Apart from the usual Korean BBQ, Korea is a country home to many delicious and unique dishes with one of them being raw marinated crabs. Recently, Gejang has also ranked #3 for best crab dishes in the world according to tasteatlas! One of the most iconic places to get your dose of Ganjang Gejang (soy-marinated crabs in Korean), is Gebang Sikdang.
Michelin Ganjang Gejang in Seoul
When approaching Gebang Sikdang, we wondered if we were in the right place as the interior looked more like a cafe compared to a restaurant. The gejang restaurant had a clean white interior that coupled well with sleek metallic furniture.
The space isn’t too big, but what we loved is how the restaurant can cater to individual diners with its seating arrangement, making it a perfect spot for solo travelers to get a fix of raw marinated crab.
According to their menu, the restaurant only uses domestic female blue swimming crabs, and the price differs from season to season. During our visit, both the Ganjang Gejang and Yangnyeom Gejang set was available at a price of 39,000won.
Apart from the crabs, the restaurant also offers other protein options such as raw soy sauce marinated abalone, raw soy sauce marinated salmon, and cockles.
Gebang Sikdang Raw Marinated Crab Review
We tried both set meals, and they came with an array of side dishes such as a side salad, jeon (Korean pancake), stir-fried anchovies, and kimchi. There was also a bowl of warm soup, alongside some pieces of seaweed.
The thing that ultimately catches your eye is the amount of eggs in the soy-marinated crab. The whole crab is presented beautifully on a brass bowl, with just the right amount of soy sauce.
The way to eat soy-marinated crab differs from person to person, with some liking to squeeze the meat onto the bowl of rice and mix it with the rice. There are also those who like to eat the meat directly, fresh off the crab.
One tip is to mix the rice in the crab shell, to get all its goodness.
As crude as it may sound, make sure to suck to get all the meat from the crab!
Gebang Sikdang’s version of the soy-marinated crab proved to not be that salty and had little to minimal fishiness.
The Yangnyeom version saw the blue swimming crab coated in a bright red layer of spicy, semi-sweet seasoning, which was really satisfying when paired with rice. For those who prefer some spice in their meals, this version is the one to go for. This might be due to the seasoning, but for some reason, it made the crab meat taste sweeter.
Where To Find Ganjang Gejang in Seoul
If you’re looking for a spot to try out Ganjang Gejang for the first time, Gebang Sikdang is a safe place to check out. Coupled with its sleek and modern interior, this spot in Gangnam provides a nice experience for the modern traveler.
Gebang Sikdang (게방식당)
서울 강남구 선릉로131길 17 1F
1st Floor, 17 Seolleungro 131-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Nearest Subway: Gangnam-gu Office Station (Line 7), Exit 3
*This was an independent review by MiddleClass
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