Daebokjip
대복집
About
Historic, 40-year-old blowfish specialty restaurant housed in a rustic hanok alleyway near Nagwon Arcade in Jongno.
Tucked away in the dense alleys of Nakwon-dong, just past the instrument arcade and the neighborhood’s storied agujjim strip, Daebokjib is a sanctuary of old-school Jongno dining. A wooden sign quietly advertises four decades of tradition, and stepping inside feels like crossing into an earlier era. Guests slip off their shoes to enter a converted hanok where exposed ceiling rafters, a mild seaside brine in the air, and the hum of neighborhood elders unwinding over green bottles of soju set an unvarnished, nostalgic tone. The kitchen focuses on blowfish, an exacting ingredient that commands a higher bill and draws diners seeking restorative nourishment. The ritual invariably begins with complimentary banchan, anchored by bok-kkeopjil muchim. Seasoned in a sweet, chili-flecked soy glaze, the strips of parboiled blowfish skin offer a bouncy, springy gelatinous chew without a trace of fishiness. Alongside it, rough-cut minari (water dropwort) tossed like country-style geotjeori prepares the palate for the simmered dishes ahead. The defining centerpiece is bokjiri, a clear pufferfish soup cooked at the table. Once the lid lifts, thick cutlets of plump, elastic blowfish simmer alongside towering mounds of fragrant water dropwort. The broth is starkly clean, subtle, and refreshing, carrying an understated, naturally refreshing acidity that sharpens the tongue rather than overwhelming it. Diners who appreciate a deep-fried crunch often pair the stew with bok-twigim, featuring firm, tender pufferfish fried in a crisp batter alongside seasonal vegetables like pumpkin and greens. To drink, diners bypass sweet sodas for ice-cold soju or hire-jeongjong, a warm cup of sake infused with a charred blowfish fin that imparts a distinctive, smoky depth. Once the fish and refillable greenery are plucked from the pot, the remaining broth can be simmered down into a comforting seaweed-laced porridge, ensuring every last drop of clear broth is accounted for.
Menu
- Clear Blowfish Soup₩27,000
- Spicy Blowfish Skin Salad
- Deep-fried Blowfish
- Spicy Fugu Soup
- 복분자
Local tips
- Minari greens in the blowfish soup (bok-jiri) are refillable.
- Expect to take off your shoes as seating is traditional floor-style.
- Complimentary chewy blowfish skin salad (bok-kkeopjil-muchim) is served with meals.
- Soft drinks are not sold here; the venue caters largely to an older crowd.
Details
- Jongno 3-ga Station
Opening hours
- Sunday
- —
- Monday
- 11:00–22:00
- Tuesday
- 11:00–22:00
- Wednesday
- 11:00–22:00
- Thursday
- 11:00–22:00
- Friday
- 11:00–22:00
- Saturday
- 11:00–22:00