Sokcho bakery café with squid ink potato bread and kids' ceramic art

Bultan Gamja Bread? It's potato bread that looks like it's been burnt black!

If you're traveling in Sokcho and looking for tasty food paired with a special dessert, Bultan Gamja Bread is worth checking out. What catches your eye first is the visual — quite different from the potato bread you're used to. The idea came from squid, one of Sokcho's signature foods, and they use squid ink to give the potato bread its black color.

It looks unusual on the outside, but one bite in, it's full of that fluffy potato texture and nutty flavor, easy for parents and kids alike to enjoy without any hesitation.

What kind of place is Bultan Gamja Bread, the Sokcho bakery café?

Walking in, you'll find all sorts of bread and desserts, but the thing that grabs attention first is, of course, the oddly named Bultan Gamja Bread itself. Unlike ordinary potato bread, it's got this black, distinctive color that also happens to photograph really well.

What I found especially interesting was that they use squid ink, a Sokcho signature, to get that color. And it's not just for looks — they don't add synthetic additives, artificial coloring, or preservatives, which made it feel like a healthier dessert. That made picking out a snack to share with the kids feel a little more at ease.

• Address: 34-20 Hangsapyeong-gil, Sokcho, Gangwon, South Korea
• Hours: 09:00–18:00 (closed Thursdays)
• Features: Takeout, delivery, wheelchair and stroller accessible

Fluffy potato bread made with a whole potato inside

The biggest feature of Bultan Gamja Bread is that a whole potato goes inside. They wash Gangwon-do potatoes fresh every morning, and instead of steaming or boiling them, they roast them to bring out the potato's natural sweetness.

Thanks to that, you really get that fluffy potato texture with a mild, nutty sweetness when you bite in. On top of that, cream cheese and butter add a smooth, savory richness. It's not salty or heavy-handed in flavor, so it works fine for adults and kids alike.

A special look, nutty even on the outside

The black color of Bultan Gamja Bread comes from squid ink. On top of that, the outside is dusted with a powder made from ground black sesame and black rice, adding even more nutty flavor.

At first the black color feels a bit unusual, but looking closer, you can see the black sesame and black rice powder, which actually gives it more of a healthy feel. It's genuinely different from the typical Sokcho dessert, so it could be a fun option if you're hunting for unique cafés in Sokcho.

They even use East Sea deep-sea water

The water used to make the potato bread is special too — they use deep-sea water from the East Sea.

Using Gangwon-do potatoes as the base and adding East Sea deep-sea water on top of that gives the product a real sense of local character. What stood out most was that they don't add synthetic additives, artificial coloring, or preservatives, which should suit anyone who prefers a snack that isn't too processed. That said, because there are no preservatives, the shelf life is shorter, so they recommend eating it soon after purchase.

How to store it chilled or frozen, and the best way to reheat it

If you can't eat it right away, how you store it matters. For 2–3 days, refrigerate; for longer storage of a month or two, freeze it. Since there are no preservatives, leaving it out at room temperature for too long can spoil it, so it's worth being careful. Chilled potato bread can be warmed in the microwave for about 30 seconds, or in an air fryer at 180°C for about 6 minutes.

If it's frozen, microwave the top for about 40 seconds and the bottom for another 40 seconds, or air fry at 180°C for about 10 minutes, and it comes out warm like it was just made. Since the potato itself holds a lot of moisture, the inside can be quite hot right after heating, so be careful when you eat it!

You can order online too, making it a great Sokcho gift

For anyone who can't make it to the store in person, they also ship through Naver Smart Store. From March to October, they include an ice pack to keep things fresh during delivery. Even if you buy some while traveling and can't eat it right away, you can just refrigerate or freeze it and enjoy it warm again once you're home. Since it's a distinctive dessert with local character, it could be a nice choice if you're looking for a Sokcho gift.

Another Sokcho specialty I found: jjondugi

Alongside the Bultan Gamja Bread, the thing that caught my eye was the Sokcho jjondugi (a chewy Korean snack). One set runs about ₩10,000, and trying it, the texture and flavor were a bit different from regular jjondugi. As you chew, it feels almost like tearing into squid, and there's a subtle crab aroma too, which made it fun.

We snacked on it in the car with the kids, and they ended up loving it way more than I expected. If you're looking for Sokcho food you can snack on without much hassle while traveling, this is a good option.

Moosetoy, something the kids will probably love

Another thing worth noting at the Bultan Gamja Bread main store is Moosetoy. It's a ceramic art toy made in collaboration between a commercial film director and a Pororo designer.

It's a space where you can paint your own designs or colors directly onto ceramic figures and make something one-of-a-kind, and the kids showed a lot of interest. There were various finished pieces on display, including one made using the character Hachuping. Being able to paint and decorate themselves gave it a different kind of fun than just eating at a café.

Something I'd really like to try next time: Moosetoy

Our schedule this time was so tight that we sadly didn't get to try it ourselves. But once the kids heard they could decorate ceramic figures themselves, they made a huge fuss about wanting to try it next time. Haha.

Being able to do a hands-on activity with the kids on top of eating bread and dessert makes this a good match for family travelers looking for a recommended café spot in Sokcho. It's also worth considering as part of a Sokcho–Yangyang café route if your trip is headed in that direction.

Why it's good for parents and kids to eat together

What I personally liked about Bultan Gamja Bread was that the flavor isn't overpowering. Since a whole potato goes in, the base is naturally that nutty, mild potato flavor, and the cream cheese and butter add a smooth richness on top.

Most of all, it's not overly salty or intense, and since it has no synthetic additives, artificial coloring, or preservatives, it felt fine to share with the kids. If you're looking for a snack the whole family can enjoy together, this is worth trying at least once.

If you're after a special snack on your Sokcho trip

Bultan Gamja Bread felt less like a place just selling potato-shaped bread and more like a dessert that playfully captures Gangwon-do potatoes and Sokcho's local character. The fluffy texture and nutty flavor of the whole potato, combined with cream cheese and butter, plus the unusual black color from squid ink, made it fun. Adding black sesame and black rice powder on top for extra nuttiness was a nice touch too.

If you're visiting with kids, I'd recommend trying the Moosetoy experience too. We didn't have time for it this trip, but on my next visit to Sokcho, I'm planning to decorate ceramic art toys with the kids myself.

If you're after good bread and a fun hands-on activity in one stop, Sokcho Bultan Gamja Bread bakery café is well worth adding to your itinerary.