간장게장 (Ganjang Gaejang) - raw crab in a soy sauce marinade. This is a delicious delicacy especially enjoyed in the winter months of Korea. This dish also is served in a spicy sauce version, but this particular restaurant only specialises in the soy sauce version. In fact, there is not even a menu to order from here! They just serve one dish to however many people you have in your party. Places with only one menu item - you know they're going to do it right! This is by no means a new place, but the best Korean joints are the "oldies yet goodies!"
간장게장 (Ganjang Gaejang) - Raw crab in a soy sauce marinade. Set menu priced at 31, 000won per person.
The difference that stands out at this places is the freshness of the blue crab and the flavour of the sauce. It's not too salty, and doesn't have that fishy seafood smell/taste that some places have. Since it is a specialty restaurant, you can tell they focus their quality on the one dish they have!
An order for 3. Hearty serving of 3 whole crabs cut into 4 pieces each with fresh crab meat and roe along with the shell of the body.
Eat it together with the Korean hot pepper for a slight kick. SO GOOD!
The best part (next to sucking the body of the crab meat off of the tip of the legs)...is mixing rice in the shell with the crab roe! Make sure you get all the insides scraped out from the corners of the shell! Wrap this in a piece of seaweed and enjoy - DELICIOUS!
Another feature of the meal at this place is their special seaweed. It is a version of 파래김 (Pa-reh-gim), which is a type of seaweed prepared in a certain way.
The seaweed is extremely delicate, airy and melts in your mouth. It almost has the consistency of Korean hanji paper, but melts in your mouth like cotton candy! You can put the other delicious side dishes like mushrooms and raw oysters in a spicy sauce on and enjoy the different textures and flavours together.
They also have regular unseasoned dried seaweed along with other simple side dishes.
Really, you can combine the seaweed with filling of whatever you like to suit your taste!
The meal also comes with a steamed egg dish in case the crab and rice isn't enough to fill you up. You have the option to also add on another soup, but there is one that comes with the meal to share included as well.
Small and hard to find hole-in-the-wall place if you don't know where it is! Really easy once you know where it is!
But the inside is clean and cozy. Floor only seating, and you MUST make reservations as this small but amazing place fills up very quickly on weekdays and weekends!
What? JinMi Shikdang (진미식당) a small hole-in-the-wall place that specialized in Korean raw blue crab in a soy sauce marinade. Set menu priced at 31, 000won per person.
Who? Whoever likes delicious Korean style raw crab!
When? Everyday from 12pm-3pm, 5pm-9:30pm, closed on holidays. MUST MAKE RESERVATIONS - a few days up to a week ahead of time!
Parking? Yes, for dinner time. After 6pm, there is a lot right before the S-OIL gas station where you can park for free - it's at the Suh Boo JiBang BubWon (서부지방법원). Not too sure about at lunch time.
Cards Accepted? Yes
Address: 서울 마포구 공덕동 105-127. 105-127 Gongdeok-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Call: 02-3211-4468
Directions: If you are taking the subway, take the subway to either Mapo Station (exit 4) or Gongdeok Station (exit 6). Walk straight for about 850metres (13mins) on the main road. Once you see the S-OIL gas station, turn right into that alley way and then you will see JinMi on your right hand side.
If you are driving from Itaewon, heading towards Samgakji, go over the bridge and keep driving straight until you hit the Mapo 5-way. Take the main right turn at this intersection and keep going straight until you see the S-OIL gas station on your right. The parking lot will be just before this, and the restaurant is into the first alley way on the right after the gas station. You will see JinMi on your right hand side. If you are coming from Mapo bridge, just keep going straight until you pass the 5-way intersection and follow the same directions. If you are coming from Shinchon, turn left at the 5-way intersection. Ok actually - all the drivers, just put the address into your navigation system!!!