Spicy octopus bokkeum set for two at Min Nakji, an Ansan restaurant

Today I'm bringing you my review of Min Nakji, which I visited near Seongpo-dong when I was craving something spicy with octopus.

I always love octopus dishes, so I went in with high expectations. I'm happy to say I left with a satisfying meal thanks to the clean atmosphere and the solid set menu — let me introduce it.

On the Seongpo-dong roadside, a restaurant with live octopus in a tank

Min Nakji is located along the Seongpo-dong roadside, and the sign is eye-catching enough that it was easy to find. Stepping inside, the wood-toned interior gave off a clean, cozy feeling overall.

There was a tank with fresh octopus moving around inside, which gave me confidence in the freshness of the ingredients.

The restaurant isn't huge, but the tables are spaced generously, making it a comfortable spot to visit with family or for a lunch or dinner get-together with friends.

The ₩35,000 bokkeum set — what comes with it

Looking at the menu, there was a really wide range, from single octopus dishes to tangtangi (chopped raw octopus) and hot pots. Among them, the set menus that let you try several dishes together looked especially well composed.

We ordered the 'bokkeum set' (₩35,000), which comes with stir-fried octopus for two people plus minari (water celery) pancake and steamed egg. True to its reputation as a well-known Ansan Seongpo-dong restaurant, the combination stood out for being generous without being excessive.

The texture and spice level of the stir-fried octopus

After a short wait, the main dish — stir-fried octopus — arrived looking delicious. The octopus, cabbage, and green onion were all evenly stir-fried in a deep red sauce. I picked up a piece of octopus with my chopsticks first, and the texture was plump yet not tough at all — nicely chewy and very satisfying. The sauce had a pleasant balance of spicy and sweet that lingered in the mouth, with excellent savory depth.

When I piled the stir-fried octopus and crunchy bean sprouts onto the big bowl of black rice and mixed it all together, the spicy sauce soaked right into the rice grains — the kind of flavor that keeps you reaching for more. Unless you really can't handle spicy food, this is a heat level almost anyone can enjoy.

Minari pancake, steamed egg, and the rest of the table

The minari pancake and steamed egg included in the set were also standouts. The minari pancake comes cut into neat pizza-like slices, crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. With each bite, the distinctive fragrant aroma of minari spread gently, pairing perfectly with the spicy stir-fried octopus.

The steamed egg, piled up generously in a stone bowl, was also fluffy and soft — just right for tempering the spiciness in between bites.

The savory seaweed soup and the basic side dishes rounded out the table nicely, making the whole spread feel well balanced.

Receipt review perk and extra menu items

By the way, if you write a Naver receipt review at the restaurant, you can get free noodles (somyeon or udon) or a drink, so be sure to check this out if you visit! (Provided per person who writes a review.)

After the meal, adding fried rice (₩2,000 self-serve / ₩4,000 made by staff) and stir-frying it in the leftover sauce makes for a clean finish. The cool barley yeolmu kimchi (radish green kimchi) side dish is also sold separately by the kilogram, for ₩10,000.

An Ansan Seongpo-dong restaurant featured on TV

On the wall of the restaurant hung a poster from an appearance on the TV show Saeng Saeng Jeongbo. Having tasted it myself, I could see exactly why their san-nakji-agu cheolpan (live octopus and monkfish on a hot plate) and other octopus dishes were featured and became so well known. The place is cozy and clean, making it a great fit for lunch, dinner, family gatherings, or a work dinner.

Thanks to the friendly owner, I finished my meal in an even better mood. The combination of dishes was great and the portions were filling, making for a satisfying meal. Just keep in mind that if you're driving, the restaurant's parking space isn't very large, so plan accordingly.

If you'd like to experience the harmony of richly seasoned stir-fried octopus and crispy minari pancake, I recommend stopping by Min Nakji, a well-known restaurant in Ansan's Seongpo-dong.