Spicy octopus rice bowl lunch near Sinsa Station: Sinsa Ppeol Nakji

A visit to Sinsappeollakji — a lunch spot where the red-sauced, springy stir-fried octopus makes two bowls of rice totally doable.

Where is Sinsa Ppeol Nakji and how do you get there from Sinsa Station?

Sinsappeollakji Sinsa Station branch is a 4-minute walk from Exit 1 of Sinsa Station. It's basically right around the corner, seriously close. There's a bit of an uphill stretch, but think of it as a little workout before the even more delicious nakji-bokkeum waiting for you.

· Location Road address: 7 Dosan-daero 8-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 1F Sinsappeollakji Lot number: Nonhyeon-dong 4-7, Gangnam-gu, Seoul · Hours 11:00 ~ 21:30 Closed Sundays · Parking Free parking available (underground parking on the left side of the building) · Restroom Outside the restaurant, inside the building (separated by gender)

Sinsappeollakji is on the 1st floor, so it shouldn't be hard to find. Just climb the hill. If you're driving, there's underground parking marked on the left side of the building. This place is popular enough to have been on TV, so let me dig in and eat my way through it.

Inside Sinsa Ppeol Nakji: atmosphere and seating

Inside Sinsappeollakji, there were mostly 4-person tables. Since I visited during lunchtime, most people were in small groups having lunch. It's such a popular spot that some people were already having drinks with their octopus at lunch — I can't even imagine.

What's on the menu at Sinsa Ppeol Nakji?

Sinsappeollakji isn't just about nakji-bokkeum — they also have kkomak (cockle) rice bowl, hongdukkae kalguksu (noodle soup), jeyuk deopbap (spicy pork rice bowl), and various other octopus dishes. There was also a review event running, giving out a free drink.

The nakji-bokkeum rice bowl spread: banchan, rice and seaweed soup

The dish I was going to dig into: · Nakji-bokkeum (rice bowl). Let's dig in.

After ordering, they first brought out the side dishes, rice, and seaweed soup (miyeokguk). Honestly, you could finish a whole bowl with just these, but the side dishes pair so perfectly with the nakji-bokkeum that it made me even more excited. Don't just eat the bean sprouts from the basic side dishes on their own — I think they're seasoned lightly on purpose, so you can adjust the spice level while eating the octopus rice bowl. I was surprised the moment I tasted it. The tofu is perfect for warming up your mouth first, with a drizzle of the soy sauce set on the table. The rice portion was almost servant-sized — did they give me this much because I look like I bulk up? Along with the spicy nakji-bokkeum, the seaweed soup is the perfect pairing.

For extra side dishes, you can use the self-service bar in the center of the restaurant.

How spicy is the nakji-bokkeum at Sinsa Ppeol Nakji?

After eating a bit of tofu, the actual nakji-bokkeum finally arrived. Wow, already full of smoky charred aroma. You can even sense it from the photos. My first impression was, isn't this too spicy? But nope. I'm a mild-spice person — Yeoptteok mild spice level is my limit — and this wasn't that spicy at all. Was it bland then? Nope. Just the right level of spicy.

The best way to eat nakji-bokkeum: mix everything together

First, place a plump piece of octopus on top of fluffy rice and take a bite. Enjoy the octopus's natural flavor with the plain white rice for a bit first.

Then just mix everything together. You know that mixing rice, nakji-bokkeum, and bean sprouts together makes for a complete meal (adding sesame oil is essential). Eating a mouthful of plump octopus and bean sprouts together bursts out the octopus's springy texture along with the spiciness that coats your mouth perfectly. The more you chew, the more the octopus's inherent savoriness and umami come through — an unstoppable flavor.

Verdict: is Sinsa Ppeol Nakji worth it for lunch in Nonhyeon-dong?

Sinsappeollakji is a lunch spot worth recommending in Nonhyeon-dong. Craving something spicy but not sure what to eat? No need to think twice — just go to Sinsappeollakji. The octopus's texture — never chewy, always springy — is excellent, keeping my spoon moving nonstop until I cleaned the whole bowl. If you're near Sinsa Station looking for a spicy yet filling meal that really wakes up your appetite, I recommend Sinsappeollakji.