Daejeon octopus stir-fry: ₩52,000 mixed special for 2, Chongil Nakji

Craving spicy octopus stir-fry? Chongil Nakji in Tanbang-dong

Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch (촌길낙지 탄방점) is an octopus stir-fry restaurant in Tanbang-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, near Lotte Department Store. Some days you just need a spicy meal that clears everything out. Stress piling up, energy dragging, or you simply want something fiery and intense. On days like that, nothing beats nakji bokkeum (spicy stir-fried octopus): chewy octopus in spicy sauce, then scooped over rice and mixed together.

Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch was that day's destination. Near Daejeon's Lotte Department Store, it has a reputation as a lunch favorite among Tanbang-dong office workers. It also appears in the Diningcode ranking of Tanbang-dong lunch spots, a local favorite that wins people over with a balanced lineup built around octopus stir-fry.

Where is Chongil Nakji, and where do you park?

The restaurant is at 23-19 Gyeryong-ro 571beon-gil, Unit 105, Seo-gu, Daejeon (Tanbang-dong 688), in the building with Hollys Coffee and the Tanbang-dong swimming pool. It is close to Yongmun Station, Tanbang Station and Lotte Department Store, and next to the Dunsan-dong commercial district, so it is easy to reach. It is also not far from Daejeon's old downtown sights, including Sungsimdang, so it fits well into a Daejeon trip.

If you come by car, no worries about parking. The Fine Ormier parking tower in the building runs from the 3rd to the 9th floor, so parking is stress-free. Dining at Chongil Nakji gets you a free 1-hour parking ticket per table.

• Address: 23-19 Gyeryong-ro 571beon-gil, Unit 105, Seo-gu, Daejeon (Tanbang-dong 688)
• Hours: Mon–Sat 11:00–21:00 / break time 15:00–17:00 / last order 20:30
• Closed: every Sunday
• Parking: Fine Ormier parking tower in the building (floors 3–9) / 1 hour per table

Hours and reservation tips

The restaurant is open Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with a break from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Last order is at 8:30 p.m., and it is closed every Sunday. It is often full at lunch peak, so booking through Naver is recommended.

Atmosphere: the buzz of a Tanbang-dong local favorite

At lunchtime, Chongil Nakji buzzes with office workers. At peak hours the place is nearly full of diners, which says this is a proven spot in Tanbang-dong.

As you'd expect from an octopus stir-fry specialist, the smell of spicy sauce filled the room. Once you sit, ssam vegetables (leafy greens for wrapping) and side dishes arrive first and fill the table. You can enjoy cheonggukjang with your octopus here, and with other combinations like flame-grilled soy bulgogi it is also popular for family meals.

What's on the menu at Chongil Nakji?

The menu was solid: pork octopus stir-fry, scallop octopus stir-fry, and a mixed special with whole octopus, beef and scallops all together. If we were going to eat, we figured, why not go big, so we chose the premium signature dish.

Chongil Mixed Special (₩52,000): the top premium dish

What we picked that day was the Chongil Mixed Special (for 3, ₩52,000). It is Chongil Nakji's best premium dish, served in limited quantity: a mixed special stir-fry with whole octopus, octopus, scallops and beef. It's described as a taurine-packed health special, and since it can sell out early, a Naver reservation guarantees you get it.

For two people, a menu sized for 3 was generous. The mix suits a day when you want to eat big and taste lots of seafood and meat on one plate.

Whole octopus: overwhelming from the first look

The moment the Chongil Mixed Special hit the table, the look of it surprised me first. A big whole octopus sat in the center of the plate coated in spicy sauce. Sesame seeds were scattered over the red sauce, with octopus, scallops, beef, bean sprouts and vegetables mixed in.

The whole octopus was cooked tender. Its signature chewy-yet-soft texture met the spicy sauce and filled my mouth. Picking up a big piece of octopus leg, the bouncy texture was still there. Octopus is said to be rich in taurine, a restorative food, and that's why this dish is called a health special.

Octopus, scallops and beef: variety on one plate

The heart of Chongil Nakji is still the octopus. Chewy octopus tossed in spicy sauce. As you'd expect from a specialist, the seasoning was well balanced. It wasn't just harsh; it was a spiciness with real savory depth. The chew of the octopus and the kick of the sauce came together into a flavor that calls for rice.

Scallops were in there too. Between the spicy sauce, I bit into soft, mild scallop meat. The natural sweetness of the seafood contrasted with the hot seasoning and added variety.

The beef added heft among the spicy seafood. The sauce-soaked beef was tender, and it supplied a heavier flavor that seafood alone can't. Whole octopus, octopus, scallops and beef all on one plate, each with its own texture and taste crossing over: that was the charm of the Chongil Mixed Special.

How to eat octopus stir-fry: rice, ssam greens and cheonggukjang

Octopus stir-fry is only complete when mixed with rice. Put the stir-fry of spicy sauce, seafood and vegetables on rice and mix it up, and that alone makes a meal. The sauce soaks into the grains, giving a spicy, savory spoonful.

Wrapping the stir-fry and rice in the complimentary ssam greens was good too. The greens wrapped around the hot stir-fry and tamed the spice. Eating it with cheonggukjang made yet another combination. The earthy cheonggukjang cleansed the palate between bites of spicy octopus.

When your mouth goes numb from the heat: a spoonful of cheonggukjang, a bite of ssam. That cycle ran through the whole meal and made a loop I couldn't stop. (Spice level adjustable)

₩52,000 for 3: is it enough for two people?

The Chongil Mixed Special is ₩52,000 for 3 people, and the two of us ate comfortably with this one dish. Considering the premium lineup of whole octopus, octopus, scallops and beef, the price felt like good value.

Being a menu for 3, it was plenty for two, and I was happy to taste so much seafood and meat at once. It's served in limited quantity and can sell out early, so if you want to be sure, book on Naver before you go.

Does Chongil Nakji do takeout?

Eating in at Chongil Nakji is great, but the takeout system is also well set up. It's a good place to enjoy at home. On days when you crave spicy octopus stir-fry but eating out feels like a burden, or you want to eat with family at home, you can use takeout.

When you need a spicy meal in Tanbang-dong

Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch, near Lotte Department Store in Daejeon, is an honest choice for a day when you need spicy octopus stir-fry in Tanbang-dong. It's a local favorite you can use in many ways: office lunch, family dinner or company get-together.

From pork octopus stir-fry and scallop octopus stir-fry to the mixed special with whole octopus, beef and scallops, a solid menu, a roomy parking tower in the building, and a well-run takeout system. All of this is why Chongil Nakji became a go-to octopus stir-fry spot in Tanbang-dong.

On a day when you want a spicy, filling meal to clear everything out, Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch is a solid choice.