Perilla oil makguksu with dashi broth near Gangmun Beach, Gangneung

Gossi's Donghae Makguksu, right across from Gangmun Beach

When you're hunting for a good makguksu (buckwheat noodle) spot near Gangmun Beach in Gangneung, it's a letdown if it's too far from the water. This place is literally right across from the beach, so you can eat and look at the ocean afterward — and if you sit on the second floor, you get the whole view at once.

I went for the makguksu, but the view out the window made it feel like a real trip.

Gossi's Donghae Makguksu runs out of the entire building, so it's bigger than I expected.

Where's the easier place to park?

There are public parking lots in front of the beach — Lot 1 and Lot 2 — and personally I found Lot 2 a bit easier to park in.

If you're the type who looks for local recommendations for Gangneung restaurants, taste matters, but so does parking and getting around. On that front, this place was a great fit for a Gangmun Beach itinerary. Why does an easy-to-park restaurant end up more memorable on a Gangneung trip? When arrival is easy, your mood before the meal is completely different.

House-made noodles made all the difference

Since Gossi's Donghae Makguksu makes its own noodles, they cut them fresh right when you order, apparently. And you can tell — it's clearly different from typical makguksu noodles.

The noodles were a bit thicker and plumper, with a chewiness that held up as you bit into them. I personally prefer noodles with this kind of texture over thin ones that snap easily. The sauce matters in makguksu, but the noodles need to be good too, or you stop reaching for more. Here, the noodles themselves had presence, so whether it was the bibim noodles or the perilla oil noodles, the flavor really came through.

Perilla oil noodles

The standout dish for me that day was the perilla oil noodles. Honestly, the nuttiest perilla oil noodles I've ever had. At first the perilla oil aroma hits strong, and the more you mix the noodles, the longer that nutty flavor lingers in your mouth.

There's a separate broth served alongside — a bonito (gatsuobushi) broth — and pouring it in completely changes the flavor profile. It goes from simple nutty perilla oil noodles to something that suddenly feels a bit like a Japanese noodle dish. The combination worked surprisingly well, and I kept going back for more. If you like perilla oil noodles, you really should try this one.

Bibim noodles

The bibim (mixed, spicy) noodles weren't very spicy — even I, who can't handle spice well, enjoyed them. But it wasn't bland either — there's good umami. The sauce wasn't overly harsh, so the noodles' chewy texture came through even more. I also tried adding a little bonito broth to this one, and it changed the feel completely.

It's a Korean-style bibim noodle dish, but the moment you add the broth, it takes on a fresh, almost Japanese-style flavor, which was fun. If you're looking for something a bit different from the usual makguksu among Gangmun Beach restaurants in Gangneung, I'd recommend the bibim noodles too.

Definitely order the pork belly too

The boiled pork belly (suyuk) paired really well with the makguksu.

What I especially liked was that it's served on a brazier so you can eat it warm from start to finish. Eating the steaming pork while it stays hot made the meat taste so much more tender. A bite of cold makguksu followed by a warm bite of pork belly is a perfect combination. If you're visiting with a group, I'd definitely recommend ordering the pork belly along with your noodles.

Makguksu alone can feel like a light meal, but adding the pork belly bumped up the overall satisfaction a lot.

Get the extra-large portion

If you eat a lot, it's worth considering the extra-large portion option. For an extra ₩2,000, you get more noodles for a heartier meal. I've had times on trips where makguksu portions felt a bit small, so I liked having this option here. If you eat a lot, or want to fill up on makguksu alone, I'd recommend adding the extra-large size.

Final verdict

Gossi's Donghae Makguksu was a solid Gangmun Beach restaurant worth saving as a local recommendation for Gangneung dining.

It's right in front of Gangmun Beach so getting around is easy, the second floor gives you a full ocean view, and the house-made noodles definitely had a different texture. If you're looking for a spot near Gangmun Beach with easy parking, ocean views, and good makguksu, I'd recommend Gossi's Donghae Makguksu. Next time, I think I'll order the perilla oil noodles with pork belly combo again.