Rainy-day seafood stew near Uijeongbu Station: 3-minute timer, Daebak

The weather has been so moody lately, on and off with the rain, hasn't it? On days like this I keep craving a hot soup dish that warms me up from the inside. So a few days ago my partner and I visited Daebak Haemulchon (대박해물촌), near Uijeongbu Station. We got spicy seafood stew, boiled pork and squid bossam all in one go, and we were really happy with it.

Daebak Haemulchon Uijeongbu Main Branch in 3 lines

• Location and parking: a short walk from Uijeongbu Station Exits 1 and 2, with 2 hours of free parking in the building's mechanical parking
• Recommended menu: Haemultang Special (₩52,000 / seafood stew for 2 + medium squid bossam + 1 naengmyeon)
• Atmosphere: wide table spacing, comfortable, and a very neatly kept self-serve bar

Where to park at Daebak Haemulchon Uijeongbu Main Branch

Daebak Haemulchon Uijeongbu Main Branch offers 2 hours of free parking in the building's mechanical parking lot. If you're driving, search "40 Beomgol-ro 145beon-gil, Uijeongbu" or "Daebak Haemulchon" in your navigation! The area near Uijeongbu Station is busy, but with 2 free hours in the building's lot there's no parking stress at all.

One catch: because it's mechanical parking, electric vehicles can't enter! If you're coming in an EV, just use the paid parking lot right in front of the restaurant.

If you're walking, there's a big yellow sign that stands out from far away, so even on your first visit you'll find it without getting lost!

Inside Daebak Haemulchon and its self-serve bar

The restaurant is large and clean, with several wooden tables lined up that work for groups. The roomy, comfortable space caught my eye the moment we walked in, and every table has a handy tablet for ordering.

After we got settled and looked around, I saw a self-serve bar set up very neatly on one side. There was crunchy seasoned bean sprouts, sweet-and-spicy radish salad and cool, well-fermented white kimchi, plus fresh lettuce and perilla leaves, thinly sliced garlic and chili, and ssamjang, all neatly stocked, and there was bean sprout soup too.

What comes in the ₩52,000 Haemultang Special?

What we ordered was Daebak Haemulchon's signature, the Haemultang Special (해물탕스페셜, ₩52,000). It's a generous set where you get seafood stew, bossam (boiled pork wraps) and naengmyeon (cold noodles) all at once, so it's a really good one to share with family or friends. You can choose mul naengmyeon (in cold broth) or bibim naengmyeon (spicy mixed).

Seafood stew: 3-minute timer, then low heat

Not long after we ordered, the main seafood stew came out in a huge pot and was set on the burner.

As the staff member turned on the heat, they set a little timer to exactly 3 minutes. They kindly explained, "Start timing as soon as the heat is on, and when the alarm rings, turn it down to low and eat." It's such a thoughtful way of telling you the golden time when the seafood cooks best without turning tough, and it put me in a good mood before we even started eating.

After the 3 minutes, we turned it down to low heat, and once it was bubbling we ladled some into our bowls and took a spoonful of broth first. The deep, cool umami from all the seafood and vegetables filled my mouth.

Seafood stew packed with fish, milt and roe

The big, milky-white pieces of fish were firm and didn't fall apart, and the more I chewed the more mild, nutty flavor came through.

The plump gon-i (milt, fish sperm sacs) soaked up the spicy broth and melted in my mouth like cotton candy. And look at that roe, full to bursting! The texture of the little eggs popping in your mouth and the rich, mild flavor are superb, and with the spicy broth soaked in, you can finish a bowl of rice in no time.

Squid bossam: wrapping boiled pork and squid together

Just when we were deep into the stew broth, the squid bossam came out neatly arranged on a big plate.

Glossy, tender boiled pork, chewy blanched squid rings, neatly rolled bossam kimchi and fragrant seasoned chives all shared one plate, and it made me feel full just looking at it.

I spread a fresh perilla leaf in my hand, piled on a slice of pork, squid, garlic and chives, and took a big wrapped bite. The juicy pork and the springy squid went together perfectly. You could feel the care that went into every ingredient.

Finishing with icy mul naengmyeon

After such a hearty meal, the finish had to be mul naengmyeon with ice slush floating in the broth. It came with young radish kimchi, cucumber and quail eggs.

I gulped down the sweet, sour and cold broth and the heat lingering in my mouth vanished, leaving everything feeling clean and refreshed. Slurping the chewy noodles with crunchy cucumber strips, I finished the meal happy down to the very last bite.

Q&A before visiting Daebak Haemulchon

How many people does the Haemultang Special feed?

The Haemultang Special is generous enough that two adults will end up stuffed. The amount is plentiful, so if three people visit, adding just a bowl of rice or some extra noodles or add-ons (sari) to this set should be enough.

Is Daebak Haemulchon good for kids and groups?

Daebak Haemulchon Uijeongbu Main Branch has wide spacing between tables and plenty of high chairs, so it's really good for a family meal. The men's and women's restrooms are neatly separated too, so it works fine as a gathering spot.

Is Daebak Haemulchon open late at night?

It's open until midnight from Sunday to Thursday and until 2 a.m. the next day on Friday and Saturday, so you can visit comfortably after a late finish at work or for a late-night get-together.

Practical tips for Daebak Haemulchon near Uijeongbu Station

If you go to Daebak Haemulchon, remember the staff's "3-minute timer, then low heat" method! And if you drove, be sure to tell the counter when you pay after the meal so you get the 2 hours of free mechanical parking.

It was a really happy day, getting a hearty, stuffed meal with my partner for the first time in a while. If you're looking for a family meal or a good seafood restaurant near Uijeongbu Station, I recommend stopping by.