Sundubu restaurant in Sokcho for solo diners, 8 sides: Kongbatteul

Sundubu (soft tofu stew) is one of those dishes you have to eat when you travel to Sokcho. So I visited Kongbatteul, which came recommended as a great sundubu spot.

Where Kongbatteul Sokcho Branch is and when it opens

Kongbatteul is located in Sokcho's sundubu village. There's a bus stop right in front of the restaurant, so it's a great spot even for travelers getting around on foot.

• Address: 134 Wonamhaksapyeong-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
• Hours: 08:00 – 18:00
• Last order: 17:30
• Closed: Every Wednesday

Kongbatteul has a private parking lot, so parking was easy.

This place has already been on TV, so my expectations went up even more.

Inside Kongbatteul: eating alone or coming with kids

The Kongbatteul dining room was spacious enough to seat a large number of people, and with the floor-to-ceiling windows you could eat while looking out at a lush green view. There's also a private room, so if you'd like a more private meal, that might be a good option. I avoided the busiest meal times and was able to sit comfortably.

They also had a baby chair, a microwave for warming up baby food, and separate utensils and bowls for kids. Looked really convenient for guests coming with children.

What's on the Kongbatteul menu, including takeout

Kongbatteul serves jjamppong sundubu, spicy jjamppong, seafood sundubu, spicy seafood, cho-tofu, cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew), soybean pulp stew, rice cake and dumpling soup, tofu kimchi stew, tofu duck-galbi style, grilled tofu, tofu kimchi, tofu sweet-and-sour, half-and-half dumplings, meat dumplings, and kimchi dumplings.

There are also takeout menu items you can enjoy back home or at your lodging.

If you take part in the Naver receipt review event, you can get 350ml of soy milk or a drink for free, so be sure to leave a review and claim it.

The seafood sundubu table: 8 side dishes and free rice refills

What I ordered was the seafood sundubu. Kongbatteul also has a spicy version, so if you like it hot, go for that. A total of 8 side dishes came out along with a bowl of rice. In the photo, the rice might look small, but Kongbatteul gives free refills haha. So don't worry — if it's not enough, just ask for more.

Tofu kimchi, sweet-and-sour tofu and tofu tteokgalbi as side dishes

Fitting for a hanjeongsik (Korean set meal) restaurant, the side dishes were neat and clean, mostly. What caught my eye the most were the tofu side dishes: tofu kimchi, tofu sweet-and-sour, and tofu galbi-style. Those three are on the menu as dishes you can order separately, and I wanted to, but since I was dining alone I figured I couldn't finish them all, so I skipped ordering. But I was happy they showed up as side dishes anyway.

Kongbatteul, where you can taste all kinds of tofu dishes!!

I tried them one by one and they were genuinely delicious. It made me think I should pack some takeout on my way home after finishing my Sokcho trip.

How does Kongbatteul's seafood sundubu taste?

Soft, fluffy sundubu packed with seafood — clams, shrimp, oysters, and more. Even with the red broth, it wasn't overwhelmingly spicy; just the right amount of kick, savory and delicious.

Mixing the sundubu into the rice was seriously addictive too. I thought one bowl of rice wouldn't be enough — because it wasn't just the sundubu that was good, the basic side dishes were tasty too, so I kept eating them alongside the rice.

The tofu galbi-style dish was something even people who don't like tofu could really enjoy. My niece can't eat tofu, but I thought I'd get some tofu galbi to take home for her as a Sokcho trip souvenir.

Final verdict on Kongbatteul Sokcho Branch

Kongbatteul was great for solo dining, and the staff were kind, which made for a pleasant meal. Every dish was clean and delicious. Since it's mostly tofu dishes, my stomach felt comfortable even after eating a lot. I'll be stopping by to pick up takeout before I leave Sokcho. Recommended.