Tasty Crab Soup in Taean
Welcome to my travel blog! This week, I visited Taean, located in South Chungcheong Province.
My destination was a caravan camping site near the beautiful Hakampo Beach, where I stayed for one night.
We left Daejeon around 10:30 AM and debated where to eat. After some consideration, we decided to have lunch in Taean before heading to the campsite.
On our way to Taean, we searched for a restaurant and decided to try crab soup, a dish we had never tasted before. Both my wife and I were excited, having seen it featured in various media.
We parked in front of the Taean Dongbu Market public parking lot, which is free and conveniently located near the restaurant. The market entrance is just to the left, making it easy to enjoy both a meal and some shopping.
The restaurant we visited, Taean Wonjo Ttukbaegi, is recognized as a model business for price stability by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Taean County government. They offer quality service at reasonable prices!
For instance, the oyster soup is priced at 10,000 won, soy sauce marinated crab at 18,000 won, and fried rice at an incredible 4,000 won, making it a great choice for families visiting Taean.
We arrived just after lunch hour, but there were still diners enjoying their meals. Although we were curious about other menu items, we decided to order the traditional crab soup.
Since we were dining with our child, we ordered for two and added an extra bowl of rice. The owner mentioned that the crab soup is not spicy, making it suitable for children.
When the crab soup arrived, it looked different from the red, rich versions we had seen online; it had a clearer broth. I learned that each restaurant has its unique style.
Crab soup, or "ge-guk," derives its name from the crab broth "ge" and the kimchi "guk." Historically, it was made by boiling leftover crab broth with kimchi when food was scarce.
Nowadays, it includes various seafood and kimchi, and at Taean Wonjo Ttukbaegi, it features white cabbage and assorted seafood.
Ordering the traditional crab soup also comes with a serving of soy sauce marinated crab. Additionally, a child-friendly fish dish was served, though I couldn't identify the type of fish.
We enjoyed several side dishes, reminiscent of a traditional Korean diner style, including egg-coated sausages and delicious pollack roe, which was creamy and paired perfectly with rice.
The crab soup was bubbling, and the shrimp cooked eagerly. The oysters were fresh, and the soup was rich with crab and sweet cabbage, creating a delightful flavor.
The base of the broth was made with dried shrimp, enhancing the umami taste. We relished the meal, and though the initial cost for two was around 50,000 won, we found it reasonable given the quality and quantity of seafood.
We nearly finished every bit, savoring the warmth of the soup as we headed towards the chilly waters of Hakampo. If you're looking for a local dish to try this winter, I highly recommend traditional crab soup from Taean!
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