Bupyeong seafood restaurant for a family meal: Donghae Haemultang

Haemulmyeongga Donghae Haemultang, a Bupyeong haemultang (spicy seafood stew) spot and lunch favorite.

There is an alley in Bupyeong lined with nothing but haemultang restaurants: Bupyeong Haemultang Street. Wondering which one we could choose without regrets, we settled into Donghae Haemultang 🦐

A spacious family dining spot on Bupyeong Haemultang Street

📍 A longtime fixture of Bupyeong Haemultang Street: Haemulmyeongga Donghae Haemultang

Searching for Bupyeong haemultang brings up Bupyeong Haemultang Street—it is that well known among Incheon locals. Haemulmyeongga Donghae Haemultang, with its flashy sign, is one of the restaurants there. I had kept thinking I should try it as I passed by, so I finally visited with my family! The moment we walked in, the plentiful seating and spacious interior made it feel like a good option for a Bupyeong company dinner, too!

Even though it was 4 p.m., not a typical mealtime, lots of diners were already eating, and quite a few more came in after us! It definitely seemed like a popular local favorite.

A medium haemultang for three and substantial side dishes

Here is the Haemulmyeongga Donghae Haemultang menu. There were three of us, so we ordered the medium size, and it was just right for three people.

Haemulmyeongga Donghae Haemultang also had an incredibly substantial spread of side dishes! There was buchujeon (Korean chive pancake), soy-marinated shrimp, corn salad, dongchimi (radish water kimchi), mussel soup, and more, so there was no chance for our mouths to get bored before the haemultang arrived! I was especially impressed that soy-marinated shrimp was included; the shrimp-head innards were nutty and the flesh had a delightfully chewy bite.

And the especially delicious one was this buchujeon. It must have just come off the griddle because it was crisp and warm—and this carb lover approves of this chive pancake.

Haemultang layered with seafood, from scallops to octopus

Our haemultang was brought out right away! When the pot opens, scallops catch your eye first, followed by layers of octopus, squid, webfoot octopus, blue crab, abalone, and shrimp. The octopus was alive and moving! Everything was incredibly, incredibly fresh.

Once it was fully cooked, a staff member came over to cut up and prepare every piece! We did not have to lift a finger. Crab in particular can be tricky—you are never quite sure which bits to cut or discard—but it was prepared perfectly and so easy to eat.

It is best to take out the octopus first before it turns tough, and it was truly so tender, not chewy at all. It was easy for the adults to eat too. I think even people with sensitive teeth could enjoy it.

There was also a good, substantial abalone portion. If you have been worn out by hot summer weather, having this at Donghae Haemultang and working up a proper sweat might feel wonderfully restorative! That is how much wholesome seafood was packed in.

Sweet, spicy broth that even a spice wimp could enjoy

The first spoonful had a pleasant spicy kick, but not the kind of heat that smacks your tongue—it was refreshing, gently sweet, and spicy. Maybe because there was so much fresh seafood, even this spice wimp could eat it deliciously.

The pollock roe and gon-i (soft pollock milt) were rich and melted away in the mouth, and they were the real kick of the haemultang. Bupyeong haemultang can sometimes be bulked up with lots of bean sprouts, but this place was generous with the seafood itself, so we could eat seafood until we were bursting.

Second-floor seating for Bupyeong company dinners and group gatherings

Haemulmyeongga Donghae Haemultang is also great for a Bupyeong company dinner. With second-floor seating as well, it would be a good choice for company dinners or gyemoim (social savings-group gatherings) in Bupyeong. It was a lovely place to share with people who matter!

Whether you need a Bupyeong company-dinner spot or a great Bupyeong lunch, if I had to pick just one restaurant on Bupyeong Haemultang Street, I would recommend Haemulmyeongga Donghae Haemultang! 🩵