is Aemo Kkotgejang Apgujeong Main Branch, and what is it like inside?

Location: 27 Nonhyeon-ro 152-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (Sinsa-dong) Directions: About 8–10 minutes on foot from Exit 3 of Apgujeong Station, Line 3 (inside the alley near the Four Points by Sheraton at the Gangnam Eulji Hospital intersection) Hours: Mon–Sat 11:00–24:00 (closed Sundays) Parking: Available in front of the restaurant Atmosphere: Clean, private room-style table seating, really pleasant for gatherings or dates.

The three principles behind Aemo Kkotgejang's crab

You could feel the pride in the details throughout the restaurant and on the table signage.

• No capsaicin! No artificial sweeteners!
• Only 100% domestic, top-grade blue crab
• 30 years of secret sauce tradition

It's a huge plus that they go with the natural flavor of chili powder and their secret sauce instead of harsh chemical seasoning or artificial capsaicin! By the way, on rainy or snowy days they run a free spicy crab event! My husband, who's always been on the hunt for naturally spicy food, said this was the first place since Mukyodong Nakji that lived up to that. The spice here is genuinely natural, so it doesn't upset your stomach or feel artificial — it's the best 🔥❤️

Ordering the spicy marinated crab and daejeopbap at Aemo Kkotgejang

We ordered easily using the T Order tablet installed at the table.

• Spicy marinated crab (for 2): ₩52,000
• Daejeopbap, rice bowl (2): ₩2,000 (₩1,000 each)

The marinated crab comes in mild (a bit spicier than Shin Ramyun) or spicy, and we went with the original spicy — the 'tier-1 spicy in all of Korea' option they recommend for people who can handle silbi kimchi! Since Gumi only ever had the original (spicy) version, we obviously ordered spicy again today too!!! 🦀 We also got a free beer from a Naver review event 🍺

Firm, meat-packed crab and a numbing spicy kick

The table filled up with neat side dishes (golden-brown napa cabbage pancake, seaweed soup, stir-fried fish cake, and more), a daejeopbap piled high with seaweed flakes and flying fish roe, and the fiery red-looking spicy marinated crab. Top-grade crab packed with meat! 🦀

The meat yield was really impressive — just a light press and sweet, dense crab meat comes spilling out. As you'd expect from top-grade domestic crab, there was zero fishy smell, and the meat was firm and fresh.

How spicy is it? Clean heat with a real punch

The first taste is a subtle, savory sweetness, then right after that, a numbing, heavy spiciness slams into your tongue! It's not the harsh, stomach-burning, dry feeling of artificial capsaicin — I'm not exactly sure what's in it, but the secret sauce made with garlic, green onion, onion and more is sharply, extremely spicy, and even sweating, I couldn't stop reaching for my chopsticks. It was exactly the same savory, spicy flavor I used to eat in Gumi!

How to eat spicy marinated crab: mixing it into rice

• Daejeopbap bibimbap: Squeeze plenty of crab meat into your daejeopbap, drizzle with the secret sauce and sesame oil, and mix it all up. The nutty sesame oil and popping flying fish roe soften the numbing spice into something incredibly moreish — total rice thief.
• Using the claws: The 2–3 claws that are hard to pick apart, along with any leftover sauce, are great dropped into doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) or ramyeon — it makes the broth clean and spicy. If you're taking it home, definitely toss it into your ramyeon pot!

They offer delivery and takeout too, and there's mouthwash and hair ties on hand, just so you know 😊

Apparently Gumi's own pride, HOT's Jang Woo-hyuk, stopped by right when it opened haha. I even got a tumbler as an opening gift!

Is Aemo Kkotgejang worth it for spicy crab in Apgujeong?

If you want to experience clean, addictive spice instead of an artificial burn, I highly recommend Aemo Kkotgejang in Apgujeong. It was so nice to rediscover a Gumi favorite in Seoul, and if you're a fan of spicy food, you absolutely have to try this!!! 🔥