Takeout-friendly spicy jjukkumi and cheese fried rice in Jeonju

Jeonju Jjukkumi Sinhwa Ajung-ri Main Branch

Jeonju Jjukkumi Sinhwa Ajung-ri Main Branch hours, location, parking

• Hours 11:15 AM - 9:00 PM
• Break time 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
• Last order 8:00 PM
• Closed every Sunday
• Location: 1F Jeonju Jjukkumi Sinhwa Ajung-ri Main Branch, 16 Donggajaemi 2-gil, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk-do, South Korea
• Parking: There's a lot behind the building.

Hello! This is a review of Jjukkumi Sinhwa, a Korean restaurant known for jjukkumi (small octopus) in Ajung-ri, Jeonju. They only sell same-day fresh jjukkumi, always made with fresh ingredients. I really want to recommend this to anyone who loves jjukkumi — let me introduce it in detail.

Do takeout orders get double the portion?

Eating in the restaurant is great, but apparently a lot of people order takeout too. For takeout orders, they pack the portion nearly double the usual amount, so it's perfect for a jjukkumi party at home. It's also great for camping or travel.

Restaurant atmosphere and table setup

Walking in, the interior is clean overall, which makes a great first impression. There's plenty of space between tables so it never feels cramped, and the dining hall is neatly arranged. The staff greeted us kindly and showed us to our seats, so we could sit down comfortably.

Every table is neatly set, which I liked. They also provide disposable aprons.

What comes in the signature hwasan jjukkumi?

The signature dish is definitely hwasan jjukkumi (volcano octopus). True to its name, it brings a fiery, spicy kick like a volcano — and unlike a regular jjukkumi stir-fry, this dish comes with both jjukkumi and beef belly together.

Side dishes, garlic sauce, and the self-serve bar

There was a nice variety of side dishes and sauces to go with the meal. The garlic sauce was really delicious.

If you need more side dishes, you can help yourself at the self-serve bar.

Here's the hwasan jjukkumi. The visuals were great too.

So how spicy is it, exactly?

The savory beef belly and chewy jjukkumi come together beautifully, so every bite has richer texture and more layered flavor. The seasoning is moderately spicy rather than extremely hot, so anyone who can handle a bit of spice should enjoy it. It was just the right level of spicy to mix with rice.

How adding cheese sarie changes everything

We also added cheese sarie (extra cheese).

I'd strongly recommend adding cheese sarie. When you pile cheese on top of the hwasan jjukkumi and let it simmer once more, the spicy sauce and savory cheese come together, making the flavor much softer and richer. The cheese stretches beautifully with the jjukkumi and beef belly, so even if you find the spice a bit much, this makes it way easier to enjoy.

Complimentary steamed egg

They also gave us complimentary steamed egg custard, which really pulled its weight. The soft, warm egg custard soothed the palate between bites of spicy jjukkumi. It was generous service, which made the meal even more enjoyable.

There's also a guide on how to enjoy the jjukkumi best. Trying different combinations made it even tastier.

If you participate in the receipt review event, you can get a free cheese sarie.

Finishing with cheese fried rice

Of course, you can't finish a meal like this without fried rice.

Cheese fried rice is a must-try. Once you finish the hwasan jjukkumi, they stir-fry rice, seaweed flakes, and cheese in the leftover sauce — and you end up scraping up the slightly crispy nurungji (scorched rice) stuck to the bottom of the pan. The sweet-and-spicy sauce combined with cheese makes for a truly addictive flavor.

If you're craving spicy jjukkumi in Ajung-ri, Jeonju — especially if you love the combo of jjukkumi and beef belly — Jjukkumi Sinhwa is worth a visit. It's just as good to eat in the restaurant, but the takeout portions are generous enough to enjoy properly at home too, so keep it in mind whenever you need a spicy meal.