Sokcho market garlic dakgangjeong topped with nuts: Seomin Gapbu

There's one stop you simply can't skip when planning a Sokcho trip: Sokcho Tourism and Fishery Market (Central Market), where the food just keeps going. This time I'm sharing an honest review of the garlic dakgangjeong takeout there, loved for its zingy flavor and thick, sticky glaze. I walked the alleys myself, so I've put the shop info and taste notes together in one easy read!

Where is Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip in Sokcho Central Market?

Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip (서민갑부 시장닭집) is in Chicken Alley at the heart of Sokcho Central Market, on the 1st floor of Sokcho Tourism and Fishery Market, unit 4. Step into the alley and you'll see a lively scene: bright lights and crowds lined up.

If people are queuing for dakgangjeong, sundae (Korean blood sausage) and fried snacks, chances are that's Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip.

• Address: 16 Jungang-ro 147beon-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon (inside Sokcho Tourism and Fishery Market, 1st floor, unit 4)
• Hours: Mon–Thu 10:00–21:00 / Fri 10:00–20:00 / Sat–Sun 10:00–22:00
• Parking: Sokcho Central Market public parking lot (parking discount ticket and linked coupon with purchase)

This bustling alley spot is right in front of Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip, today's shop. Weekday or weekend, it's always packed with customers, so you can feel that classic market energy with your whole body.

What's on the Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip menu?

The menu goes well beyond dakgangjeong. There are classic market fried items sold individually, like giant fried shrimp and fried squid, plus potato pancake, tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and the shop's other signature, squid sundae, all easy to add on casually.

But today's mission is obviously the dakgangjeong! If you can't decide, check the menu boards posted around the shop. Besides the signature garlic dakgangjeong and deodeok dakgangjeong, there are hearty set menus combining sundae or fried items, arranged by price range.

Also, if you buy at Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip and similar shops, you get a discount coupon usable at nearby mulhoe (cold raw fish soup) and raw fish restaurants, so keep it in mind when planning your route around the market for a little saving.

How long does the dakgangjeong take to cook?

The dakgangjeong is cooked to order and takes about 15 minutes. Another plus: you can watch the whole process right in front of you.

Staff in neat aprons move busily, and even with orders pouring in, I was impressed by how skillfully and cleanly they cook.

While pancakes and sundae turn golden on the griddle, in the back kitchen crispy fried chicken gets tossed in the secret garlic sauce to make the dakgangjeong. Since it's made to order, the box feels hefty and warm when it lands in your hands.

While you're busy looking around, your order comes out carefully packed. Since cooking takes around 15 minutes, I'd suggest placing your order first and then browsing the food stalls around the shop.

Drinks to take out with your dakgangjeong

The shop has traditional pumpkin sikhye and Kkeutmat sikhye with ice slush floating in them, plus fresh, sweet Jeju cheonhyehyang juice and hallabong juice, all neatly packed in clear PET bottles. With hot, sweet dakgangjeong, I think grabbing a cold sikhye or juice to go cuts the richness right away, so they pair nicely.

How does Seomin Gapbu's garlic dakgangjeong taste?

The garlic dakgangjeong is boneless dakgangjeong piled with garlic chips and nut toppings. It isn't spicy: it's sweet with a gently zingy garlic finish. I carried the package back to the lodging, excited, and finally got to taste it. Today's main pick was the best-seller, garlic dakgangjeong, generous with zesty whole garlic.

The moment I opened the box, a sweet-salty sauce smell and a mild garlic aroma filled the room. It looked clearly different from ordinary dakgangjeong right away.

The boneless pieces are packed so tightly you can't see gaps in the box, and toasted garlic chips and nuts like sliced almonds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds are heaped on top as if poured on with care.

Does the garlic dakgangjeong stay crispy after takeout?

The garlic sauce coats the batter in a very thick layer. Even after some time passed, it didn't go soggy and kept the crispy texture dakgangjeong is known for. The flavor isn't artificially harsh spicy, but a crowd-pleasing savory sweetness with a mild garlicky bite at the end.

When I picked up a piece with chopsticks, it came up with sticky, rich sauce and plenty of nutty sesame and pumpkin seeds. Being boneless, it's easy to pop in your mouth in one bite, and the chicken itself is moist and tender with no gamey smell.

The whole garlic chips that make the flavor

The hidden hero that takes the garlic dakgangjeong to its highlight is the whole garlic. Tossed in the sauce, the garlic chips lose their sharp pungency and keep only nutty sweetness, which makes the flavor several times deeper alongside the chicken. The crunch of almonds here and there with the soft garlic texture meant I finished the last piece without getting tired of it.

Among Sokcho Central Market's many foods, if you want a no-fail sweet-and-zingy flavor, the garlic dakgangjeong at Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip is a great choice.

Take it back to your lodging and add a cold pumpkin sikhye or a beer, and that alone makes a perfect Sokcho night.