Daejeon Korean restaurant for octopus lunch: Chongil Nakji

My husband and I had lunch at Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch (촌길낙지 탄방점), in Tanbang-dong, Daejeon. We chose the special nakji bokkeum (octopus stir-fry), which includes scallop meat and beef. With cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew) and side dishes alongside it, it made a satisfying meal.

Where is Chongil Nakji’s Tanbang branch?

The address is Unit 105, 23-19 Gyeryong-ro 571beon-gil, Seo-gu, Daejeon, South Korea (대전 서구 계룡로571번길 23-19 105호). The restaurant specializes in octopus dishes and yeonpotang (clear octopus soup), near City Hall, Tanbang Station, and Lotte Department Store. I found it conveniently located for a Korean lunch or dinner in the area.

The sign and exterior looked neat. I had nakji bokkeum this time, but I wanted to try the yeonpotang on another visit.

How do you order, and is it busy at lunch?

You order and pay in advance at the kiosk near the entrance. Each menu item had a photo, which made it easy to see what was included before choosing.

There was also a separate written menu where I could check the dishes and what they included.

I had read that there could be a wait during the lunch rush, so we arrived around opening time. The interior was clean and the tables were spacious. We chose a seat we liked and waited for our food.

During our visit, there was also a notice about a promotion for posting a review with a receipt. Customers kept arriving after us, and it was fairly busy even at weekday lunchtime. We did not have to wait and finished our meal before more seats filled up.

How much was the special nakji bokkeum for two?

We ordered the small special nakji bokkeum, sized for two people. It cost ₩35,000 and included octopus, scallop meat, and beef.

Rice is included. You can order extra rice from the side menu, and the side dishes, cheonggukjang, and leafy vegetables for wraps could be refilled.

How were the cheonggukjang and side dishes?

Our special nakji bokkeum order also came with a separate serving of meat. It was mild and tender, and I ate it wrapped in leafy vegetables. We also received rice in large bowls, cheonggukjang, kongnamul muchim (seasoned soybean sprouts), musaengchae (seasoned shredded radish), and yangpa jangajji (pickled onions).

The cheonggukjang had plenty of soft tofu. I did not find its smell strong, and it tasted nutty and mild. I liked taking spoonfuls of the warm broth between bites of nakji bokkeum.

How were the octopus, scallops, and medium spice level?

The special nakji bokkeum came with plenty of plump scallop meat. I do not usually eat much shellfish, but these scallops had no fishy taste and were pleasantly chewy and springy. They went well with the octopus.

The octopus was plump without being tough. It was both springy and tender, so I ate the rice and stir-fry separately to enjoy the texture. With beef in the dish too, I enjoyed alternating between the different ingredients.

You can choose mild, medium, or hot. I ordered medium, which was described as about as spicy as Shin Ramyun instant noodles. I like spicy food but do not handle heat especially well, and this was not uncomfortably spicy for me. It had a savory flavor with a kick. I also ate some wrapped in leafy vegetables.

Are somyeon noodles included?

Somyeon (thin wheat noodles) came with the meal without a separate order. I mixed them into the nakji bokkeum sauce, and extra noodles were available to order.

I also liked mixing the rice with musaengchae, kongnamul muchim, and finely sliced kkaennip (perilla leaves). Eating the nakji bokkeum with cheonggukjang and side dishes gave lunch a home-cooked feel.

What parking support is available, and when is it closed?

If you use the parking tower in the same building, 파인오르미에, the restaurant provides a one-hour parking voucher for one vehicle per table. A notice said the parking tower occupied floors 3 through 9. The restaurant is closed every Sunday.