Mongchontoseong octopus pub with booths, first samhap: Muneo Cheonha

What is Muneo Cheonha, and why did we go?

Muneo Cheonha (문어천하) is an octopus bossam samhap place in the Bangi food alley where you can enjoy bossam (boiled pork) and live octopus in one go. Maru and I were heading to Lotte World Mall in Jamsil for some shopping and decided to have dinner in the Bangi food alley, and we both wanted to try something neither of us had ever eaten before! That turned out to be octopus bossam samhap.

Maybe because it's a dish made for sitting around with a group and having a drink, there happened to be a company dinner going on when I visited. I could see why people pick it for work dinners in Bangi-dong, so I wanted to introduce it right away. Even the free octopus steamed egg and corn cheese were generous, which made it a great spot for an evening drink near Jamsil Station.

Where is Muneo Cheonha, and how far is it from Jamsil Station and Mongchontoseong Station?

Muneo Cheonha is at Hyundai Dream Valley, 11-8 Ogeum-ro 11-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, and it's a 5-minute walk from Jamsil Station or Mongchontoseong Station. It's also pretty close to Lotte World Mall, so it's easy to fit into your route. Step a little way into the alley and you'll see the Muneo Cheonha sign. In the bustling atmosphere of the Bangi food alley, it felt like a long-standing octopus specialist! 🐙

This kind of vibe gets me so excited (an old-school-spot addict)

Is the seating at Muneo Cheonha good for a group dinner?

Inside, it's not a huge, sprawling restaurant; it's centered on 4-person tables and feels comfortable for a casual drink. The tables are spaced out to a degree and there are partitions here and there, so it didn't feel like we were crammed up against the next table, which I appreciated.

The menu revolves around live octopus delivered daily, and apart from the main samhap there's quite a variety of sides to enjoy. We started by ordering the live octopus bossam samhap!

What side dishes come at Muneo Cheonha?

Even before the live octopus bossam samhap arrived, the side dishes were already quite generous. It starts with bean sprout soup, then an octopus steamed egg and sizzling octopus corn cheese, and they don't feel like perfunctory banchan (side dishes). The steamed egg was super fluffy and soft, with octopus adding a chewy texture, and the corn cheese was sweet and nutty, the kind of thing you keep reaching for...

How did the live octopus bossam samhap taste for a first-timer?

While we were enjoying the sides, a whole tableful of live octopus bossam arrived! The look of it alone was insane, I can't ㅠㅠ ♡

The live octopus isn't tough; it's cooked tender, yet still has a springy bounce when you bite into it, so every combination you make is a sure win. The bossam in particular has a good mix of lean meat and fat, so it's

not dry, no gamey smell, just moist

How to eat octopus bossam samhap

You really have to eat it as a samhap (three-way combo) to get the true experience... Put moist bossam and chewy octopus on a piece of washed aged kimchi, add dried radish strips, garlic and chili pepper, and take a bite however you like. You won't get tired of it to the very end!

Is Muneo Cheonha a good pick for a work dinner in Bangi-dong?

It's not just the live octopus that's good: the moist bossam, the aged kimchi, and the side dishes like octopus steamed egg and corn cheese made the whole table feel generous! 👍🏼 Just like the company dinner that was happening when I visited, the menu is easy to share among a group and naturally makes you think of drinks, so it suits a Bangi-dong group dinner.

I'd also recommend it for anyone who wants a hearty dinner and a drink after finishing plans in Jamsil. The soft texture of the live octopus and the bossam wrapped in aged kimchi really stuck with me, and next time I'd like to add the octopus seafood ramyeon and make it a proper drinking night!