Koreans like their seafood fresh. So much so that dinnertime can sometimes turn into a scary game of “if you dare,” with the most challenging offering being sannakji – an octopus so fresh, that it’s still wriggling around on the plate when it’s set down before you.
Eating Sannakji (Click for video.)
I’ve never been able to place a writhing tentacle anywhere close to my mouth, but hubby says it’s tasty, never mind the suction cups attaching themselves to your teeth, tongue and throat, on the way down.
But care is definitely required if you plan on eating this dangerous food. Sannakji (or more accurately, eating sannakji while drunk) is responsible for 6 choking deaths in South Korea every year!
Would you try sannakji? What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever eaten?
busandiegans
I’m slightly scared but I feel like we need to try this while we are living in Korea this year…. Nice post 🙂
Shelley @Travel-Stained
Haha, well you’ll be braver than me! We’ve been living in Seoul for 6 years, and I STILL haven’t tried it, but my hubby eats it up like no tomorrow. Welcome to Korea though – are you here teaching?
Jen
I am afraid of fish (and most sea life), but I did it. I BELIEVE IN YOU. hahahaha.
Shelley @Travel-Stained
Haha, I’m impressed. I’m NOT afraid of fish, and yet a sannakji will never cross my lips. Ewwwww
Suvi
Yikes! Sounds too exotic for me. Those metallic chopsticks are so slippery!
Shelley @Travel-Stained
This might be the one meal where the slipperiness of the metallic chopsticks isn’t an issue. Those suckers are hard to detach! 🙂
lexklein
He lifts it eagerly, but I have to say the chewing looks a bit … uncertain! What is certain is that I would never try it! I ate some crispy bugs in China, but I’m not the most intrepid eater!
Shelley @Travel-Stained
I can’t even do the crispy bugs! I’m decidedly North American in my eating habits. I think hubby has an easier time, cuz he grew up in Albania, Greece and Italy. Bugs, larvae, live octopus, slimy things, frogs, intestines, you name it, he’s all over it. GROSS is all I have to say.
lexklein
I’m with you!
mikeyb @ screenkicker
I can’t even eat octopus that’s dead and thoroughly cooked. I’ll have nightmares now!
Shelley @Travel-Stained
Haha, I know a few people that have octopus phobias. Surely, you’ve seen Old Boy? Now, that’s a nightmare-inducing sannakji scene. 😮
mikeyb @ screenkicker
It’s one of my favourite films! Choi Min-sik had do the octopus eating three times. He’s a Buddhist so he had to say a long prayer for the octopuses each time he ate one!
Shelley @Travel-Stained
When I saw that movie, I had no idea about the whole sannakji thing here in Korea…what a great and horrifying scene. Lol…lucky he only had to do it 3 times!! 🙂
mikeyb @ screenkicker
If I ever go to Korea I’ll make sure to avoid that!
delicieuxpate
Thanks for bringing back memories. Tried once in Jejudo, interesting experience and quite tasty. The trick we were told is to chew quickly. If one swallows with it still moving/ alive, it’s quite dangerous and may cause suffocation perhaps?
Shelley @Travel-Stained
Ohh you are braver than me. It must’ve been incredibly fresh in Jejudo. 🙂 Yes, I think the risk is of suffocation with the suction cups sticking to the wrong place if you don’t chew it enough before swallowing.
AYR
I’ve eaten octopus but it was fully cooked. Not sure I could handle it fighting back.
Shelley @Travel-Stained
Lol…yes, I definitely can’t. Don’t need a war going on in my mouth, that’s for sure. :p