Bupyeong seafood stew at Haemulmyeongga Donghae Haemultang

An easy visit with free valet parking

You know those days when the weather turns a little chilly, or you suddenly crave a refreshing hot broth? My husband suddenly said he wanted haemultang (seafood stew), so we looked up a good seafood stew spot in Bupyeong and visited Haemulmyeongga Donghae Haemultang.

• 108 Bupyeongmunhwa-ro, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, South Korea
• Daily 10:00–24:00
• Group reservations available for up to 200 people; delivery and takeout available
• Free parking and valet available; Incheon e-eum Card accepted

We came by car, and the valet parking was free, so we could head in without any parking stress~

A spacious dining room and second-floor private rooms

When we walked in, the space was larger than I expected, and it felt comfortable right from the first impression.

The tables were nicely spaced, too, so it was easy to eat without worrying about the next table. I also liked the clean, orderly atmosphere.

There were also private room-style spaces on the second floor. They said they can accommodate as many as 200 seats! It looked like a nice option when you want to gather with a group, chat comfortably, and have a meal~

The small haemultang we ordered for two

Since there were two of us, we ordered the small haemultang. To be honest, when ordering, I was a little worried that it might not be enough. But that worry disappeared the instant the pot arrived, haha.

Side dishes I kept reaching for before the stew

While we waited for the haemultang, I tried the side dishes one by one. First, a mussel soup came as a complimentary side. It was such a little treat~ The broth was refreshing and clean, so I kept spooning it up before the seafood stew arrived!

The dongchimi (water kimchi) broth was refreshing too, making it great for cleansing the palate between bites. The apple salad was also bright and tangy, and paired well with the seafood, haha.

And my husband's favorite side dish was the buchimgae (Korean savory pancake)! As we picked at the crisp pancake while waiting for the haemultang, the plate was empty in no time, haha. The side dishes were generous overall, so I was happy from the very start of the meal.

One pot packed with octopus, fish milt, and roe

Finally, the haemultang appeared! The presentation alone was overwhelming. When the lid came off, the pot was filled with all kinds of seafood: octopus, clams, abalone, squid, shrimp, and blue crab. Even though it was the small size, it was so generous that I wondered for a moment if this really was meant for two, haha.

Once it had cooked nicely, a staff member came back, opened the lid, and separated and prepared each piece of seafood so it was easy to eat. That was really convenient~

Octopus, abalone, clams, squid, shrimp, blue crab, sea snails, fish milt, and roe—it felt like an entire seafood assortment had been put into one pot! I could see why so many people visit Haemulmyeongga Donghae Haemultang!

Clean, refreshing broth—even with rice

After it had simmered for a while, I took a spoonful of broth first. Wow~ From the first sip, it had such a clean, refreshing flavor. It was neither heavy nor overly intense; the natural savory depth of the seafood came through, and I kept reaching for more.

The seafood was so generous that I thought it would also be a good choice when craving agujjim (braised monkfish) or haemuljjim (steamed seafood), haha. Seafood dishes are especially nice for sharing, so it seemed useful for family meals, gatherings with friends, or company dinners!

There were so many varieties of seafood, and every piece was really fresh, so it was fun choosing what to eat. Octopus and squid can get tough if overcooked, but these were cooked just right and wonderfully tender. And there was plenty of the roe and fish milt I love, too!! You can seriously eat until you're bursting on seafood alone, haha.

Adding rice to the refreshing, rich broth felt like eating a completely different dish, haha. The broth was clean enough that it didn't feel heavy even with rice, and eating it with a little bean sprout and seafood was so filling!