Park-view night patio for hot plate octopus in Magok, Seoul: Jju Baksa

A meal that was even better for the park view and the spice

Autumn evenings have turned pretty cool lately~ and weather like this is perfect for eating outdoors!! This time I went to a webfoot octopus restaurant near Yangcheon Hyanggyo Station. It's about a 2-minute walk from Exit 8, so it's easy to reach by public transit, and it's also close to Seoul Botanic Park, making it a good stop after a walk or for lunch or dinner in Magok. I visited "Jju Baksa Magok Branch."

Where is Jju Baksa Magok Branch, and its hours and parking

Jju Baksa Magok Branch is on the 1st floor of Daebang DMC City 2, at 23 Magokdong-ro 10-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, South Korea, open daily from 11:00 to 01:00, year-round. Parking is free for 2 hours 30 minutes.

The menu is current as of the time of visit and may change depending on the restaurant's circumstances.

Reservations can be made via Naver or phone. Please book ahead for a smooth visit :)

Jju Baksa Magok Branch is in Daebang DMC City 2. There's a big menu photo on the building's pillar, so even on my first visit I found it without trouble.

What the outdoor patio feels like on an autumn night

In front of Jju Baksa Magok Branch there's a spacious outdoor seating area, and with the cool weather, a lot of people were dining outside. Sitting at a table, you get a view of lush greenery, so even in the middle of the city it felt quite relaxing. Round stainless steel tables and burners gave it a bit of a street-cart kind of coziness too.

On days that are neither too hot nor too cold, like these, outdoor seating feels more appealing than sitting inside.

Indoor seats and the green park view through floor-to-ceiling windows

The indoors at Jju Baksa Magok Branch was kept clean and cool. The tables weren't cramped either, so it looked like a good spot for an office lunch or a group visit.

Through the floor-to-ceiling windows you could see greenery, so even sitting indoors didn't feel stuffy.

On the wall there were autographs from celebrities who'd visited, so it was fun looking through them one by one while waiting.

Three servings of hot plate octopus and pork belly, stir-fried tableside

We ordered the hot plate octopus and pork belly for 3 people. A big hot plate arrived piled generously with webfoot octopus, pork belly, and vegetables in red sauce. It came with side dishes that paired well with the octopus.

A staff member cooked it right at the table and handled the heat for us, so we could sit back and wait. As the sauce started bubbling, a spicy aroma rose up and really got my appetite going. The octopus was plump and chewy without being tough — great texture.

The savory flavor of the pork belly mixed with the spicy sauce kept things from getting too intense, which I liked. The octopus alone tasted different from octopus eaten with the pork belly, so it was fun switching back and forth.

Which of the three spice levels should you order?

Hot plate octopus (per person), 14,000 won. Jju Baksa Magok Branch has hot plate octopus along with jjusamgyeop, jjuusam, jjusamsae, and more. There's also a rose (creamy spicy) octopus for a different take, plus sets that include rice balls or fried rice.

Spice comes in three levels total — mild, medium, and hot.

Mild was described as roughly like Shin Ramyun, and hot as roughly like Buldak Bokkeum-myeon (fire noodles).

It was nice being able to choose based on your own spice tolerance. Note that the first order requires 2 servings or more.

Is Jju Baksa Magok Branch worth a visit?

Eating hot plate octopus and pork belly outdoors in the cool breeze made it taste even better. The octopus was chewy and the pork belly savory, and the two paired together nicely without a hitch. It's a great spot to stop by near Yangcheon Hyanggyo Station or Seoul Botanic Park when you're craving something spicy. On a nice-weather day, it might be worth grabbing a patio seat and enjoying the hot plate octopus and pork belly for yourself.