Sokcho makguksu restaurant for brunch: non-spicy bibim noodles, Topgol

Where is Sokcho Topgol Makguksu and when is it open?

Sokcho Topgol Makguksu (속초탑골막국수) is a popular makguksu (Korean buckwheat noodle) spot at 12 Haeoreum-ro 188beon-gil, 1st floor, Sokcho, Gangwon, South Korea. It's open 9:30–21:00 on weekdays (last order 20:30) and 9:30–22:00 on weekends (last order 21:30), and it supports parking at the nearby public lot.

Why I went for makguksu on my Sokcho trip

When you think of Gangwon, makguksu is a must, right~? It feels like something you have to eat at least once on a Gangwon trip! So on this Sokcho trip I went to Sokcho Topgol Makguksu. I heard it's the only place in Sokcho that sells perilla oil makguksu!? So I was even more curious before eating.

There were celebrity autographs on the wall too~ Hibab, Yoon Park and more!

What did I order for brunch?

I ordered deulmemak, buckwheat makguksu and a potato pancake! I agonized over what to eat again. I was curious about the suyuk (boiled pork), buckwheat crepe rolls and dumplings, but it was my first meal of the day and suyuk seemed a bit heavy, so since it's Gangwon I picked the potato pancake, makguksu's best partner~

There are two basic side dishes: young radish kimchi and seasoned shredded radish. The perilla makguksu, buckwheat makguksu and potato pancake I ordered also came out quickly~ Looks delicious, right? ><

I like makguksu anyway, so I wanted to try both kinds, ordered one of each, and added the potato pancake as a side. They also gave us dongchimi broth!

How do you eat the potato pancake at Topgol?

The potato pancake comes with a cutting knife, so you can slice it like a pizza. I started with the chewy pancake as an appetizer~ The knife was great, haha. Cutting with scissors or tearing it apart is such a hassle~

The nutty, mild potato pancake is good just dipped in soy sauce, but it's even better with the makguksu. A bite of noodles, then a bite of pancake, and the combination works~

How does deulmemak (perilla oil buckwheat makguksu) taste?

Instead of a strong sauce, the deulmemak at Topgol is all about the mild, nutty perilla oil flavor, so I recommend it if you like clean, plain flavors. I tried the one I was most curious about first, the perilla oil buckwheat makguksu~ The perilla oil aroma was incredible from the moment it arrived, and from the first bite that nutty perilla flavor hit me~

And the sauce is one thing, but the noodles are great!! They're springy and chewy, and sometimes makguksu doesn't sit well in my stomach;; but these noodles are so soft, and the nuttiness of the perilla oil and the texture of the buckwheat noodles go together really well. You have to try this ><

Is the bibim buckwheat makguksu spicy?

The buckwheat makguksu at Topgol is bibim style, mixed with sauce, but it isn't spicy at all, so even people who can't handle spicy food can eat it comfortably. Next up, the buckwheat makguksu! The original is the bibim one, right~? I worried it might be spicy when ordering, but the sauce wasn't spicy at all, just right. And it didn't taste like MSG either, which I liked!

The sauce coats the noodles well and has a savory depth. It's a different charm from the mild perilla makguksu, so ordering one of each and swapping bites seems great for sharing. I thought this one was super tasty too?!!

What the counter sells, and the deulmemak trademark certificate

The counter at Topgol also sells buckwheat cookies and buckwheat noodles. And there's a trademark registration certificate for deulmemak too..!! (so cool)

How does parking work?

There's a public parking lot right in front of Topgol, and if you park there, they give you generous parking time.

Sokcho Topgol Makguksu: overall verdict

At Sokcho Topgol Makguksu I enjoyed everything, from the nutty perilla makguksu to the non-spicy sauced makguksu and the potato pancake side~ The springy, chewy noodles are the highlight..!! It wasn't stimulating or MSG-tasting at all, just natural flavor, which made it even better. If you want a Gangwon-style treat on your Sokcho trip or you're looking for a deulmemak place, I recommend Topgol!