Masang Agu Haemul Tang
마산아구해물탕
About
Long-running neighborhood favorite in Bucheon serving spicy braised monkfish and seafood platters with complimentary soy-marinated crab.
Tucked onto the second floor of an older building near Dongnam Intersection, Masan Agu Haemultang is an eighteen-year-old neighborhood anchor that straddles Bucheon’s Bumbak-dong and Gwean-dong. Ascending the stairs into the low-ceilinged dining room reveals a lively, unpretentious space filled with local regulars. While linoleum flooring hints at its past as a shoes-off venue, guests now walk straight in with shoes on to claim comfortable table seating. The restaurant commands fierce loyalty in part because of its generous banchan spreads. Before the mains arrive, tables fill with a fluffy steamed egg, a fragrant herb pancake, and a communal pot of seaweed soup that bubbles over a tabletop burner—often prompting older patrons to order a bottle of soju on the spot. The standout is the house dolgejang: raw baby crabs marinated in a mild, savory soy sauce devoid of fishiness, famous enough among regulars that refills have had to be capped. Spicy braised seafood anchors the menu, with adjustable heat levels ranging from mild to sweat-inducing fiery options. The classic agujjim pairs tender, thick chunks of blackmouth anglerfish with crisp soybean sprouts coated in a balanced, peppery sauce. Diners seeking variety gravitate toward the well-being jjim, a loaded seafood braise packed with whole octopus, blue crab, shrimp, baby octopus, and fish roe. Whatever the centerpiece, the meal invariably concludes with the kitchen's signature bokkeumbap. The staff fries white rice directly into the leftover braising sauce, layering in roasted seaweed and generous drizzles of toasted sesame oil until the grains are rich, aromatic, and scraped clean from the pan. Limited parking sits beside the building's ground-floor optician, though nearby park spaces offer an easier alternative for those arriving by car.
Menu
- Spicy Braised Monkfish₩32,000
- Assorted Seafood Braise₩44,000
- Spicy Seafood Stew₩42,000
- Fried Rice
- 아구찜/탕 (소)₩32,000
- 산낙지철판 (소)₩42,000
- 산낙지연포탕 (소)₩42,000
- 산낙지회(한접시)₩25,000
Local tips
- Choose your spice level: the regular level is roughly as spicy as Shin Ramyun, so opt for mild if sensitive.
- Complimentary soy-marinated stone crab can only be refilled once.
- Save room for fried rice mixed with seaweed and sesame oil in the leftover sauce.
- On-site parking behind the building is limited to four cars; nearby park parking is an alternative.
Details
- Yeokgok Station