Sokcho market snack shop, squid sundae on a camping griddle: Hwangbuja

I'm LineUpBruce. On the way to go camping at Seoraksan, I picked up squid sundae (stuffed squid sausage) — you can't do a Sokcho trip without it. I wanted the fried food and shrimp gangjeong (candied shrimp) too, so here's my review of this Sokcho Jungang Market spot.

Hwangbuja Twigim location and opening hours

• 16 Jungang-ro 147beon-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do, Sokcho Tourist and Fisheries Market Gate 26, 27, South Korea
• 08:00–20:30, closed Wednesdays
• Parking coupons issued for the Sokcho Tourist and Fisheries Market public lot

The Sokcho Tourist and Fisheries Market, where all the Sokcho Jungang Market food stalls cluster, is always packed. Walking through the alleys, there's so much you want to eat that it's basically a Sokcho tourist landmark everyone stops by. For parking, the Sokcho Tourist and Fisheries Market public lot is cheap and close to the market.

How to find Hwangbuja Twigim in Chicken Alley

Chicken Alley in the market is especially crowded, so you end up filing in line like a train. That's how many good spots there are — the fastest way in is to head toward the side with the makgeolli sulppang (rice-wine steamed bread) that's also famous in Sokcho Jungang Market.

The fastest way to spot a Sokcho Jungang Market restaurant in Chicken Alley is to check the numbers on the round signs. Hwangbuja Twigim is at Gate 26, 27. It's famous for fried food, but the nurungji squid sundae is also well known and has been featured on TV many times.

It's a Sokcho squid sundae spot that's been featured on all the big shows, like Saengsaeng Jeongbo and I Live Alone. They fry it fresh right when you order, so you get warm squid sundae to take home.

What is on the menu at Hwangbuja Twigim

Since this Sokcho Jungang Market spot is known for shrimp tempura, there are several kinds and shrimp gangjeong too. I once bought shrimp tempura here and ate it back at the stay with beer — it was great.

The squid sundae comes in two versions, original and nurungji, and if you're not eating it right away, buying it frozen to store at home works well too. They also have the Abai sundae (blood sausage) Sokcho is famous for.

Hwangbuja Twigim has a wide range of squid and shrimp dishes, so it's great for takeout. Getting a set menu is good value if you want to try a variety.

Ordering the squid sundae and nurungji squid sundae

I ordered the squid sundae and the nurungji squid sundae, and they fried it right up. While I waited I got to sample the nurungji squid sundae — freshly fried, it was really delicious.

Hwangbuja Twigim also has a dine-in space so you can eat what's freshly made on the spot. If you're not taking it back to your stay, eating it here while it's hot seems like a good option.

Parking at the market and the free parking coupon

For parking at Hwangbuja Twigim, park at the public lot, and spending over ₩15,000 gets you a 30-minute free parking coupon. The Sokcho Tourist and Fisheries Market public lot is cheap at ₩900 an hour.

Reheating the squid sundae on a camping griddle

I brought both types of squid sundae to the campsite. They're great fresh, but I figured reheating them would be even better, so I put them on the griddle — and they tasted like they'd just been made.

Since they were freshly fried right before I left, just a quick warm-up on the pan brought them right back and they tasted great. When you're camping with a group, cooking is a hassle, so I'd recommend buying whatever Sokcho Jungang Market food you're craving and taking it camping. Beyond fried food and sundae, all the famous Sokcho snacks — bread, cookies, everything — are gathered right here.

It was my first time trying the nurungji squid sundae at Hwangbuja Twigim, and it was crispy, nutty, and really tasty. I think I'll keep buying this nurungji squid sundae every time I go back.

Cooking your own food while camping is nice, but grabbing takeout from a Sokcho Jungang Market spot for an easy, relaxed meal is also great. Hwangbuja Twigim's fried food is delicious too, so if you like tempura, it's worth a stop on your Sokcho trip.