Pufferfish soup in Gangnam, Seoul: Bogi-o Boguk

I had pufferfish soup with a friend at Bogi-o Boguk (복이오복국) in Cheongdam-dong. I chose the wild milbok jiri (clear pufferfish soup), while my friend chose the spicy version made with the same milbok pufferfish. It was a meal of clear, refreshing broth and tender pufferfish.

Where is Bogi-o Boguk, and is parking available?

The restaurant is on the second floor of Cheongdam Deokyeong Building at 540 Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. It is about 625 m from Exit 13 of Cheongdam Station. Building parking and valet parking were available, which made parking less of a concern.

At the time of the original post, hours were 11:00–22:00 on weekdays and 11:00–20:30 on weekends. Last orders were listed as 21:30 on weekdays and 20:00 on weekends.

What is the space like for a group meal?

When I went up to the second floor, I found a bright, spacious dining room. It felt clean and well lit overall, and the tables were roomy enough to sit comfortably. There was also plenty of space between tables, so it did not feel cramped during the meal.

There were also two private rooms. I did not use one myself, but they seemed worth considering for a family gathering or a company dinner with several people.

How much are the pufferfish soup and other dishes?

Beyond pufferfish soup, there were fried pufferfish, pufferfish bulgogi, boiled octopus slices, and course meals. The wild milbok jiri I chose was ₩24,000, while the weekday lunch-only haejang bokguk (hangover-relief pufferfish soup) was ₩17,000. These are the menu prices listed in the original post.

• Haejang bokguk: ₩17,000, weekday lunch only
• Wild milbok jiri: ₩24,000
• Fried pufferfish: ₩35,000
• Pufferfish bulgogi: ₩35,000
• Pufferfish samgyetang: ₩44,000
• Wild boiled octopus slices: ₩50,000
• Bogi-o set meal: ₩37,000
• Bogi-o special selection: ₩42,000
• Wild seafood course: ₩80,000
• Bogi-o course: ₩100,000
• Cheongdam special course: ₩130,000

What were the side dishes with the pufferfish soup like?

Stir-fried anchovies, stir-fried fish cake, kkakdugi, and kimchi arrived neatly arranged. The lightly fermented kimchi in particular went well with the pufferfish broth, so I kept reaching for it. Overall, the side dishes had clean, tidy flavors.

How did the wild milbok jiri broth and fish taste?

The wild milbok jiri had a clear, refreshing broth. Having the hot soup made me feel warmed through.

Although the broth was clear, it was not bland; it had a subtle savory depth. The bean sprouts were crisp and the minari was fragrant, both pairing well with the refreshing broth. It was also good with rice mixed into it. My friend's spicy version was pleasantly spicy and refreshing, and my friend enjoyed it too.

The pufferfish had no fishy smell and was mild and tender. The pieces were plump, working well with a little wasabi or alongside rice. Overall, I was satisfied with the broth, pufferfish, and side dishes that day.

What kind of meal would I return for?

I would return when I want a warm bowl of soup in Cheongdam. With its spacious, clean dining room and private rooms, it also seemed worth considering for a meal with my parents or a gathering. Next time, I would like to try the fried pufferfish or a course meal that I did not have this time.