A Delightful Crab Feast at I.O. Daege Near Ganggu Port
Recently, I took a family trip to Yeongdeok and discovered a fantastic restaurant near Ganggu Port, known for its excellent crab dishes. I'm excited to share our experience of enjoying a generous crab set with high-quality ingredients and amazing flavors.
1. Location & Address Information
The restaurant, I.O. Daege, is conveniently located about a 5-minute drive from Ganggu Bus Terminal. The address is 45, Ganggu Daegye-gil, Ganggu-myeon, Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongbuk. It's also just a 5-minute walk (approximately 500m) from Ganggu Bridge.
They are open daily from 9 AM to 9 PM, but they also open earlier at 7 AM for a simple breakfast.
The building is easy to spot from afar with its large size and blue exterior. A spacious private parking lot is available, so you don't have to worry about parking when visiting by car.
Inside, the atmosphere is cozy and clean. Thanks to our reservation, we were promptly seated on the second floor without any waiting.
The overall cleanliness was impressive, and my parents were particularly pleased with the sparkling silverware, indicating excellent hygiene management.
2. A Lavish Crab Set Menu
We ordered the crab set, and it was more abundant than we expected, offering great value for the price. The set included a variety of dishes such as shrimp tempura, steamed crab, assorted sashimi, crab shell fried rice, and red crab ramen. The menu offers not only snow crab (daege) but also king crab and red crab (hongge) at reasonable prices.
The shrimp tempura, which we tried first, was freshly fried, so it was perfectly crispy with a light batter. It really whetted our appetites. The side dishes were also of high quality and very satisfying.
Two dipping sauces were provided, offering a variety of flavors. The tempura remained crispy even after some time, making it a great snack to enjoy throughout the meal.
They also served Mulhoe (Korean Cold Raw Fish Soup). The combination of the chewy seafood and the cold broth made it a satisfying meal.
3. Deep-Fried Crab
The delicious-looking deep-fried crab was another highlight. Large crab legs were fried to a crispy perfection, filled with juicy meat that made our mouths water.
Dipping it in the sweet and spicy chili sauce created a perfect harmony between the tender crab meat and the crispy batter. Every bite was simply amazing.
4. Assorted Sashimi
The assorted sashimi, a popular item here, was incredibly fresh. Generous portions of thickly sliced flounder and other seafood were prepared, making each bite delightful.
The flounder belly was particularly impressive and plentiful enough to share among several people. To be able to enjoy this quality of sashimi and crab at this price made me really appreciate the owner's generosity.
The salmon was also very fresh, offering a smooth and tender texture. The rich and savory flavor was impressive.
5. Steamed Crab
It was time for another highlight: the steamed crab. The crab was incredibly large and expertly prepared, so we could easily enjoy it. There was plenty of crab to satisfy our appetites.
It was evident that only the finest ingredients were used. This is a 3rd-generation traditional crab restaurant where the owner participates directly in the auctions, ensuring quality and trustworthiness.
The crab meat boasted a high yield of over 90%, and the firm, chewy texture was bursting with a sweet and savory flavor.
Dipping it in their unique sweet and spicy red pepper paste (chogochujang) was simply irresistible.
The crab tomalley (innards) was rich and flavorful without any fishy taste, and it was such a delicacy that we kept scooping it up from the shell.
6. I.O. Crab Shell Fried Rice
We also ordered the crab shell fried rice. It was loaded with vegetables and seaweed flakes, and the seasoning was perfect. It was so delicious and easy to eat.
Each generous spoonful, eaten with the side dishes, created a harmony of savory, spicy, and tangy flavors. It was a culinary delight that deserved applause.
We also made sure to try the red crab ramen, a hidden popular item. It was packed with red crab and cooked directly over a gas flame, giving the noodles a wonderfully chewy texture.
The broth was so refreshing and perfect for a hangover cure! I was thoroughly impressed with I.O. Daege's culinary skills.
I enjoyed the last bite of noodles, and I felt this restaurant used only the freshest ingredients, making the quality noticeably different compared to other crab restaurants.
We thoroughly enjoyed our meal at this fantastic Ganggu Port restaurant. I highly recommend it as a satisfying meal for anyone traveling to Yeongdeok with friends or family!
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