Huiya's Griddle Octopus & Mung Bean Pancake

"Huiyanae Seoksoe Jjumkkumi & Bindaeddeok," or Huiya's Griddle Octopus & Mung Bean Pancake, is a franchise famous for its jjukkumi (small webfoot octopus). The restaurant came all the way to Seoul from down in Busan. The sight of the grill alone is impressive, but its the sight of plump, fresh jjukkumi lined up neatly on the gridiron that really makes our hearts pound. Huiyanae's jjumkkumi looks completely different from the typical stir-fried dish, which is usually drowning in sauce. It’s unsurprising that this restaurant gained popularity after appearing regularly on local social media “meok-bang” (literally, "eat-room," or food lovers' portals). Servers ask for preferred level of spiciness when taking orders, but the natural sweetness of the food generally balances out the spiciness so we say go for spicy. Bindaeddeok (mung-bean pancake) is the ideal partner dish to order with jjukkumi, to offset the spiciness. Another alternative for those who prefer a lighter menu is nurungji-tang, a mild, traditional Korean soup made from crisp rice. Jjukkumi that has been brought out after a bit of roasting over a bisque fire in the kitchens should be kept on a low heat at your table. We'll be honest, it's not as good at the jjukkumi you can fresh from the sea in Busan, but is it still tasty? Definitely. Wrap it up with the accompanying mayonnaise and perilla leaves for an unforgettable combination of flavors. The perilla leaves and boiled eggs are unlimited.