A Culinary Journey to Yeongdeok's Snow Crab Delicacies
In December, I heard that snow crabs started being caught, so I visited Yeongdeok.
I had a snow crab set at a local restaurant, and it was half the price compared to Seoul!
1. Hanbada Su-san Snow Crab Restaurant
Operating Hours: 9 AM - 9 PM
Spacious parking available.
This is an old sashimi restaurant run by local elders, and there’s no break time.
The restaurant is large, clean, and perfect for year-end gatherings or company dinners.
Of course, it's also a great place to enjoy a modest meal with family or friends.
They have both seated and floor seating, making it comfortable for everyone.
2. Seasonal Menu
The first condition for a popular local restaurant is value for money.
Here, the raw fish soup is incredibly cost-effective, making it a favorite spot for locals at lunchtime.
The owner catches the seafood himself, ensuring great value.
This means you can enjoy abundant seasonal seafood, which is a major advantage.
Snow crabs and flatfish are both in season during winter.
Recently, I've heard that many locals are seeking out Yeongdeok's popular eateries.
3. Snow Crab Set
Last summer, I went for raw fish soup, but this time I ordered a set to enjoy snow crab to the fullest.
The set, which included two snow crabs and assorted sashimi, cost around 200,000 won.
Last year, I paid 400,000 won for two steamed snow crabs in a seafood market in Seoul.
Here, it's half the price and includes side dishes and spicy soup, which was truly satisfying.
4. Seasonal Snow Crab
You can scoop out the crab meat from the shell with a spoon or make fried rice with it.
We enjoyed one crab as is and requested fried rice with the other.
The crab shell was filled with tender meat and innards, not just the legs.
Even sharing, we could fully experience the unique sweetness and umami of the crab.
The legs were plump and chewy, and the claws had enough meat to rival king crabs, showcasing the quality of Yeongdeok's snow crabs.
The meat was easy to extract, and even if you tore the shell roughly, it stayed intact and elastic.
Personally, I find snow crab tastier than lobster or king crab.
It has a delightful chewy texture combined with a subtle sweetness and umami, giving a true gourmet feeling.
Snow crab definitely makes you happy in every sense, which is why I crave it every winter.
With generous portions, there’s no need to hold back, and I enjoyed the meat with a long snow crab spoon.
I'm still reminiscing about the taste and aroma, so I'm planning to go back before winter ends!
5. Side Dishes
When thinking about having snow crab, you might worry, 'What if I spend a lot and still feel hungry?'
However, Yeongdeok's local restaurant has excellent crab yield and generous side dishes, leaving you truly satisfied.
The side dishes feature seasonal seafood, and the oysters were plentiful.
Among the ordinary-looking side dishes, there was crab marinated in soy sauce, which made me happy.
Sea cucumbers and abalone, essential for seafood platters, were also excellent.
They were so fresh that there was no fishy smell, just the delightful scent of the sea.
I'm quite sensitive to freshness, especially with sea cucumbers, but these were incomparable to those from markets, being fragrant and plump!
Even just the snow crab was enough to feel full, but adding abalone and sea cucumbers enhanced the satisfaction.
It felt like enjoying a variety of precious seafood all at once.
The restaurant's raw fish soup sauce was incredibly delicious, and they also made a great dipping sauce for the oysters.
The chef seems to have a knack for sauces, which made me trust their expertise.
If you want a spicier flavor, dipping in spicy sauce is also an option.
Having diverse sauces and plentiful side dishes is part of the charm of Yeongdeok's local eateries.
During autumn, the saying goes that fish get fat, and in winter, the sea fills up, as seasonal seafood is abundant now.
Scallops are in season, and their meat was plump and juicy.
Octopus is in season in the East Sea during winter, while in the South Sea, it's summer, so this season calls for a trip to the East Sea!
The meat was so tender that I could keep eating without my jaw hurting.
The large pancakes warmed the insides and provided a good source of carbohydrates.
The texture was crispy, with a nutty and sweet aroma, offering a truly luxurious taste.
While it looks rustic and simple, the flavors are surprisingly delicate.
Since they were cooked through, they felt like giant tempura.
Of course, real fried food is also available, so you can choose according to your preference.
The aroma of freshly fried vegetable tempura was delightful.
6. Crab Shell Fried Rice
The crab shell fried rice was packed tightly, making it sufficient for two people.
Using plenty of innards, it looked appealing with its golden hue, and the umami and nuttiness were top-notch.
I love fried rice and omelets, and the king of fried rice is definitely crab shell fried rice.
It preserved the luxurious aroma while being fluffy, leaving me in awe.
7. Spicy Soup
If you want to enjoy plump snow crab and seafood at great value, be sure to visit Hanbada Su-san Snow Crab Restaurant.
The spicy soup served as a complimentary dish was also generous, filled with fish meat, showcasing the hospitality of this local eatery.
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