Bojeong-dong sashimi restaurant: autumn blanched squid set, Mr. Squid

What is the new autumn menu at Mr. Squid Yongin Bojeong Branch?

The new autumn menu at Mr. Squid Yongin Bojeong Branch (미스터오징어 용인보정점) is the squid sukhoe (blanched squid) live fish set (₩62,000). This weekend my family of three went back to Mr. Squid on Bojeong Cafe Street for dinner with our kid and ordered it.

As the mornings and evenings get properly chilly, I find myself craving chewy seasonal raw fish and hot seafood dishes, a Bojeong-dong restaurant where the whole family can eat well. I remembered how much we all loved the fresh squid sashimi set last time, so we came back. It's more than a place for a drink: you can get a generous spread and a proper, filling meal, which is why I headed back with confidence.

Walking in, a banner for the new autumn menu caught my eye right away: the squid sukhoe live fish set (₩62,000). Last time we had the chewy, raw squid sashimi, so this time I was curious about the steaming-warm sukhoe and ordered it for our family dinner without a second thought.

Mr. Squid Yongin Bojeong Branch: location and opening hours

• Name: Mr. Squid Yongin Bojeong Branch (미스터오징어 용인보정점)
• Address: 5 Jukjeon-ro 15beon-gil, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea (1st floor)
• Getting there: about 11 minutes' walk (about 750 m) from Exit 2 of Jukjeon Station on the Suin-Bundang Line
• Hours: weekdays 16:00-04:00 / weekends 15:00-04:00 (last order 03:40)
• Break time: none
• Closed: open every day
• Parking: very limited in front of the shop (the nearby Bojeong public parking lot is recommended)

Where to park for Mr. Squid on Bojeong Cafe Street

There's room for only 2-3 cars right in front of Mr. Squid Yongin Bojeong Branch, so it's easier to use the Bojeong Cafe Street public parking lot, 2-3 minutes away on foot. The alley is lit with colorful pumpkin lanterns for Halloween right now, so it's a lovely walk in itself.

In the tank out front, fresh live fish were swimming along with live shrimp, an autumn treat. But because it's an alley, the space right in front of the shop fits only 2-3 cars at a squeeze.

If cars get tangled up deeper in the alley, it can be a real headache, so for a relaxed meal the public parking lot at Bojeong Cafe Street, 2-3 minutes away on foot, is much less stressful. We parked there safely and strolled over in the autumn breeze, looking around the café street on the way.

Mr. Squid's free starters: seaweed soup and steamed egg in a stone pot

At Mr. Squid Yongin Bojeong Branch, once you order, a hot, clear seaweed soup comes out first, followed by steamed egg in a ttukbaegi (earthenware pot). It was a basic spread that soothed the stomach on a chilly day.

The temperature drops sharply in the evenings these days and I find myself pulling my jacket tight, so I slurped the seaweed soup by the spoonful to thaw out.

Right in the middle of the soup, they brought out the steaming ttukbaegi steamed egg too. A big spoonful of the soft, silky egg warmed me up from the inside, and it felt so hearty and good. While we chatted away and warmed up, the main set, a showy spread, soon filled the whole table.

How do the blanched squid and fried squid taste?

The squid sukhoe in the squid sukhoe live fish set comes out still slightly warm and tender, with no fishy smell. The set also comes with crunchy fried squid.

The sukhoe arrived neatly plated with a little warmth still in it, and I liked it from the first impression. As you'd expect from a Bojeong-dong restaurant that specializes in squid, it was boiled cleanly with no fishiness at all. It wasn't tough but tender, and the more I chewed, the more its sweet, rich savoriness came through.

Dipped in chogochujang (sweet-and-sour chili sauce), the tangy, spicy sauce and soft squid worked together so well, it was seriously delicious.

The fried squid that came with the set was crunchy too, and with that nutty fried smell, my kid's hand never stopped reaching for it.

Which sashimi comes with the blanched squid and live fish set?

The squid sukhoe live fish set comes with a generous raw fish platter of yellowtail, flounder, rockfish, salmon and even flounder fin. The autumn yellowtail, rich with fat, was the most appealing.

Next to the squid sukhoe sat a generous, varied platter of yellowtail, flounder, rockfish, salmon, and even the prized flounder fin.

Above all, the yellowtail, now full of flesh and fat as autumn sets in, was truly captivating.

I put a little of the fresh wasabi they'd set aside separately on a glossy, springy slice of yellowtail, and a chewy, nutty flavor spread through my whole mouth.

The rockfish and flounder had firm flesh, and the springy bounce as you chew was excellent.

Especially, wrapping flounder in the cool white kimchi (aged kimchi) served alongside left such a clean aftertaste that I couldn't stop my chopsticks.

The salmon had no fishy taste and melted the moment it hit my mouth, which really impressed me, and the crunchy, nutty texture of the generously cut flounder fin (engawa) was a delight too.

Raw squid set vs. blanched squid set at Mr. Squid: which to pick?

At Mr. Squid Yongin Bojeong Branch, the squid live fish set and the squid sukhoe live fish set both cost ₩62,000, with slight differences in the lineup. If you like a chewy raw texture, the live fish set with raw squid sashimi is for you; for something warm and tender on a chilly day, go with the sukhoe set.

Actually, on our last visit my family had the squid live fish set (₩62,000).

The price is the same ₩62,000 for both, but the lineup differs a little! If you love the crunchy, chewy texture of raw squid, pick the raw squid sashimi; if you want soft, gentle warmth in chilly weather like now, the squid sukhoe we had this time is just right.

Is one set enough for a family of three?

This time, one ₩62,000 set was enough for the three of us. On our last visit, we added a flying fish roe rice ball (₩6,000) and seodeori spicy fish stew (₩10,000).

Back then my kid, who seemed to be in a growth spurt and ate like crazy, said they were hungry, so I got the flying fish roe rice ball (₩6,000), and I, who always love broth, ordered the ₩10,000 seodeori (fish-bone) spicy stew and enjoyed it.

It was fun watching my kid squish the popping roe rice ball together by hand, and the stew broth was spicy, sharp and deep, great for settling the stomach after raw fish.

My kid doesn't inhale food quite like that anymore, so this time one ₩62,000 set was plenty for the three of us, but if you have a big appetite or love soup, adding the rice ball and stew makes it a much more filling, complete course.

When you step out after the meal, the cute Bojeong Cafe Street alley is right in front, so it's smooth to head off for a cup of tea in the cool autumn night air. When you're craving fresh seasonal seafood and a plate of raw fish on Bojeong Cafe Street, it's a comfortable place to drop by.