Sunmine Haengbok Gejang Marinated Crab (Dongdaemun Branch) — Restaurant in Seoul

Stepping into Sunmine Haengbok Gejang in Dongdaemun was like walking into a culinary embrace. I'd heard so much about ganjang gejang (soy-marinated crab), and this trip, I was determined to finally experience it. The atmosphere was bustling, but in a comforting way, filled with the murmur of happy diners.

When the plate of glistening, amber-hued crabs arrived, my heart literally skipped a beat. They looked almost too beautiful to eat. Taking that first bite, it was an explosion of delicate, sweet crab meat, perfectly balanced by the savory, slightly sweet soy marinade. It wasn't just food; it was an experience. Each spoonful of the rich roe mixed with rice was pure bliss, a taste of something truly unique and deeply satisfying. I could feel the care that went into preparing each crab, the freshness of the seafood evident in every tender morsel.

Why not a perfect 5/5, you ask? Well, the restaurant itself, while clean and bright, felt a tiny bit on the commercial side, lacking that intimate, cozy charm I sometimes crave. And, perhaps, a slightly wider variety of side dishes would have elevated the meal even further for my personal taste.

But honestly, those are minor quibbles. The star of the show, the marinated crab, was simply unforgettable. It wasn't just a meal; it was a memory etched in my taste buds, a moment of true culinary joy in the heart of Seoul. If you're in Dongdaemun and curious about this iconic Korean dish, do yourself a favor and visit Sunmine Haengbok Gejang. You...

As a Korean American, I only had soy marinated crabs at home. Sumine Haengbok Gejang is as good or even better than the ones I’ve had in the past (sorry mom). I came in at about 8PM by myself, was promptly seated, and had the menu explained to me by an older Korean man working at the restaurant. He watched over me and made sure I was grabbing things from the salad bar and even poured sesame oil over the rice for me, lol. He was very fatherly and kind! For people who have never had gejang, just mix together the rice bowl, spoon a little bit of the crab soy sauce over the rice, and eat the crab meat and rice over seaweed. This has been one of my favorite meals so far in Seoul. I highly recommend it! It was a life...

I’ve tried several ganjang gyejang restos in Seoul including those infamous ones but this place hands down, the best ganjang gyejang I’ve had! Their ganjang gyejang is fresh, properly marinated (not too salty nor too sweet, just right). They have set menus but even if you only order the gyejang, it includes several free buffet dishes like seaweed soup, clam soup, etc. Service is quick and the space is quite big so even it was quite a lot of people during my visit, I didnt have to wait to be seated. Price is pretty average for ganjang gyejang. The location is also great coz it’s so close to Dongdaemun Design Plaza and all those shopping center. Go try if...