If there is one thing that you must try when in Seoul, it is Ganjang Gejang. For the uninitiated, Ganjang Gejang is a traditional Korean dish that comprises fresh raw crabs marinated in a mild soy-sauce based brine and it is absolutely delicious.
One of the best places to enjoy Ganjang Gejang in Seoul is Gebang Sikdang, a small and cosy restaurant in Gangnam which was featured in the Michelin Guide Seoul 2023. Helmed by Bang Geon-hyuk, a fashion marketer, and his parents who are veterans of the soy sauce marinated crab restaurant business, Gebang Sikdang is out to please and here is what you can look forward to during your meal.
Gebang Sikdang’s menu primarily focusses on raw crab dishes and you’d be delighted to find dishes like the Soy Sauce Marinated Crab Roe Bibimbap (21,000 won), Spicy Sauce Marinated Crab Set (market price), Spicy Sauce Marinated Crab Roe Bibimbap (21,000 won) and more. Each dish is served with a seasonal fruit salad, 2 side dishes of the day, kimchi and dongchimi, soybean paste soup and laver. However, do note that each diner is required to order at least 1 meal.
But, the star of their menu is the Soy Sauce Marinated Crab Set. This set comprises a portion of soy sauce marinated crab, a seasonal fruit salad, a side dish of the day, handmade seasonal kimchi and dongchimi, clam seaweed soup. Whilst the price of this set is subject to the market price of the crabs, this set will be worth the while.
As someone who has never had Ganjang Gejang, I didn’t know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised by how much roe the dish was served with, and by the size of the blue crab.
Gebang Sikdang marinates the raw blue crabs with soy sauce, chilli pepper powder, garlic, ginger, rice malt, and other ingredients and this made for an exquisite flavour profile. The crab meat was fresh, soft yet firm, and each bite was a wonderful explosion of salty (which comes from the crab roe) and sweet (the soy sauce). That said, as the flavour profile of the meat is quite strong, you may wish to mix the meat together with the rice for a more balanced meal.
Another dish that we really enjoyed was the Spicy Sauce Marinated Crab Roe Bibimbap. The kick from the gochujang paired perfectly with the sweet flesh of the raw crab, and the saltiness from the laver added another layer of flavour to the entire dish. So if you’re someone who needs spice in your meals, this may be a better option for you than the Ganjang Gejang.
Given the size of the restaurant, we would highly recommend placing a reservation in advance of your trip. Reservations may be made via CatchTable, and a deposit of 20,000 won would be required per diner. For those who are driving in Seoul, parking is available onsite albeit in limited quantities.
Gebang Sikdang
17 Seolleung-ro, 131-gil
Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Tel: +82-10-8479-1107