Octopus pub in Suyeong: Dari Yeodeolgae’s sliced boiled octopus

I visited Dari Yeodeolgae (다리여덟개), an octopus pub near Suyeong Station that I had wanted to try because I like octopus. That day, I ordered the small sliced boiled octopus and the pollock roe rolled omelet. What stayed with me most was the springy texture of the octopus, boiled whole and sliced thinly.

How do you get there from Suyeong Station, and can you reserve or park?

Dari Yeodeolgae is on the second floor at 85 Muhak-ro 21beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan. It is about a five-minute walk from Exit 13 of Suyeong Station, and about five minutes on foot from the Suyeong Intersection and Suyeong Station bus stops as well. There is no parking lot, but phone reservations are available. We reserved in advance too.

The hours listed in the original post are daily from 15:30 to 23:00, with last orders also listed as 23:00.

The shop was easy to spot even from a distance, and there was an octopus decoration at the entrance. I learned that it had operated at Jwadong Traditional Market from 2003 before moving to Suyeong.

What were the atmosphere and counter seats like?

The shop was not particularly spacious and had about eight tables. It was nearly full when I visited, so I could not take a full interior photo. With customers who appeared to be regulars, it felt a little like a neighborhood gathering place.

The soft lighting made it cozy, and there were counter seats as well as tables. After reserving, we were seated at the counter and watched the owner cook. Octopus dolls, ornaments, and character trinkets were placed throughout the interior, making it fun to look around while waiting for the food.

What else is on the menu besides sliced boiled octopus?

Along with sliced boiled octopus and ddaengcho mun-eo jangyuk (octopus and pig’s trotter in a spicy chili soy sauce), there were stir-fried octopus, fried octopus, and octopus gambas. Side dishes included clam soup, odeng-tang (fish cake soup), and yukjeon (pan-fried battered beef). We decided to pair the basic sliced boiled octopus with the pollock roe rolled omelet.

The sliced boiled octopus came in small, medium, and large sizes depending on the size of the octopus, and each size was prepared from one whole octopus. Once we ordered, they took an octopus from the tank, boiled it, and sliced it.

From the counter, I could also see ddaengcho mun-eo jangyuk being made for the next table. It was octopus and pig’s trotter with a soy sauce full of garlic and spicy ddaengcho peppers. I did not try it that day, but I would like to order it on my next visit.

What banchan came with the meal?

We also ordered soju to have with the sliced boiled octopus. The banchan (complimentary side dishes) included carrot and celery sticks, grilled dried filefish, stir-fried fish cake, stir-fried quail eggs, konjac, and mushrooms, plus clam soup. The vegetables were crisp and the clam soup was refreshing, so there was plenty to eat with the drinks while waiting for the main dish.

Did the pollock roe rolled omelet pair well with the octopus?

The pollock roe rolled omelet arrived while we were eating the banchan. It was softly rolled, with plenty of pollock roe between the layers, and had a savory, salty richness. Alternating between the chewy octopus and soft omelet made for a good contrast in texture. It was a nice dish to eat between bites of sliced boiled octopus.

How much was the small sliced boiled octopus, and what was it like?

One whole octopus was boiled, with its beak and eyes removed, then thinly sliced and served piled across the plate. Although we ordered the small size, receiving the entire octopus made it feel generous. The thin slices were also easy to pick up and eat one by one.

When I tried it, it was bouncy and pleasantly chewy, without the toughness that makes you chew for a long time. It retained just enough springiness, and its clean, nutty flavor came through more as I chewed. For someone like me who wanted to enjoy the octopus’s own texture, it was a satisfying plate.