Jjukkumi Bokkeum (주꾸미볶음)

Spicy webfoot octopus stir-fry — spring's spiciest craving.

Korean name: 주꾸미볶음
Spice level: Very spicy
Flavor: spicy
Typically contains: octopus
Vegetarian / vegan: Not vegetarian — meat or seafood is core to the dish
Typical price: ₩15,000–₩30,000 per person checked 2026-07 — varies by area
Good to know: Beginner-friendly ●●○○○ Solo dining ●●●○○ Kid-friendly ●○○○○
Also written as: jjukkumi, jukkumi, jukumi, spicy baby octopus

Spice and flavor are editorial assessments of the standard version — individual restaurants and recipes vary. Ingredient notes are typical, not guaranteed: always check with the restaurant for allergies or dietary needs. Eating and cooking notes describe common practice in Korea; our first-hand deep-dives live in the Eat Like a Local guides.

What is Jjukkumi Bokkeum?

Jjukkumi-bokkeum is spring's spice ritual: webfoot octopus — smaller and sweeter than nakji — stir-fried or grilled in chili paste right when the spring catch peaks. The rice-fried finish in the leftover sauce is non-negotiable; the March–April jjukkumi pilgrimage to west-coast ports is a seasonal sport.

How to eat it

Whole small ones are eaten in one or two bites — head included (roe in spring).
Char-grilled versions (jjukkumi-gui) trade sauce for smoke; try both.
The fried-rice finale in the pan is mandatory culture.

Good to know

Spring roe-filled heads burst hot — bite carefully.
Heat level parallels nakji-bokkeum — high.

Spring jjukkumi vs autumn jeoneo (gizzard shad) — Korea's seasonal seafood calendar in one proverb.

Nutrition

Calories	106 kcal
Carbohydrate	11.41 g
Protein	9.16 g
Fat	2.6 g
Sodium	459 mg

Per serving (~200g): ≈212 kcal · sodium ≈918 mg (46% of the WHO daily guideline, 2,000 mg)

Per 100g · total serving 200g · Official data: National Integrated Food Nutritional Information Standard Data (Korea MFDS) (DB item: 주꾸미볶음, synced 2026-07-17). Values vary by recipe and portion.

Featured in: Spicy Korean Food

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