Gangneung sundubu restaurant, two rice bowls with kodari: Jeong Eunsuk

If you're visiting Gangneung, sundubu (soft tofu) from Chodang is one of those dishes you really have to try at least once. Chodang-dong, near Gyeongpo Lake, has gotten so many good restaurants lately. I was only here three months ago and it's already changed again.

This time I went with my family to the famous Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu in Chodang-dong, Gangneung. I'd had pretty high expectations going in, and honestly — I'm glad I did, because it was a great meal. What stuck with me most wasn't just the food but how kind the staff were.

Where Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu is and when it opens

Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu is at 200 Nanseolheon-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea. It's open Monday 08:00–16:00 and Wed–Sun 08:00–18:30. Last order is 15:00 on Monday and 17:30 Wed–Sun, closed every Tuesday, and parking is available.

Booked on Naver Map, still a 5-minute wait

I made a reservation on Naver Map before heading over, and that turned out to be the smartest move. Even with a booking, we still waited about 5 minutes before being seated.

But looking at the people waiting outside the restaurant...

If we hadn't booked, we might not have eaten today.

...that's honestly how busy it was. This place is consistently described as packed, and its signature dishes are listed as the Chodang deluxe table set and the Chodang sundubu hot pot.

There were so many customers I couldn't even take photos inside. Certified hit restaurant 👍👍👍

What comes with the Chodang deluxe table set for 3

We ordered the Chodang deluxe table set for 3. It's a combo of sundubu hot pot, tofu-and-boiled-pork platter, and seasoned grilled kodari, all together — great for a family meal where everyone wants a bit of everything. If just eating sundubu on its own feels like not enough, this combo is a pretty solid answer.

After trying it, I thought,

Ah, so this is why everyone orders this.

That kind of thought.

Soft tofu hot pot with blue crab

The sundubu hot pot finally arrived. It looked delicious right away, and looking closer, there was crab in it. Crab in sundubu hot pot! The broth had that seafood umami richness, and it was loaded with soft, cloudy sundubu — the kind of dish where your spoon just keeps going back in.

And this sundubu... I genuinely don't know how to describe it, but it just melts in your mouth.

It's soft the moment you pick it up with chopsticks, and once it hits your mouth, it practically dissolves.

That clean, nutty flavor that's distinct to sundubu was still there too, and eating it with the broth was really good. The sundubu I had that day was impressive enough to make me think, 'so this is what real Chodang sundubu tastes like.'

Seasoned grilled kodari, the dish that ate two bowls of rice

And here's the dish I personally loved. Seasoned grilled kodari (dried pollock). Just from the photo you can see the sauce is coating it perfectly, right? One bite in, and it instantly reminded me of hwangtae-gui (grilled dried pollock) — I really love that dish.

The seasoning was just the right amount, so eating it with rice kept my chopsticks moving nonstop. If the sundubu hot pot is soft and mild, the seasoned grilled kodari is the one that hits you with bold sauce and pulls your appetite up a notch. So more rice goes in.

And then more rice goes in. In the end... I cleared two full bowls of rice. 😂

Tofu-and-boiled-pork platter with no gamy smell

Can't skip the tofu-samhap (tofu-and-boiled-pork platter) either. The tender boiled pork paired with tofu was clean but filling. The boiled pork especially had almost no gamy smell and felt really well cooked, super tender.

It was great with the tofu, and it also paired well with the side dishes that came with it. Personally, if boiled pork in a Korean dish like this has even a hint of gamy smell, it's disappointing — but this time there was none of that, and it was delicious.

The staff member who held the tissue bin steady

There was one more thing I loved as much as the food that day: the staff's kindness. One really small gesture stuck with me. I was reaching to pull out a tissue while eating, and a staff member came over and held the tissue box steady for me.

It might seem like nothing, but that kind of small consideration really makes a diner feel good. The food was great, and with staff this kind too, the whole meal with my family was just a pleasant one.

Book ahead for Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu

This visit to Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu felt less like a place where you just eat sundubu and leave, and more like somewhere you get to properly enjoy a full Gangneung tofu spread — from the sundubu hot pot to kodari, boiled pork, and tofu. If you like eating a variety of dishes together like I do, the Chodang deluxe table set combo should be pretty satisfying.

And the really important part! Book ahead.

Even on the day I visited, there were quite a lot of people waiting. Thanks to my reservation I only waited about 5 minutes, but if I'd walked in without one, I think I would've waited quite a while.

If you're visiting Chodang-dong on a Gangneung trip and looking for a good Chodang sundubu restaurant in Gangneung, this felt like a place worth stopping by at least once. It was especially good for a hearty meal with family. My family really enjoyed the meal and left satisfied.

The sundubu is soft, the kodari is a rice-thief, the boiled pork is tender, and the staff are kind! I guess there's a reason so many people wait here. 😊 This was one of the more memorable meals from this Gangneung trip.

Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu at a glance

• Booked via Naver Map before visiting
• Still waited about 5 minutes despite the reservation
• Quite a lot of waiting customers at the time of visit
• Ordered the Chodang deluxe table set for 3
• Combo of sundubu hot pot + tofu-pork platter + seasoned grilled kodari
• Sundubu was really soft and nutty
• Crab in the hot pot made the broth taste great too
• The seasoned grilled kodari will please anyone who likes hwangtae-gui
• Boiled pork was tender and clean, no gamy smell
• Staff's attentive kindness stood out
• Satisfying family meal overall
• Cleared two bowls of rice 😂

If you're looking for a good Chodang sundubu restaurant in Gangneung or a soft tofu spot in Gangneung, this one's worth a look. Ate well again today.