Samseong-dong Korean restaurant, squid-pork stir-fry: Obongjip

This is Eutteum the chick (❁´◡`❁). Today I went back to Obongjip Samseong Branch, a place I visit whenever I'm craving nakji-bokkeum (spicy stir-fried octopus). My office is near Samseong Station, so I end up here fairly often for lunch or dinner get-togethers. It's the kind of place everyone likes, even the department head~ I have great memories of the octopus stir-fry here, so naturally I ended up going back again.

This time I ordered something a little different from my usual octopus stir-fry: fire-grilled squid-pork stir-fry (2 servings) + bossam filling + 1 bowl of rice. There were two of us eating, and the combination turned out to be pretty filling :)

Hours ✅ Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun ✅ / Weekends 11:30 - 22:00, break 15:00 - 16:00, last order 21:30 / Weekdays 11:00 - 22:00, break 14:30 - 17:00, last order 21:30

What kind of restaurant is Obongjip Samseong Branch?

Obongjip Samseong Branch is a place where you can enjoy a wide range of Korean dishes, from octopus-based dishes to bossam, jeon (pan-fried pancakes), stews and kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup). Since Samseong-dong has so many office workers, it's a popular spot for both lunch and dinner gatherings. The restaurant is on the larger side, so it works well for both small meals and bigger groups. They have space for up to 75 people and a private room that fits up to 15, which is handy to know if you're looking for a spot for a company dinner or a group meetup. It's also close to COEX and the City Airport Terminal. If you're looking for good food near COEX and like Korean food, this is a solid option to check out.

Fire-grilled squid and pork stir-fry for two: how the squid and pork taste together

Fire-grilled squid-pork stir-fry, 2 servings (rice included) / Bossam filling

What I ordered this time was the fire-grilled squid-pork stir-fry, 2 servings!

It's squid and pork stir-fried together in a spicy sauce, and being cooked over direct flame gave it a nice, subtle smoky char that I really liked. The spicy, savory-salty sauce really pulls you in, and of course a dish like this is best eaten with rice. You can choose your spice level, so pick according to your taste. The squid kept a nice chewy texture, and eating it together with the pork made it feel more substantial than a stir-fry with just one ingredient. I usually order the octopus stir-fry here, but this squid-pork version was also delicious — now I'm wondering what to try next time.

Why order a small Obong bossam alongside the stir-fry?

And along with the stir-fry, we also ordered the bossam filling!

Eating the spicy squid-pork stir-fry together with the mild, soft bossam turned out to be a great combination. A bite of stir-fry, then a piece of bossam, then back to the spicy sauce again haha. With two of us eating, adding bossam on top of just the stir-fry meant we got to enjoy a wider range of flavors, which was nice. If you like spicy food but also want something mild to break it up in between, I'd recommend this combo.

Self-serve banchan and the shrimp seaweed soup at Obongjip

Obongjip also serves a variety of basic banchan (side dishes), and you can top up whatever runs low from the self-serve bar. We grabbed extra sides we wanted while eating too.

And honestly, this place is a hidden gem for miyeokguk (seaweed soup)... The broth has shrimp in it for extra depth, and it pairs really well with a drink. With a stir-fry dish, you end up eating quite a bit of rice and side dishes together, so having the self-serve bar was really convenient. And here's one tip for eating this dish that I really want to recommend!

Best way to eat the stir-fry: rice mixed with seaweed flakes and bean sprouts

The squid-pork stir-fry is delicious just spooned over rice as is, but I think this way is even better.

• Rice + roasted seaweed flakes + bean sprouts + fire-grilled squid-pork stir-fry
• Mix it all together and dig in!

A lot of people don't seem to know about this! The savory roasted seaweed flakes combine with the crunchy bean sprouts, and the stir-fry sauce coats the rice evenly — you'll polish off a whole bowl of rice in no time haha. The spicy sauce goes especially well with rice, so even though I only ordered one bowl at first, I ended up wanting more. If you visit Obongjip, definitely try mixing in the seaweed flakes and bean sprouts at least once!

Other Obongjip menu items to consider when dining with a group

Obongjip Samseong Branch has a wide range of menu items, and among the ones I've tried, the most well-known is the Obong Special. It's a set that lets you enjoy fire-grilled octopus stir-fry, soft bossam, and tangy-sweet makguksu (buckwheat noodles) all together, which makes it a good order for a group. If you're visiting with 3-4 people, going for a set menu like this instead of ordering separate dishes might be the better move — great value! Beyond that, there's also eolkeun-nakji-jeongol (spicy octopus hot pot) if you're craving a fiery broth, haemul-kalguksu (seafood knife-cut noodles) loaded with clams and noodles, and crispy buchujeon (chive pancake) and kimchijeon (kimchi pancake), so there's plenty to choose from.

If you're craving Korean food near Samseong Station, in the mood for a spicy octopus or squid stir-fry, or want bossam alongside it, Obongjip Samseong Branch is a good option. It also works well for company dinners, family meals out, or gatherings with friends, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a satisfying meal in Samseong-dong. If you're hunting for good food near Samseong Station and want a hearty spicy stir-fry with bossam on the side, give Obongjip Samseong Branch a try!