Sokcho Korean restaurant for breakfast pollack soup: Bigeumdo

Looking for a hearty breakfast the day after a Sokcho trip

Last weekend, I took a one-night, two-day trip to Sokcho to see the wide-open sea and the magnificent views of Seoraksan. One of the most important things when traveling is deciding what to start the next morning with, right? I wanted to shake off the previous day's fatigue and fill my stomach properly, so I looked for a restaurant that opened early.

While looking around near Sokcho Sundubu Town, I visited Bigeumdo (비금도), a Korean restaurant whose serene hanok (traditional Korean house) charm caught my eye at once! To give you the result first, it was a hearty, perfect meal from the morning on. If you're planning a Sokcho trip, this is a spot to add to your breakfast list.

A spacious parking lot and a neat hanok exterior

The things I loved as soon as I arrived by car were the spacious parking lot and the neat, handsome hanok building! The dedicated lot surrounds the restaurant, which was so convenient. The spaces were wide too, making it easy to get in and out with a car seat.

Hours

• 08:30–20:00
• Break time: 15:30–17:00
• Closed every Wednesday

Floor-to-ceiling windows and roomy seating

Once inside, the tidy wood interior and the green view beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows came together so beautifully that I felt relaxed too!

The tables were generously spaced, so we could eat without worrying about the people next to us. There was even a private group room divided by traditional paper doors, and I could see why it is popular with families!

High chairs were well prepared too, so it was a comfortable place to visit with children! Since it opens early, it is perfectly placed for a hangover-curing meal or for eating before heading home. It is right by Sokcho IC, making it great for the final meal of a Sokcho trip as well. Now I understand why it is known as a Sokcho breakfast spot!

Ordering pressure-cooker hwangtae-gukbap at the table

Each table had a table-ordering system, so ordering was easy! We ordered two servings of the “pressure-cooker hwangtae-gukbap (dried pollack soup with rice).”

The side dishes and dried pollack soup arrived! The hwangtae-gukbap comes with the rice already in the soup, while hwangtae haejangguk (hangover soup) comes with rice separately, so order according to your preference. The pressure-cooker hwangtae-gukbap looked incredible.

The nutty aroma of dried pollack gently wafted through the air and instantly whetted my appetite. Unlike dried pollack hangover soup served in a regular earthenware pot or bowl, this one had been slowly cooked under high pressure in a pressure cooker, so the broth had a completely different depth! Its pale, rich broth, almost like beef-bone stock, really stood out.

Every side dish that came with it complemented the hwangtae-gukbap without overpowering it.

Tender dried pollack and a comforting meal

The dried pollack had been simmered until it was tender, without any dryness, and a spoonful of broth seemed to melt away the previous day's fatigue. The clean, savory flavor of the pollack itself came through, so it would be easy to enjoy with children or parents too!

After the meal, I felt genuinely comfortable and satisfied. It was so satisfying, like soothing a stomach tired from the greasy, strongly seasoned foods I had eaten the day before. It was just right for a Sokcho breakfast!

An easy stop on a Sokcho itinerary

It is only a 5–10 minute drive from Sokcho IC, Seoraksan National Park, Hanwha Resort, and Sokcho Beach, so it is ideally located for planning your route. There could hardly be a better stop for a meal after leaving your accommodation and before beginning the morning's plans. With its location, food, and atmosphere all covered, I wholeheartedly recommend it as a Sokcho breakfast spot.

If you want to begin a happy day of your Sokcho trip with a comforting, rich soup dish, be sure to try a hot bowl of pressure-cooker hwangtae-gukbap at Bigeumdo in Sokcho!