Sokcho restaurant after checkout, octopus and cutlet: Deungdae Gotgan

Where is Deungdae Gotgan in Sokcho?

Deungdae Gotgan (등대곳간) is a braised octopus and pork cutlet restaurant at 109 Yeongnanghaean-gil, right in front of Deungdae Beach in Yeongnang-dong, Sokcho. It was the morning of day two of our Sokcho trip. Our pension served breakfast, so we ate early, did the spa, relaxed a bit, and came straight here after checkout~

The restaurant is at 109 Yeongnanghaean-gil. It's right in front of Deungdae Beach, so it's perfect for a meal after strolling the beach^^ The building runs on two floors, and the first floor greets you with white walls and wood tables, all very clean-looking.

Let's see each other often, so we grow close

Once inside, we were guided up to the second floor. And seeing the baby chairs, I guess lots of families with little ones come here^^

Deungdae Gotgan menu and how to order

The menu has just four items: jjageul nakji (braised octopus), pork cutlet, jeyuk bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork) and nakji haejangguk (octopus hangover soup). It's one menu item per person. Four wooden menu boards hang side by side on the wall, which was a nice touch haha. The lineup is small, but that's exactly what gave it a home-cooking-spot feel :) Just remember, it's one menu item per person!

Once you sit down, you order right away on a tablet. No need to call a staff member, which was convenient :) We didn't agonize over the menu at all and went with the braised octopus and the cutlet. With such a short menu, choosing quickly is a plus^^ One each is just right.

Can you see the sea from Deungdae Gotgan's 2nd floor?

Head up to the second floor and Deungdae Beach spreads out right before your eyes from the window seats^^ The weather was clear, and the blue sky and emerald sea through the window were so pretty. We hadn't been looking for a view spot in Sokcho, so I had no idea we'd get a view this good here haha. We went for a meal, but I might have gotten even more absorbed in watching the sea :)

What side dishes come at Deungdae Gotgan?

After you order and wait a bit, the side dishes come out first. Seasoned bean sprouts, seasoned greens, young radish kimchi, sausage stir-fry and bean sprout soup were all clean-tasting and not harsh. Not salty, not spicy, just that warm, familiar taste of side dishes your grandmother would make.

The octopus jeotgal (salted octopus) is a fitting touch for a Sokcho restaurant :) The side dishes alone could easily take down a bowl of rice haha. This neat spread made the comforting home-cooked feeling even stronger.

How do you eat jjageul nakji at Deungdae Gotgan?

The signature jjageul nakji (braised octopus) is cooked at your table: a pan goes on the tabletop gas burner and you boil it yourself. It arrives loaded with octopus, vegetables, mushrooms and glass noodles, all topped with red sauce, and it made me hungry just looking at it^^

As the heat rises it slowly starts bubbling, and we were told to mix and stir-fry it once the vegetables release water. As the octopus cooks, the sauce soaks in and the broth reduces to a thick, spoonable state, which is just right for eating. You have to have seafood on a Sokcho trip, so it was nice to enjoy it as a tasty octopus dish like this.

How big is the pork cutlet at Deungdae Gotgan?

The cutlet here is quite big. The crispy fried pork cutlet comes with rice, salad and corn, so it's a hearty set^^ The portion was generous too, plenty for a solid meal.

Jjageul nakji mixed into rice and wrapped in seaweed

Once the octopus is done cooking, they put rice in a bowl for you, and mixing the octopus into it is really delicious^^ Wrapping it in the seaweed (gim) from the side dishes turned out to be a treat too! The octopus wasn't tough but tender, and the sauce was spicy yet clean, which gave that perfect home-cooked feel. It isn't overly intense, so it's easy on the stomach in the middle of a Sokcho trip.

Is Deungdae Gotgan a good restaurant near Deungdae Beach?

I'd recommend Deungdae Gotgan to anyone looking for a place to eat near Deungdae Beach in Sokcho^^ It's a spot where you can enjoy a comforting, home-style meal right by the sea. The menu is short, but that makes it feel more trustworthy, the side dishes are neat, and the food is filling :) Add the sea view from the second floor, and it has view, taste and value all covered. If you're planning a Sokcho day trip or a two-day, one-night trip, definitely give it a try^^