Sokcho snack stall with five-color grain gangjeong: Ibuja Mayak Gotgan

You've got to browse the market when you're in Sokcho~ This time, while hopping between Sokcho Central Market restaurants, I picked up some gangjeong (crispy grain snack) for a snack! A gangjeong stall caught my eye among the Sokcho Central Market food spots, so I stopped by Ibuja Mayak Gotgan (이부자마약곳간) 🍘 Putting this together for anyone wondering what to grab for Sokcho desserts or snacks~

Where is Ibuja Mayak Gotgan? Stall 137, first floor of Sokcho Tourist Fisheries Market

Ibuja Mayak Gotgan is a grain gangjeong shop tucked inside the first floor of Sokcho Tourist Fisheries Market in Jungang-dong~ The stall has brown rice, buckwheat, white rice, black rice, and yellow rice gangjeong laid out by type. Up front there are sample pieces and toothpicks so you can taste before you pick 👀

The sign has the whole making process written on it. They steam the five grains, dry them with hot air, age them for 6 months to remove moisture, then turn them into gangjeong. Quite a lot of care goes into it~ There's a big sign that says it's made and sold the same day.

Grain gangjeong prices at Ibuja Mayak Gotgan and the receipt-review freebie

There are two gangjeong set menus at Ibuja Mayak Gotgan 👇

• Grain gangjeong 8-piece set: ₩10,000
• Grain gangjeong 12-piece set: ₩15,000

Inside the bag, brown rice, buckwheat, white rice, black rice, and yellow rice are stacked in neatly. Each bag has all five kinds, so there's fun in picking which one to eat next~ The origin info is on there too — brown rice, black rice, and white rice are domestic, while buckwheat is from China. There's also a sign saying if you write a Naver receipt review, they'll give you a tasting piece of rice gangjeong!

What do the five grain gangjeong taste like, and how big is one piece?

I packed two bags to take home. Each piece is about the size of your palm, so it's pretty big 🖐️ The black rice gangjeong looked the prettiest, with little purple grains dotted all through it. White rice and yellow rice are more like puffed rice cakes, with grains popped up all bubbly. Each grain has a different color so there's fun in pulling out one at a time haha

Just like the sign describes, it's a style where the grains cluster together crisply. There are sample pieces, so try a few and pick your favorite 🙂

How to eat grain gangjeong once it turns soggy

There are tips written on the bag and the sign, so let me sum them up! If it gets hard or soggy after a few days, microwave it for 20 seconds and let it cool slightly before eating. If you lightly pan-fry it on low heat, it gets a nurungji (scorched rice) aroma 🔥 Handy to know if you're taking these home as a Sokcho souvenir!

It's great for mindless snacking~ Perfect for when your mouth's bored! Crisp and chewy~

Who this Sokcho market snack suits best

• People who like grain snacks~
• Anyone looking for a Sokcho souvenir for parents or elders!
• Anyone who wants a light snack to carry around while browsing the market!

If any of that sounds like you, stop by! While checking out the Sokcho Central Market food spots, taste a few and pick the grain that suits your palate 🙂 Hope this helped anyone curious about grain gangjeong as a Sokcho dessert!

Ibuja Mayak Gotgan visit information at a glance

• Location: 1F, Stall 137, Sokcho Tourist Fisheries Market (Sokcho Jungang-dong)
• Hours: 08:30 - 19:30
• Menu: Grain gangjeong 8-piece set ₩10,000 / 12-piece set ₩15,000
• Grains: Brown rice, buckwheat, white rice, black rice, yellow rice
• Tasting: Sample pieces available at the stall
• Perk: Free tasting rice gangjeong with a Naver receipt review
• Storage tip: If soggy, microwave 20 seconds or pan-fry on low heat