Stone octopus bossam & mega gimbap at Jongno izakaya, Jongno

Today I want to share my visit to Parang Haenyeojip Jongno Branch, a Jongak Station aged-sashimi spot with great vibes and even better side dishes.

I love seafood, so I'm always on the hunt for fresh seafood dishes or aged sashimi near Jongno. This time I went to Parang Haenyeojip, a Korean-style izakaya with seasonal fish, fresh seafood, bossam (boiled pork with kimchi), and all kinds of soups — a place I'd been wanting to try for a while.

Location and info for Parang Haenyeojip Jongno Branch

• Address: Parang Haenyeojip, 37 Ujeongguk-ro 2-gil, 1F, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Transit: About 2 minutes on foot from Exit 4 of Jongak Station, Line 1 (really convenient!)
• Hours: Sun–Thu 16:00–01:30, Fri–Sat 16:00–03:00 (last order 1 hour before close)
• Reservations: Available via Naver Reservation or Catch Table until 7pm (call for later times)
• Other notes: Wine corkage ₩10,000/bottle, whiskey ₩20,000 / nearby paid parking available

Coming out of Exit 4 of Jongak Station, it's just a short walk down the alley — easy to find even if you're bad with directions.

Atmosphere and menu

Stepping inside, the space felt clean yet full of lively energy. From the seasonal aged sashimi platter to mulhoe makguksu (cold noodles with raw fish), seafood platters, snow crab roe and milt soup, and Yeonggwang cuttlefish steamed whole — there were so many good options it was hard to choose.

After much deliberation, we ordered the restaurant's two signature dishes: the stone octopus haenyeo bossam and the wanghu tomaki (jumbo haenyeo gimbap).

Honest review: stone octopus haenyeo bossam

First up was the stone octopus bossam I'd been most looking forward to. The presentation alone was mouthwatering. What surprised me most was the octopus texture — octopus can easily turn out chewy and tough, but this was boiled so well it was tender yet still had a satisfying chew, wrapping perfectly around your mouth.

The boiled pork that came alongside also had a great balance of lean meat and fat, making it rich and moist. Wrapping the tender octopus, mild pork, and perfectly ripened kimchi together in one bite was the best combination. This is a dish I'd wholeheartedly recommend to anyone looking for a great drinking spot or seafood restaurant in Jongno.

How the jumbo gimbap (wanghu tomaki) held up

Next came the wanghu tomaki (jumbo haenyeo gimbap), which didn't disappoint either. Even at a glance, it was noticeably large with the filling packed generously inside.

Salmon, fried shrimp, carrot, egg, and more came together for a varied texture, and best of all, the rice amount was just right — with a high filling ratio that kept it light and never greasy. Each bite filled your mouth with a wonderfully satisfying flavor.

Final thoughts

If you're near Jongak Station looking for an izakaya with that Jongno pojangmacha (street tent bar) feeling — great side dishes and a good drink — Parang Haenyeojip Jongno Branch is an excellent choice. From the fresh seafood to the hearty bossam to the stuffed futomaki, every dish felt carefully made. Next time, I plan to come back for the seasonal aged sashimi platter or the whole whelk soup!