Korean restaurant for group dinners near Samseong Station: Obongjip

Today I'm telling you about Obongjip Samseong Branch (오봉집 삼성점), a Korean restaurant near Samseong Station that's perfect when you're craving something spicy. I was out around Samseong Station on the weekend, got a craving for spicy octopus, and ended up at Obongjip.

How to get to Obongjip Samseong Branch, and parking

Obongjip Samseong Branch is about a 13-minute walk from Samseong Station, so it's not too far to come on foot. It's tucked inside an alley and has no private parking lot, so if you're driving, please use the Samseong-dong First Parking Tower.

As I mentioned in my previous post, Choi (the writer's nickname) was buying a limited-edition item, so we got to the restaurant quite late.

Is Obongjip Samseong Branch good for company dinners and group gatherings?

The inside is quite big and the tables are spaced widely, so it looked great for company dinners or group gatherings. Even after the evening rush, lots of guests were having a drink with their meal. Proof that a good restaurant is busy no matter the hour! Eating there looked comfortable, and with this much space it seems good for groups and company dinners too.

On one side of the restaurant, thoughtfully, there are toothpicks, hair ties, dental floss and even phone chargers all set out. Nicely done, Obongjip★

How to order and the menu at Obongjip Samseong Branch

You order by tablet, and if you leave a receipt review and save it, you get free fried chili peppers, so I'd suggest joining in. Choi sat down and ordered too.

Choi's pick: Nakji Obongjip Special ₩62,000

There were so many options: single dishes like Obongjip's signature stir-fried octopus (nakji-bokkeum) and bossam (boiled pork wraps), plus set menus like the Special. Choi went for the Special so I could try a bit of everything.

On weekdays there's a lunch special from 11:00 to 15:00, so it's just right for office workers' lunch, right? Everyone who works near Samseong Station, assemble~

Silver tray side dishes, the self-serve bar and dried shrimp seaweed soup

Once we finished ordering, they set the table with side dishes piled on an old-fashioned silver tray with a real retro vibe, haha

The side dishes at Obongjip Samseong Branch went nicely with the spicy octopus and bossam, and if you run out there's a self-serve bar, so feel free to bring more!

The seaweed soup (miyeok-guk) has dried shrimp in it, so it had a deep flavor, was seasoned just right, and was perfect with the octopus.

How is the bossam in the Nakji Obongjip Special?

The bossam in the Nakji Obongjip Special was tender and moist with no gamey smell at all. After a short wait the bossam arrived, sprinkled with black sesame seeds. Whole-head kimchi and delicious radish kimchi too, the presentation was perfect >_<

See how glossy the bossam is? It was unbelievably soft, heheheh.

One bite with radish kimchi and garlic on the bossam! Tender, moist and soft, it melted in my mouth. Not a hint of gamey smell, and it paired perfectly with the radish kimchi!

The napa cabbage kimchi was really good too, maybe they make it themselves. Everything at Obongjip is seasoned just right.

How spicy and smoky is the octopus stir-fry at Obongjip?

The stir-fried octopus at Obongjip Samseong Branch comes with one whole octopus, with a deliciously spicy heat that isn't harsh and a lively smoky grill flavor. It arrived spicy and smoky, with plenty of cabbage as well as octopus, which makes it even better.

Since a whole octopus goes in, you need to cut it into bite-size pieces.

What a plump octopus! Soft but still chewy, with tasty seasoning and top-notch smoky flavor. It wasn't just harshly spicy; it was just the right kind of delicious spicy.

As you keep eating, the heat seems to build, and when that happens I add bean sprouts. Crunchy bean sprouts with chewy octopus is the best combo.

So good, so good T_T I bet it'd be great mixed with rice too, and there are somyeon (thin wheat noodle) and kalguksu (knife-cut noodle) add-ons you could order as well.

The Special's makguksu and the closing drink

The Nakji Obongjip Special also comes with makguksu (buckwheat noodles in spicy sauce). The spread is just enormous. They even gave us plastic gloves, so we could mix it with our hands to our heart's content, lol

The makguksu at Obongjip is great too...★ The sweet-sour sauce bursts with savory depth, and the seasoning was really good! With such hearty main dishes and generous portions, my belly swelled up like Namsan, but it was so delicious I never got tired of it and cleaned the plate >_<

On the way out there's cool plum juice (maesil juice) as a closing drink, so have a cup before you leave, haha. Every single dish at Obongjip was delicious! If you're looking for a group gathering or company dinner spot near Samseong Station or COEX, I recommend Obongjip Samseong Branch!

Obongjip Samseong Branch at a glance

• A popular spot near Samseong Station and COEX, busy even late in the evening
• Spacious and comfortable, so good for group gatherings and company dinners
• Smoky octopus stir-fry, tender bossam and sweet-sour tray noodles: every dish was delicious
• Recommended as a Samseong Station restaurant and a Gangnam company dinner spot!