(W Table)
(W Table)

Looking to venture beyond your usual Korean soup territory? This crystal-clear octopus soup may be one of Korean cuisine‘s best-kept secrets.

Unlike other octopus dishes that come doused in bold, spicy seasonings, yeonpo-tang lets the octopus’s natural flavors take center stage without the heavy makeup of chili paste or fermented soybean.

The soup builds layers of taste with tofu, radish, mushrooms, and fresh vegetables, while the octopus itself provides a tender-chewy texture that‘s uniquely satisfying. Feel free to throw in extra protein like mussels or clams if you’re feeling fancy.

A heads-up for first-timers: Traditional restaurants often prepare this soup with live octopus, dropping it straight into the boiling broth tableside. It‘s definitely no dinner theater for the faint of heart.

For a taste of Korean seafood at its purest, this delicate soup is worth seeking out.

(Yeonpotang, octopus soup, Korean-style octopus hot pot, savory seafood stew)