Sokcho market croquette shop that reheats crisp: Samsam Goroke

While looking for something simple to snack on in Sokcho besides dakgangjeong (Korean fried chicken), I ended up at Samsam Goroke, a well-known spot in Sokcho's Jungang Market (중앙시장, Central Market).

Sokcho has so many famous foods, but croquettes felt perfect for picking up one at a time and snacking on in between other stops on the trip.

Croquettes might work as a meal substitute in a pinch, but let's be honest — this is basically a Korean dessert. If it's not rice, it's a snack, you know how it is.

Samsam Goroke's six croquettes and their prices

When I visited Samsam Goroke in early August, they had six menu items. That's probably why they offer a 6-piece set so you can try everything, plus a 3-piece set for those who find six a bit much. Of course, you can also order single pieces.

They also sell locally brewed Sokcho alcohol. Maybe because there's no seating area for drinking, it's priced the same as a regular mart — no markup. If you're just stopping by before heading out of town, it seemed like a handy way to grab a bottle without a separate trip to the mart or a convenience store.

• Gochu Japchae Croquette — ₩3,500
• Pollack Roe Cream Croquette — ₩3,500
• Potato Croquette — ₩3,300
• Fire Jjamppong Croquette — ₩3,500
• Red Crab Croquette — ₩3,700
• Abai Croquette — ₩3,700

Worth knowing: red crab croquettes are limited to 2 per 6-piece set and 1 per 3-piece set.

Ordering the 6-piece set: a 3-minute wait

I ordered the 6-piece set at Samsam Goroke. Some pieces were freshly made, but since they taste best fried hot and fresh, it didn't seem like they kept a huge batch pre-fried. A few items take a bit longer to fry, so I waited about 3 minutes and got everything quickly.

Chinese-style pepper japchae croquette

I couldn't resist and took the first bite of the piping-hot, freshly fried gochu japchae (spicy stir-fried glass noodle) croquette. It's basically like the familiar vegetable hotteok filling — a comforting, classic taste. If you like classic croquettes, this one's hard to dislike.

Sokcho abai croquette

Next was the abai croquette, apparently a new menu item. Like the gochu japchae one, it also has japchae inside, but with squid added, it seems. The base is similar but with slightly swapped main ingredients — and that familiar flavor was still delicious.

Do the croquettes hold up microwaved the next day?

I ate the pollack roe cream croquette and the rest the next morning before leaving my accommodation. Since there was no air fryer available, I microwaved them — and they still tasted great, with no greasy or soggy feeling. Look at how packed the filling is. The combination of smoothly mashed potato filling and subtle pollack roe was lovely.

Sokcho red crab croquette

The red crab croquette, limited to 200 sold per day, was naturally the one I was most excited for. Despite being crab, there was no fishy or overpowering flavor — it blended harmoniously with the other vegetable fillings. Since it seems to be their signature item, it's worth trying one if you're getting a set. Even eaten a day later, the crispy fried exterior held up, and the filling was so packed that there wasn't a single bite of plain bread. The crab's subtle flavor came through without being overwhelming. I can only imagine how good it'd be fresh off the fryer. The savoriness of the vegetable filling paired so well with the crab's gentle umami that it would make a great starter to bite into while shopping around the market.

Sokcho potato croquette

The potato croquette. With a potato gratin base, it had a nice creamy flavor. Being potato-based, it felt filling too — this would pair really well with a bite of Americano while wandering around Jungang Market.

Which three to pick for the 3-piece set

Next up was the jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) croquette, which I had no expectations for. I took a bite without even checking the name tag first, and was genuinely startled — turns out it's their best-selling item. Living up to that reputation, it delivered an addictive, fiery kick.

For anyone who finds the 6-piece set too much, here's my ranking for the 3-piece set:

• 1st place — Jjamppong Croquette
• 2nd place — Potato Croquette
• 3rd place — Red Crab Croquette

Of course, picking by personal taste is always best — this was just my opinion. Enjoy your food shopping at Sokcho's Jungang Market! :)