Hamcho Ganjang Gejang

At a Glance

• 💳 Easy payment options available
• 👥 Perfect for solo diners, pairs, family dinners, and meetups with friends
• 🍽️ Signature dishes: Soy-marinated crab set, Spicy marinated crab set, Soy-marinated abalone, Soy-marinated shrimp, Seafood scallion pancake, Spicy seafood stew
• 📺 Featured on MBC's Today N (Ep. 2785) for soy and spicy marinated crabs, 2TV Live Info Show (Ep. 75) for crab set meals, and Good Morning Korea (Ep. 369) for soy-marinated crab

🦀 Hamcho Ganjang Gejang: Myeongdong's Original Rice Thief

Step off the bustling Myeongdong streets and head down to the cozy basement level of Hamcho Ganjang Gejang, where your only real dilemma will be choosing which style of crab to order. Alongside the classic soy-marinated and spicy marinated options, they offer an array of seafood cured in soy sauce—like abalone and shrimp—making the menu a lot of fun to browse. Going for the crab set meal is a great shout, as it comes with rice and a variety of side dishes, giving you the quintessential Korean full-table dining experience.

When your soy-marinated crab arrives, crack open the body and squeeze out the tender meat. Spooning that sweet, delicate crab meat over a bite of warm rice delivers a savory punch followed by a wonderfully nutty aftertaste. The restaurant's signature touch is aging the soy sauce with glasswort (hamcho), which dials up the deep, savory umami flavor. Because the dish is well-seasoned, it is best enjoyed by taking small bites with your rice.

Once you've polished off the meat, don't let the shell go to waste. Scrape the remaining innards and roe, mix in some rice, and you'll get a rich, intense flavor profile completely different from the regular crab meat. Alternate bites with the steamed eggs and side dishes to keep things interesting, and before you know it, your bowl of rice will be entirely gone. It is easy to see why Koreans affectionately call soy-marinated crab a 'rice thief'.

If you love a kick of heat, go for the spicy marinated crab. If you want to sample other seafood alongside your soy-marinated crab, try the shrimp or abalone. Ordering a few different dishes to share is a great way to compare the distinct flavors and textures. It is the ultimate spot in Myeongdong to properly indulge in authentic Korean crab dishes, where you can take your time squeezing out the meat, mixing rice into the shell, and savoring every single bite.

👥 Why Locals Keep Coming Back

• 🦀 The unbeatable rice combo — Pairing the savory, umami-packed soy-marinated crab with steaming hot rice is the absolute gold standard for eating this dish.
• 🍚 Scraping the shell — Mixing rice directly into the crab shell after eating the meat unlocks an intensely rich flavor you won't want to miss.
• 🥢 A proper spread with side dishes — Rather than eating the crab on its own, it comes together as a full, satisfying meal complete with steamed eggs and various side dishes.
• 🦐 A variety of soy-cured seafood — Beyond just crab, they serve cured shrimp and abalone so you can mix and match based on what you are craving.
• 📺 A TV-certified Myeongdong hotspot — Featured on MBC's <Today N> (Ep. 2785) as a 16-year-old Myeongdong institution, making it a must-visit for fans of food shows.

📍 Tips for Foreign Visitors

• 🦀 First-timers should stick to the soy-marinated crab set → It comes with rice and side dishes, making it much easier to understand how to eat it the traditional Korean way compared to ordering just the crab. They also offer single-portion sets, making it super comfortable for solo diners.
• 🍚 Try eating the crab meat a little at a time over rice → Diving straight into the crab by itself might feel a bit too salty. Pairing the meat with rice softens the saltiness and lets the natural nuttiness of the crab shine through.
• 🌶️ Check your spice tolerance before ordering the spicy crab → The spicy marinated version has a totally different flavor profile and packs quite a kick. If you aren't used to spicy food, you will have a much better time starting with the soy-marinated version.
• 🦐 Dining with someone who doesn't eat crab? No problem → They offer other options like cured shrimp, cured abalone, seafood scallion pancakes, and spicy seafood stew, making it easy to visit even if someone in your group isn't a fan of crab.
• 🚇 Perfectly placed for a Myeongdong sightseeing break → Located just a short walk from Myeongdong Station Exits 8, 9, and 10, it is super convenient to drop in while shopping or exploring. Address: Basement Level, 27 Myeongdong 8ga-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul.