Even though it’s been over two months since my road trip to the seaside port of Mokpo, the visit with some foodie friends is still fresh on my mind because of one thing: the amazing seafood. After spending two days, one night eating (and drinking) the best that Mokpo had to offer, I came back to Seoul a few pounds heavier and, more importantly, with a deeper appreciation of regional foods that highlight famed ingredients from the land and sea. To get to the point, just a few of the delicacies sampled and embedded in my mind forever are yangnyeom gejang 양념게장 (spicy raw crab), jangeoh tang 장어탕 (spicy eel soup), and bangeoh hwe 방어회 (yellowtail sashimi) — all wonderfully washed down with Mokpo’s finest, Ipseju 잎새주 (regional soju at 19% ABV). Due to time constraints, we were unable to try other local favorites like mineo 민어 (croaker), nakji 낙지(octopus), and hongeo 홍어 (fermented skate), but I have a feeling that a future trip will take care of those dishes. Regardless, the weekend trip really opened my eyes (and palate) to an array of flavors and textures previously untried before this visit.

Although eating was our main priority on the trip, there was plenty of free time to burn off all that food in between. Other highlights included a lovely bike ride near the ocean shore, a visit to the local fish market where some of us got to sample the infamous hongeo twigim 홍어튀김 (fried skate balls), and a lovely water and light show held in the evening (supposedly, it’s the world’s largest water show with music). Some of the few places that we didn’t have time for were the National Maritime Museum and Yudalsan Park, both being must-see places when visiting Mokpo. The museum is the only one of its kind dedicated to the country’s maritime history, highlights being two shipwrecks dating back as far as the 11th century. Yudalsan Park, which houses Yudal Mountain, is a scenic area filled with themed sculptures from international artists. And if you can make it to the top (a short 228 meters), it offers panoramic views of the city and the ocean with a big welcome from Korea’s beloved hero, Admiral Yi Sunsin, in statue form.

Just a little bit of information on Mokpo. This is a port city of roughly 100,000 people located on the far southwestern tip of the Korean peninsula. It is largely divided into the old town near Mt. Yudalsan and the new town near Gatbawi Rock. The new town is connected to Yeongam by a bridge. Since it’s a port city defined by the sea, plenty of the best seafood can be had with the best ones hidden out of plain sight. Here are some of the best restaurants that we had the privilege of eating at during our short time in Mokpo. Enjoy!

Jangteo Sikdang 장터식당

Joongdong 1-ga, Mokpo, South Jeolla Province (전남 목포시 중동1가 1-17 장터식당)

Phone: 061-244-8880

Click here for an interactive map: http://me2.do/FqMEwqAW