Gangnam Korean restaurant dinner set with octopus rice bowl: Obongjip

An evening when I wanted several Korean dishes at one table near Samseong Station

On a day when I wanted Korean food for dinner near Samseong Station, I went to Obongjip Samseong Branch. I ordered the Obongjip Special, which came with charcoal-grilled spicy octopus stir-fry, bossam (boiled pork slices) and makguksu (buckwheat noodles). It was ₩62,000 at the time of my visit. Rather than a meal where each dish arrives separately, this order had me thinking about how to combine the spicy octopus, bossam and makguksu on one table. For me, it became even more memorable with the bossam kimchi and a large rice bowl mixed together.

Obongjip Samseong Branch is on the first floor at 62 Teheran-ro 81-gil. Checking the location before your meal makes it easier to plan your route when looking for Korean food near Samseong Station. That day, I wanted bossam and makguksu as well as octopus stir-fry, so I chose the Obongjip Special, which brings several dishes together.

A table that started with side dishes and miyeokguk

Once seated, the side dishes and miyeokguk (seaweed soup) arrived first. The included miyeokguk had a refreshing, delicious broth, so I found myself taking spoonfuls even before the mains came out. Having a warm soup alongside a table with bold dishes made for an easy start to the meal.

The charcoal-grilled spicy octopus stir-fry arrived with red seasoning and vegetables. Rather than thinking of it as just a side dish, I immediately planned to eat it with rice. On a day with spicy octopus stir-fry, deciding how to pair it with rice can feel like half the meal, right? That was certainly true that day.

I ate the bossam with kimchi, and the kimchi served with it was especially delicious. The bossam would have been good on its own, but adding the kimchi made each bite feel more complete. With two very different dishes like octopus stir-fry and bossam on the table, I could switch up the flow instead of continuing with spice alone.

The order I ate the Obongjip Special in

The table setting on the day I ordered the Obongjip Special included octopus stir-fry, bossam and makguksu together. Rather than giving a long explanation of all three, I liked being able to eat them in whatever order I wanted. I started with octopus stir-fry and rice, added bossam kimchi in the middle, then finished with makguksu.

The makguksu was meant to be mixed by hand while wearing gloves. Mixing the noodles, sauce and toppings evenly right in front of me added a small bit of fun to the meal. Instead of arriving fully mixed, it let me combine it as much as I liked, so it felt like a dish that briefly changed the rhythm of the table.

The makguksu refreshed my palate between the octopus stir-fry and bossam. I only had to put on gloves and mix it once, so it was no trouble.

The side dishes could be refilled at the self-service station, so I could bring back anything I needed during the meal. Check with the restaurant for the available refill items and current system when you visit.

An octopus stir-fry rice bowl made with evening steamed rice

Because I visited in the evening, rice was not unlimited, so I ordered a separate bowl of steamed rice. When I did, it came in a large bowl drizzled with sesame oil, and from that point it became even clearer how I wanted to eat the octopus stir-fry. It was a better format for building my own combination in the bowl than simply having one bowl of rice on the side.

I added the charcoal-grilled spicy octopus stir-fry, seaweed flakes and seasoned bean sprouts to the large bowl and mixed it all together. The octopus seasoning joined the sesame-oil rice, seaweed flakes and bean sprouts, making this my favorite combination of the meal. If someone asked what I ate most deliciously at Obongjip Samseong Branch, this rice bowl is probably the first thing I would mention.

The rice bowl was ultimately the highlight that day. If you plan to order rice, try adding the seaweed flakes and seasoned bean sprouts together. It was an easy combination made from what was already on the table.

The bossam kimchi was especially good paired with a slice of bossam. Remembering how delicious the kimchi I actually ate was is an essential part of remembering this meal.

I ordered steamed rice for dinner, and as far as I know, unlimited rice is offered at lunch. This may change depending on the time and restaurant operations, though, so check the current terms with the restaurant if you plan to visit for lunch. Even with separately ordered rice at dinner, I could still make the large rice-bowl combination, which was more than satisfying.

Between bites of seasoned dishes like the octopus stir-fry and the rice bowl, the refreshing miyeokguk made the whole table feel more comfortable.

Being able to refill side dishes myself was particularly convenient at a table with several dishes. Rather than ending the meal with only the initial portions, I could bring back sides to pair with the bossam or rice bowl. Still, I found it more comfortable to take only as much as I would eat instead of getting too much and leaving food behind.

What stayed with me: bossam kimchi and the rice bowl

The Obongjip Special I had at Obongjip Samseong Branch was a table where each of the charcoal-grilled spicy octopus stir-fry, bossam and makguksu had its own appeal. The bossam kimchi and refreshing miyeokguk were good too, but the combination I remember most is the large sesame-oil bowl mixed with octopus stir-fry, seaweed flakes and seasoned bean sprouts. If you want to choose several Korean dishes together for dinner near Samseong Station, this is an order worth considering.