Ilsan soy crab buffet: a 6-year regular's side dish combos, Deodeo

Where is Deodeo, and what are the hours and parking like?

Deodeo Ganjanggejang Muhalliripil (더더간장게장무한리필) is at 357-1 Wondang-ro, Deogyang-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi, South Korea (1st floor), and it is open daily 11:00-21:20 (last order 20:30). Break time is 15:20-16:20, there is no break time on weekends, and parking is available.

I honestly can't remember how many times I've been. It's been 6 years, and Deodeo is my very own regular spot. It's in Wondang, and even though the restaurant is pretty big, there's still a huge wait on weekends and at mealtimes.

You can park in the big open lot right in front, so parking is pretty roomy.

What is the wait like right after break time?

If you time it for the end of break time, you can get in as the first customer with no wait. I hadn't thought about break time and arrived just before 4:00, but then I thought, I've waited every single time I've come anyway, so waiting out break time isn't so bad! I parked as number one in line and walked in the moment break time ended.

Waiting area

This Ilsan-area soy crab spot has chairs out front and a waiting area at the side. At busier times the waiting area is packed too, and I've seen some people waiting in their cars.

I walked in first right after break time, and it's the first time I've ever seen Deodeo's interior this empty, haha. The seating is wide and comfortable, and the tables are well separated, so you can eat without any hassle.

How much is the all-you-can-eat set at Deodeo?

The all-you-can-eat set is soy sauce crab (ganjang gejang) + spicy marinated crab (yangnyeom gejang) + blue crab stew for ₩24,900 per person. A bowl of rice is ₩1,000.

Maybe to keep tables turning quickly, Deodeo sells only one bottle of alcohol per person.

I love soy crab so much that I've tried quite a variety of all-you-can-eat places, and Deodeo's side dish lineup suits my taste best.

How do the soy crab and spicy crab taste?

The spicy crab is sweet and tasty too, but the 6-year regular's verdict is that the soy crab is on another level. And the way the crab looks makes me drool like crazy!!!!

The seasoning is really good and on the sweet side, but the soy crab is so overwhelming that I usually don't refill the spicy one when I come to Deodeo. Eating the soy crab matters more!

While you eat the crab, the blue crab stew keeps boiling away. When the crab starts to feel a little fishy, one sip of the stew broth cleanses your palate again, and you can keep going endlessly, hahaha

When I came on a weekend recently, the steamed egg (gyeran-jjim) didn't come out at first (maybe they were busy and forgot..? hmm, sad), but it does arrive as part of the set as you keep eating. It's fluffy and goes really well with the crab too.

Once I put on the plastic gloves, it's all-out crab meat picking!!! The shells are so packed that plump meat comes out in one whole piece... it's insane, I'm crying.

What side dishes come with the crab?

The side dishes are seaweed (gim), flying fish roe, bean sprouts and seaweed stems, and you can ask for more of them. Seriously, the sides are so good~ seaweed, flying fish roe, bean sprouts, seaweed stems, really!!!! Really... the combination is so good that one bowl of rice? No way, I can't help but finish two. And since you can ask for refills of the side dishes too, Deodeo is such great value, honestly.

The blue crab stew is the kicker! When should you add the ramyeon noodles?

For the ramyeon noodles in the blue crab stew, add them after you've eaten a fair amount of crab and they'll be cooked just right. I love this stew broth so much, so I go back and forth: one bite of crab, one sip of broth, and just inhale it all.

Does the soy crab taste the same when you get refills?

The refilled soy crab tasted no different from the first plate, and I had three refills that day. Usually refills can taste a bit different from the first batch, but not at Deodeo... it's just really good. No matter how many times I refill, it keeps being delicious. I think I got 3 refills.

I have no idea how many crabs I ate, I built a magnificent mountain of shells, haha. Please make sure everyone has been to Deodeo. It's so good I faint,,

Is Deodeo good for a family gathering?

The lineup is something older family members will like too, so I recommend Deodeo for family gatherings. Lots of older guests have coffee for dessert! I think Deodeo has been loved for so long because it's hygienic, tasty and friendly, which is why so many people keep coming! The price per person goes up a little every year, but the lineup is still good enough to feel like great value. I'm sure the grown-ups will love it, so I definitely recommend it for family gatherings!!