Spicy jjukkumi with beef belly set and egg custard in Jeonju: Jjukkumi

On days when you're craving something seriously spicy, this is the real deal. A dish that leaves your mouth tingling but keeps your chopsticks reaching back for more — I went to Jjukkumi Sinhwa, a jjukkumi (spicy stir-fried octopus) spot in Injhu-dong, Jeonju.

The basic table setting and what I ordered

With jjukkumi you've got to have the refreshing bean sprout soup, seasoned bean sprouts, cabbage salad, pickled radish and onion, and of course perilla leaves as a given!

If you order jjukkumi on its own you can choose a really spicy sauce, but I couldn't resist the combo with meat in it, so I went with the beef belly set.

How does the beef belly jjukkumi set taste?

Jjukkumi

It comes out on a huge hot plate, piled high with jjukkumi and meat properly coated in red sauce, topped off with beef belly and green onion! Once you dig in, the plump, springy jjukkumi pairs with the savory meat, giving you way more texture to enjoy — and honestly, this is a dish that calls for drinks.

The sauce clings deep into the jjukkumi, so the spicy flavor hits you right from the first bite — but it's not just plain hot, it leaves a rich, savory aftertaste that lingers.

Highly recommend: jjukkumi + cabbage

My favorite combination was definitely jjukkumi + cabbage — piling thinly sliced cabbage generously on top of the chewy jjukkumi for one bite is a must! The jjukkumi is chewy and the cabbage is crisp, totally different textures, and the cabbage's subtle sweetness mellows out the spicy sauce — the pairing works better than you'd expect.

Wrapping it up with perilla leaves and bean sprouts

One of the wrap methods Sinhwa recommends is wrapping jjukkumi together with perilla leaves and bean sprouts, and there's a reason they suggest it.

First the fragrant scent of the perilla leaf spreads, then you get the spicy, chewy texture of the jjukkumi, and finally the crisp crunch of bean sprouts and cabbage at the end — my mouth was full of happiness.

The beef belly is also just the standard delicious no matter where you eat it. The springiness of jjukkumi paired with the soft, chewy bite of the meat was a perfect match — honestly the best part. The sauce itself was so good it worked with everything.

The garlic sauce is the kicker

And this sauce! The kicker. I went back for more about three times. It's a garlic sauce that goes really well with the spicy seasoning — I dipped things in it plain and also added it into my wraps.

Definitely add the egg custard

Personally, I think there's one menu item that's absolutely non-negotiable when eating something spicy: egg custard. We order it twice.

Taking a big spoonful, it was fluffy and moist all the way through — it went so well with the beef belly jjukkumi! You have to order this. We meant to make fried rice too, but between the beer and everything else we were too full, so sadly we held back and left it for next time!

The self-serve bar makes it even better!

The self-serve bar makes it even better!

Jjukkumi is great on its own, but it's even better with perilla leaves, lettuce, and bean sprouts — though it can feel awkward to keep asking for more. Here, everything's stocked generously at the self-serve bar, so you can just grab whatever you need — I loved that.

If you're looking for jjukkumi in Injhu-dong, Jeonju, and you like having plenty of wraps and sides, come to Sinhwa — this part will be pretty satisfying too!

So many people were ordering takeout, that's how good the jjukkumi is! It'd be perfect for eating comfortably at home or bringing along on a camping trip. And since the taste is guaranteed, that's a bonus!

Atmosphere and seating

Once you step inside, the place is a lot bigger than it looks from outside! Wood-tone tables are spaced evenly apart, and overall it leans more toward a comfortable, friendly vibe for sitting down and having a hearty meal rather than a flashy interior!

As evening came on, the place filled up with customers, and I could tell this is a real local favorite in Jeonju. There were private rooms too!

It's been a while since I've had a proper spicy meal like this — Jjukkumi Sinhwa! Above all, the plump, chewy texture of the jjukkumi, the spicy sauce, plus the meat on top — I really loved this place, and I'm 100% planning to come back.