Bupyeong seafood restaurant: Donghae Haemultang for two

Where is it on Bupyeong’s seafood stew street?

I recently returned to Haemulmyeongga Donghae Haemultang (해물명가 동해해물탕), on Bupyeong’s seafood stew street, after a while. It was the first restaurant I saw from the entrance I used. I used to come to this street when I wanted haemultang (spicy seafood stew) or agujjim (braised monkfish), so I was glad to see an old restaurant still in the same spot.

What are the group seating and parking like?

I visited at weekday lunch, so there were not many diners. I remember the restaurant being full of office dinner groups and social gatherings when I came in the evening before. It is a large restaurant with seating on both the first and second floors, but the second floor was not open that day.

The address is 108 Bupyeongmunhwa-ro, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, South Korea. The original post lists hours as 10:00–24:00, and parking and valet parking are available.

What were the price and portion for haemultang for two?

I debated between haemultang and haemuljjim (braised seafood) because I wanted to try a range of seafood. That day, I was craving a clear, refreshing broth, so we ordered the small haemultang for ₩45,000 and a soft drink for ₩2,000. We planned to make fried rice afterward, but there was so much haemultang that we could not manage it.

What side dishes come with the meal?

The first item in the basic table setting was mussel soup. The broth drawn from the mussels had cheongyang chili peppers in it, giving it a pleasantly spicy kick.

The jeon (Korean savory pancake) served with it was bigger than my palm.

Soy-marinated shrimp also came out. I saved it to eat with rice, but we ended up leaving without touching it, which was a shame.

What seafood comes in the haemultang?

It was the small size, but the portion felt generous to me. It included octopus, squid, webfoot octopus, abalone, sea snails, fish milt, roe, and mideodeok (sea squirt).

Once the haemultang came to a boil, a staff member came over and cut and arranged the seafood for us. It was convenient because we could eat it without having to prepare anything ourselves.

Of the octopus, squid, and webfoot octopus, the webfoot octopus was tender and easy to eat. There was one abalone, which we split between the two of us, though I wished there had been a little more abalone.

My younger sibling does not like fish milt, so I ate it all. Even as I kept eating, it still felt like there was plenty left.

How was the broth, and what was disappointing?

The seafood felt fresh, and the broth was refreshing with savory seafood flavor. The portion was also generous for two people. However, there were many bean sprouts and comparatively little minari (water dropwort), which was disappointing. I was told that extra minari could be added.

Many other tables were ordering haemuljjim as well. I would like to try it on my next visit.