Donghae chicken stew restaurant open till 11pm: Mukho Sotbokkeumtang

What kind of restaurant is Mukho Sotbokkeumtang in Donghae?

Mukho Sotbokkeumtang is a pot-style dakbokkeumtang restaurant near Kkamakbawi in Mukho, Donghae, Gangwon, right in front of the sea. Went to Mukho after a long time and found a place I ate so well at — this newly opened Mukho Sotbokkeumtang :) It hasn't been open long but it's already popular!

But once you eat it, you'll understand why! It's just so delicious haha 💕 It's near Kkamakbawi right by the sea so it's easy to get to, and perfect for when you're traveling. A place even a local loved eating at :) Here's my real review~❤️

Tidy interior, sea views and service until 11pm

We came late in the evening on this day and there were still a lot of customers. First off, it's great that they're open until 11pm!

I took this photo after most of the customers had left! When you're traveling, sometimes you can't get dinner at the usual time, but since Mukho Sotbokkeumtang stays open late, you can eat comfortably and deliciously.

Extra side dishes are self-serve!

Leave a Naver photo review and they give you a fish cake skewer. (Definitely do this haha) We got one too, and it was so good 💕

How to get the most out of Mukho Sotbokkeumtang

• Wait just 10 minutes after lighting the burner
• Eat the rice cakes first
• After 15 minutes, when the chicken is at its most tender, dip it in the secret chive sauce
• Once the chicken is cooked through enough, add ramen or kalguksu noodles
• Finish with stir-fried rice — a must ❤️

They lay out how to eat it deliciously so clearly, so you have to finish with the stir-fried rice haha

Mukho Sotbokkeumtang menu, spice levels and bone-in or boneless

Besides the whole-chicken dakbokkeumtang, Mukho Sotbokkeumtang's menu also includes hanwoo gopdoritang, beef brisket gopdoritang, meal options like dakgomtang and dak kalguksu, chogye naengmyeon, and side dishes like spicy chicken feet soup, squid kimchi pancake, and king mandu — so many varied options beyond the main dish 🩷

And the dakbokkeumtang spice level is adjustable. You can also choose bone-in or boneless, so it's easy to order to your taste! We went with bone-in and spice level 1.

Seeing it in person, it's enormous. Personally I thought, how do you even wash this? Guess I really am an auntie now haha. The pot is huge. When they cook dakbokkeumtang in a pot this big, of course it can't be anything but delicious~

Dakbokkeumtang for two: side dishes and the signature chive sauce

Finally, our order arrived. The basic side dishes were kimchi, seasoned bean sprouts, and white kimchi, plus a secret chive sauce for dipping the delicious chicken!

Every single one was neat and delicious! We cleaned our plates and ate so well!

Is spice level 1 mild enough for a 4th grader?

Even the small size came with a generous portion (by my standard). At spice level 1, my 4th-grade daughter found it just a bit spicy! For adults, it's not spicy at all haha. If you're coming with kids who really can't handle any spice at all, try rinsing it lightly with water! haha

Isn't the look of it crazy? The visuals are great, but on top of that, the taste is amazing too. The chicken has zero off-smell, it's really substantial, and since it's cooked in a pot it's even more tender with the seasoning well soaked in — I came in not hungry at all, and I still ate so well haha 😂

The rice cakes here are delicious too! They're not regular rice cakes but long rice cakes, which go so well with the chicken! haha Make sure to add the fish cake too! My 4th-grade daughter said it tastes even better with fish cake in it~~ haha

The owner kept checking in on whether it was cooked or not, and let us know when it was ready to eat.

Spice level 1 is barely spicy at all for an adult — it's just right! If you want it spicy, order level 2 haha. The chicken is so tender too, and the seasoning isn't overpowering or artificial-tasting at all! My husband, our kid, and I all took one bite and went, wow this is so good haha~~👍 A confirmed local favorite in Donghae! 🩷

Using the chive sauce and the self-serve side bar

Dipping the chicken in the secret seasoning sauce makes it even better. It went so well with the chives. You can help yourself to as much chives and onions as you want at the self-serve bar, so eat plenty~

Our daughter really enjoyed the well-cooked potatoes. The moment she took a bite she said, mom, these potatoes are amazing! haha, saying they were so good, and picked out just the potatoes to eat haha.

Finishing with fried rice, saving kalguksu for next time

If you're Korean, you have to finish with stir-fried rice! Eat it even if you're stuffed. You absolutely must have the stir-fried rice. If our stomachs had allowed it, we would've had the kalguksu noodles too... it was a shame we were too full to eat it. Next time we go, we'll definitely add the kalguksu.

Looking for a real hidden gem on your trip to Mukho, Donghae? I highly recommend Mukho Sotbokkeumtang. With ocean views and, above all, top-notch flavor, our family ate so well. I'd revisit 300%.

Mukho Sotbokkeumtang FAQ

Do you need a reservation?

Yes, if you have a large group, I recommend making a reservation! Group bookings are welcome too.

Does Mukho Sotbokkeumtang deliver?

Since they seat guests to eat here, I noticed they also do delivery! If your accommodation is nearby, delivery could be a good option.

What is it like visiting with kids?

In my opinion, it's great. If they can't handle spice, just order the mild version.