Tanbang-dong hot pot restaurant with whole octopus: Chongil Nakji

What kind of restaurant is Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch?

Chongil Nakji is a Daejeon Korean restaurant specializing in nakji-bokkeum (spicy stir-fried octopus), and I visited the Tanbang branch near Daejeon Lotte Department Store. On weekday lunches it's packed with regulars from nearby offices. If it's this popular with office workers, that's basically proof the value and taste hold up, right?

At Chongil Nakji in the evening, you can order not just octopus stir-fry but a set of whole octopus and baby octopus hot pot with beef shabu-shabu. Anyone who needs a pick-me-up meal (me), pay attention — this is the one.

Hours, parking and seating at Chongil Nakji

Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch in Daejeon is open Mon–Sat 11:00–21:00, last order 20:30, closed every Sunday. Parking is available at the Fine Ormie building (1 hour free per table) or outdoors. Baby chairs are available and takeout is possible.

Inside, there are four 4-person tables and four 2-person tables. Seating isn't huge, so I'd recommend reserving ahead through Naver.

Why order the dinner special hot pot instead of stir-fried nakji?

The octopus stir-fry menu at Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch comes in a range of styles — basic, spicy pork, beef, scallop — and you can adjust the spice level. Honestly, since Chongil Nakji is famous as a Daejeon octopus stir-fry spot, I was tempted to go for the smoky charred stir-fry wrapped in lettuce leaves.

But then I read the banner about the dinner-only limited hot pot menu... how could a broth lover resist warm soup? Octopus is Chongil Nakji's specialty, so I figured the hot pot would be reliable too. (Yes.)

The 39,000 won octopus and nakji hot pot set: whole octopus arrives

I ordered the octopus and whole octopus hot pot set for ₩39,000 plus ramyeon noodles for ₩2,000. About 10 minutes after ordering, the hot pot set arrived. A whole octopus in the pot really steals the show, right? The side dishes — pickled onion and seasoned radish — were both tasty too.

If you boil it too long it gets chewy, so let it simmer just 3 more minutes.

Plump and heavy — so satisfying.

With bok choy, radish, zucchini and more vegetables steeping into the broth, the soup was refreshing. Plenty of scallop meat too, and there's always something more to fish out!

A slightly spicy but clean, light broth flavor.

Dipped in chojang (vinegared chili paste), yum — the octopus had great chewy texture.

Round two: beef shabu-shabu in the octopus broth

It doesn't stop there. Round two, beef shabu-shabu, starts. Cover the octopus and baby octopus with a blanket of beef and wrap it all up properly.

Why the 2,000 won ramyeon noodle finish is a must

Of course, you have to close with carbs to complete a proper Korean meal. The longer it simmers, the deeper the broth color and flavor get! Drop the ramyeon noodles into that seafood-steeped broth and it's basically a whole new dish.

You can taste the subtle briny savoriness of the seafood — mild but so flavorful. You know those scenes on TV where a fishing boat captain throws freshly caught seafood into a pot of ramyeon for the crew? This has to taste exactly like that seafood ramyeon!! Haha, anyone who's had it will know what I mean. Adding noodles to the hot pot is non-negotiable.

Does Chongil Nakji do takeout or delivery?

Octopus stir-fries waiting for delivery! Honestly, aren't there a lot of delivery-only spots these days that don't even have a proper storefront? Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch is run cleanly, so I'd trust ordering delivery here too. Recommended if you're looking for Daejeon octopus stir-fry takeout or good Daejeon delivery food.

For reference, the octopus and whole octopus hot pot at Chongil Nakji is a dine-in-only menu in Daejeon. It's dinner-only, but I hear you can get it at lunch too if you reserve through Naver. Walking out after finishing the hot pot, I felt full and energized — woo-hoo! It was nice to have a proper pick-me-up meal after a while. Octopus, baby octopus, beef, and noodles too — a pretty balanced, complete meal 🐙