How to order Spicy Baby Octopus Stir-Fry (쭈꾸미볶음) in Korea
Whole baby octopus stir-fried at the table in a red pepper–garlic sauce with scallions and onions. Chewy, sweet, properly spicy — a Jongno drinking classic.
Say it to order
쭈꾸미볶음 주세요
Jjukkumi-bokkeum juseyo
Quick facts
- 쭈꾸미볶음
- jjuk-ku-mi-bok-keum
- 4 of 5
- ₩16,000-24,000
- About 30 min
- Takes some nerve
How to eat it
Cooked on a table griddle — wait until the octopus curls and the sauce bubbles. Eat with rice, wrap in perilla leaf, chase with cold beer.
Do
- Baby octopus is seasonal — spring (Mar-May) is prime
- Nakji-bokkeum is the grown-up version; jjukkumi is smaller and sweeter
Don’t
- Don't let it overcook — octopus turns to rubber fast
Local tips
- Jongno 5-ga is the jjukkumi epicenter — entire alleys of specialist spots
- Pair with a samgyeopsal add-on (쭈꾸미삼겹) for the full experience
- Always close with bokkeumbap — the sauce deserves it
Goes with
- White rice
- Perilla leaf
- Samgyeopsal (add-on)
- Cold beer
- Soju
- Beer
- Cass Light
Where to try it in Seoul
Questions
- How do you order Spicy Baby Octopus Stir-Fry in Korean?
- Say “쭈꾸미볶음 주세요” (Jjukkumi-bokkeum juseyo).
- Is Spicy Baby Octopus Stir-Fry spicy?
- Yes — about 4 out of 5 on the spice scale.
- How much does Spicy Baby Octopus Stir-Fry cost in Korea?
- Usually ₩16,000-24,000.
- How do you eat Spicy Baby Octopus Stir-Fry?
- Cooked on a table griddle — wait until the octopus curls and the sauce bubbles. Eat with rice, wrap in perilla leaf, chase with cold beer.
Find Spicy Baby Octopus Stir-Fry near you
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