Ansan sashimi restaurant with live octopus: Eochongye 1beonji

After moving out, my mom said she'd come visit for the first time in a while, and honestly the thing I worried about most was the meal, haha. If it's just me eating, no big deal, but when I'm eating with someone else I can't help but be careful — especially since my mom is such a picky eater that choosing where to eat outside is always a huge deliberation.

The weather's been nice lately so we decided to get some fresh air over at Bandal Island, and once we got there, there were way more places to eat than I expected. Among them, the one that personally caught my eye was Eochongye 1beonji. Turns out it's known as a top sashimi restaurant on Bandal Island — even on a weekday there were tons of people, including some dining solo.

Eochongye 1beonji on Bandal Island: the space and the outdoor tables

The Bandal Island area where Eochongye 1beonji sits has a real seaside feel, and with restaurants all around, it felt like a good spot for dinner. It seemed like a nice place to stop by when you're craving seafood or sashimi even for a light meal, and since the weather was practically autumn already, some people were eating out in the tent seating that day.

I read reviews saying dogs are allowed in the outdoor tent seating, so next time I definitely want to bring my dog along, haha.

After going back and forth on the menu, we ordered live octopus and a medium seasonal mixed sashimi platter. After a short wait, the side dishes came out first — good things to nibble on alongside sashimi — so we picked at those while waiting. Since it was a seasonal mixed platter, I was a little curious (and worried) about what might show up that I couldn't eat, but I figured trying a variety would be better than sticking to just one type, so that's the one I chose :)

How does the live octopus (sannakji) taste and feel?

Live octopus dipped in sesame oil and salt

At Eochongye 1beonji, a top sashimi spot on Bandal Island, the live octopus (sannakji) came out first, and it grabbed attention with its visuals right away. Watching it wriggle around on the plate, clearly still alive, it looked fresh just from that alone.

I dipped it right in sesame oil sauce and tried it — the octopus's signature chewy texture was great. The more I chewed, the more savory and clean it tasted; it wasn't tough, more like bouncy and chewy, which kept me reaching for more. I usually like sannakji anyway, so I ordered it as a light starter before the sashimi, but the portion was more generous than I expected. Especially picking up a piece of octopus every now and then in between bites of sashimi made the whole meal taste even better, since the texture switched things up.

What comes on the medium seasonal sashimi platter, conger eel included

The main dish, Eochongye 1beonji's medium seasonal mixed sashimi platter, arrived with several types of sashimi on one plate, making it fun to try one of each kind. Freshness matters most with sashimi, and overall the fish looked clean with just the right amount of sheen, so I dug in with high expectations.

I was especially glad to see conger eel (anago), which I'd been on the fence about choosing when picking the menu! The bones were soft, and the more I chewed, the more the savoriness peaked — the charm of anago that only people who've tried it would know, haha.

I dipped pieces in both vinegared gochujang and soy sauce, and personally I liked a light dip in soy sauce best to really taste the fish itself. Each type of sashimi had slightly different textures — some soft, some chewy — and the more I chewed, the more clean and light the flavor felt. Especially since it was a seasonal mixed platter, alternating between different kinds rather than eating just one type kept it from getting boring, and I just kept eating.

Wrapping a piece with lettuce or perilla leaves, garlic, and ssamjang was also delicious, and layering everything together with a piece of sashimi felt like it would pair great with drinks — but since I drove, I focused purely on the sashimi today, haha. Ordering the live octopus together with the mixed sashimi platter was honestly a genius move :)

Why order live octopus and the sashimi platter together

The live octopus had a strong chewy texture while the sashimi was soft and clean, so each had its own distinct charm. If we'd ordered just one, it might have felt a little lacking, but having both together kept the meal varied and enjoyable the whole time.

Above all, it felt great to sit down and eat sashimi at a relaxed pace for once. It wasn't anything especially elaborate, but eating fresh seafood alongside sashimi definitely felt different from an ordinary meal. Maybe it's because of the seaside atmosphere too, but the food felt even tastier. It really is no coincidence that Eochongye 1beonji is such a well-known sashimi spot on Bandal Island, haha.

Who is Eochongye 1beonji best for?

Eochongye 1beonji's seasonal mixed sashimi platter seems well suited to people who want to sample a variety of types, and the live octopus is a good side to pair with sashimi, so anyone who loves sashimi could order it alongside without hesitation. It's also a good combination for splitting between two people or a larger group.

That day we ordered the live octopus and a medium seasonal mixed sashimi platter, and overall we left satisfied. It's a good place to stop by whenever you're craving sashimi after a while, or looking for seafood near Bandal Island. Ugh... the texture of the live octopus and the seasonal sashimi still comes to mind. I'm so glad we finished it all without leaving anything behind, haha.

What stuck with me most was the chewy texture of the live octopus and getting to try a variety of sashimi types. If I ever end up back near Bandal Island, I'd definitely want to visit again when I'm craving sashimi or seafood.

It felt satisfying to properly eat from live octopus to seasonal mixed sashimi after a while, and it was also a good meal for splitting dishes when visiting with several people — but most of all, my mom was really pleased. If you love sashimi and fresh seafood, this could be a good reference when looking for a place to eat on Bandal Island, and I think I'll be coming back to Eochongye 1beonji, the top sashimi spot on Bandal Island, whenever I'm craving sashimi again :)