The restaurant was founded by Han Man-rye (한만례). It began as a small restaurant for people waiting for a ferry.[3][1] The restaurant owner served maeun-tang from Amur catfish (메기; maegi) caught in the nearby river.[1] In 1955, the restaurant was passed onto the second generation.[3] In 1987, South Korean president Chun Doo-hwan reportedly ate at the restaurant.[4] The restaurant offers several dishes that use pufferfish.[2]