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Ganjang gejang (간장게장) is raw blue crab marinated in soy sauce, and many Koreans call it “rice thief” because it makes you eat bowl after bowl of rice. If you want to try ganjang gejang in Seoul, this guide covers the best soy crab restaurants, from decades-old institutions to a modern MICHELIN-listed spot, with prices, hours and how to eat it.
Taiwanese and Hong Kong visitors search for it as 醬蟹 (simplified Chinese: 酱蟹), and Japanese visitors as カンジャンケジャン. It is one of the most requested Korean dishes among visitors from Taiwan and Hong Kong.
What Is Ganjang Gejang?
Fresh female blue crabs, usually full of orange roe, are cleaned and soaked raw in a seasoned soy sauce brine for several days. The meat turns soft and almost creamy, and the roe and the “crab butter” inside the shell are the best part. It is served cold with rice, seaweed and side dishes.
| Ganjang gejang | Yangnyeom gejang | |
|---|---|---|
| Korean | 간장게장 | 양념게장 |
| Marinade | Soy sauce brine | Spicy, sweet chili sauce |
| Taste | Savory, delicate, not spicy | Spicy and sticky |
| Good for | Trying the classic style | People who like spicy food |
Best Ganjang Gejang Restaurants in Seoul
Jinmi Sikdang (진미식당), Gongdeok
A small, busy restaurant that serves soy crab and almost nothing else. It is listed in the MICHELIN Guide Seoul, which notes that the kitchen prepares only enough crab for each day, so it can sell out. Each person gets a set with a whole roe-filled female crab, rice and side dishes.
| Address | 186-6 Mapo-daero, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울 마포구 마포대로 186-6) |
| Nearest station | Gongdeok Station, a short walk |
| Hours | Mon–Sat from about 11:30–12:00, with a mid-afternoon break. Closed Sundays. Hours differ between listings, so check Naver Map. |
| Price | Gejang set about ₩45,000 per person |
| Booking | Reservation by phone strongly recommended (+82-2-3211-4468) |
| Map | Open in Naver Map |
Keunkiwajip (큰기와집), Anguk
A traditional-style soy crab restaurant on the edge of the Bukchon hanok area, a good stop before or after Gyeongbokgung or Ikseon-dong. The menu also has spicy yangnyeom gejang and an easier crab bibimbap.
| Address | 1F, 22 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울 종로구 북촌로 22 1층) |
| Nearest station | Anguk Station (Line 3), Exit 2, about 3 minutes |
| Hours | Daily 11:30–21:00, break 15:00–17:30 (last order 20:00) |
| Price | Ganjang gejang ₩59,000, yangnyeom gejang ₩42,000, gejang bibimbap ₩37,000 |
| Booking | Call ahead, especially for weekend lunch |
| Map | Open in Naver Map |
Pro Ganjang Gejang (프로간장게장), Sinsa
Open since 1980 and often credited with making soy crab a restaurant dish, Pro Ganjang Gejang is the most famous name on Sinsa-dong’s soy crab street. It is large, open late and popular with K-pop fans and tour groups. Crab is sold in pairs of female crabs by size, so it costs more than the other picks here.
| Address | Gangnam-daero 97-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul (서울 서초구 강남대로97길) |
| Nearest station | Sinsa Station (Line 3, Shinbundang Line), Exit 4, about 2 minutes |
| Hours | Long daily hours, from morning to late evening (10:00–23:00 on the Visit Seoul listing). Check Naver Map. |
| Price | Two female crabs from about ₩75,000–92,000 depending on size |
| Map | Open in Naver Map |
Gebang Sikdang (게방식당), Gangnam & Seongsu
A modern take on gejang, started by a fashion marketer and his parents, who ran a soy crab restaurant for years. The original Gangnam shop is in the MICHELIN Guide. If eating crab from the shell sounds like too much work, order the bowls of crab meat and roe on hot rice. The Seongsu branch is handy if you are exploring Seongsu-dong.
| Gangnam (original) | 17 Seolleung-ro 131-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (서울 강남구 선릉로131길 17). Mon–Sat 11:30–21:00, break 15:00–17:30. Closed Sundays. |
| Seongsu branch | B1F, 126 Achasan-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, near Seongsu Station (Line 2), Exit 3 or 4. Tue–Sun 11:30–21:00, break 15:00–17:30. Closed Mondays. |
| Price | Soy crab roe bibimbap ₩26,000 (Seongsu) |
| Booking | CatchTable (recommended, walk-ins are often turned away) |
| Map | Open in Naver Map |
Ganjang Gejang Price Guide
| Restaurant | What to order | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Jinmi Sikdang | Gejang set (one crab per person) | About ₩45,000 |
| Keunkiwajip | Ganjang gejang | ₩59,000 |
| Gebang Sikdang (Seongsu) | Soy crab roe bibimbap | ₩26,000 |
| Pro Ganjang Gejang | Two female crabs | About ₩75,000–92,000 |
How to Eat Ganjang Gejang
- Start with the body. Pick up a piece and squeeze or suck the soft meat out of the shell. Using your hands is normal, and most places give you plastic gloves.
- Eat the legs. Press the meat out from the joints, or use the back of a spoon.
- Save the shell for last. Put a scoop of rice into the top shell and mix it with the roe and crab butter inside. This is the best bite of the meal.
- Wrap it in seaweed. Many places serve dried seaweed (gim). Wrap rice and crab together for a perfect mouthful.
Is Raw Soy Crab Safe?
Ganjang gejang is a raw seafood dish. Established restaurants use fresh or flash-frozen crab and serve it cold, and millions of people eat it safely every year. Still, pregnant travelers, people with weak immune systems and anyone with a shellfish allergy should skip it or ask staff for a cooked dish such as crab stew (kkotgetang) instead. Eat it at reputable restaurants, not from unrefrigerated stalls.
FAQ
How much is ganjang gejang in Seoul?
Expect about ₩45,000–60,000 per person for a full soy crab set, or from ₩26,000 for a crab roe bibimbap. Premium places charge more for large female crabs.
What is the difference between ganjang gejang and yangnyeom gejang?
Ganjang gejang is marinated in soy sauce and is not spicy. Yangnyeom gejang is coated in a sweet and spicy chili sauce.
Do I need a reservation for ganjang gejang restaurants?
It helps. Jinmi Sikdang recommends booking because crab can sell out, and Gebang Sikdang is easiest through CatchTable.
When is the best season for ganjang gejang?
Spring, when female blue crabs are full of roe. Many restaurants freeze spring crabs so the quality stays high all year.
Prices and hours were checked in November 2026 and can change. Check Naver Map before you go.
More to eat: see the best Korean restaurants in Seoul, our Noryangjin Fish Market guide, or all Seoul restaurant guides.
