If you are looking for the best spicy korean baby octopus, you have come to the right place! Hello everyone, and welcome back to my delicious Korean daily vlog. Finding the perfect place for a dinner date with your husband can sometimes be tricky, but today, we hit the absolute jackpot. If you love seafood, intense flavors, and a little bit of a fiery kick, you have to read this. Today, I am introducing you to an iconic local favorite restaurant that serves exactly that!
We visited a highly recommended restaurant called “Manboki” (만복이), which specializes in this exact dish. The combination of chewy octopus, incredibly addictive spicy sauce, and crispy fried side dishes made this one of the best meals we have had in a long time. Let me take you through our mouth-watering experience and show you exactly how Koreans enjoy this amazing dish.
If you want to truly enjoy this spicy korean baby octopus without crying, the Mild flavor is your best friend!
What is Jjukkumi (Korean Baby Octopus)?
Before we dive into our order, you might be wondering what exactly “Jjukkumi” is. In South Korea, Jjukkumi refers to a type of small, webfoot octopus. Because of its smaller size, the meat is incredibly tender and has a satisfying, bouncy chewiness that you just cannot get from larger squids or octopuses.
Historically, Koreans have loved eating baby octopus to regain stamina and energy, especially when they feel tired. When it is covered in a deep red, smoky, and fiery gochugaru (Korean chili powder) sauce and stir-fried over a high flame, it becomes the ultimate comfort food.
The Spice Levels: A Friendly Warning!
At Manboki, their signature stir-fried octopus is an absolute steal at only 11,000 KRW (about $8.50 USD) per person. But before you order, you need to choose your spice level: Mild (기본맛), Regular (보통맛), or Spicy (매운맛).
Here is my sincere local tip: I usually order the Regular flavor, and even for me—a Korean who loves spicy food—it is quite fiery! The heat really builds up in your mouth. So, if you are a foreigner or trying this for the first time, I highly recommend you ask for the Mild flavor. Do not worry, the Mild version is still packed with incredibly delicious, smoky flavors without burning your tongue!
How to Eat It: The Big Bowl Bibimbap
So, how do locals actually eat this? We do not just eat it straight from the plate! When your food arrives, the restaurant provides a large, empty mixing bowl for each person. This is where the magic happens.
You take your warm white rice and put it into the big bowl. Then, you add the crunchy unseasoned bean sprouts (kongnamul), savory dried seaweed (gim), and finally, a generous scoop of the stir-fried octopus with its rich sauce. You grab your spoon and mix it all together into a beautiful, fiery bibimbap. Every spoonful is an explosion of savory, sweet, smoky, and spicy flavors!
Mixing the spicy korean baby octopus with rice is the ultimate way to experience local Korean food culture.
Seasonal Soups and King Prawn Tempura
Another fantastic detail about this restaurant is the complimentary soup they serve alongside your meal. The soup actually changes depending on the season! If you visit in the winter, you get a warm, comforting bean sprout soup. But if you visit in the hot summer, they serve an icy, refreshing cold cucumber soup (Oi-naengguk) with a hint of sourness. Both are absolutely delicious and perfectly soothe your stomach after eating the spicy food.
And if you need something rich to balance your palate, you absolutely must order their famous King Prawn Tempura (Wang Saewoo Twigim). We got a plate of 8 massive, golden-fried prawns. The crunch on these prawns was unbelievable. Taking a bite of this rich, savory fried shrimp instantly cooled things down and reset my taste buds. It is the ultimate pairing!
I promise that this spicy korean baby octopus will be one of the most unforgettable meals of your trip!
Operating Hours and Location
Manboki is open every day from 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM (21:30). You can easily find their exact location and save it to your travel map right here: Manboki
Restaurant on Google Maps. Do not miss out on this fiery culinary adventure!
After sweating out the spicy food, keep your skin clean and glowing with the best Korean exfoliating mitt!