Breakfast braised pork bones near E-mart in Sokcho: Gwandongjip

Why Gwandongjip on the last morning in Sokcho?

This is the story of a visit my husband and I made on the last morning of our Sokcho trip. After drinking a bit late into the night at our lodging near Sokcho Beach, I woke up craving something spicy, hot and filling to soak up the night before.

My husband and I searched for a place locals actually go, and someone recommended Gwandongjip, a Korean restaurant that's built a name for itself in Jo-yang-dong, Sokcho. We showed up right at opening time hoping to wash away the fatigue of travel in one meal — and it turned out even better than we expected. Already a place I won't forget.

Where is Gwandongjip, and is there parking near Daiso and E-mart?

Gwandongjip sits in the alley behind Hyundai Gas Station, across from Sokcho Daiso and diagonally opposite Sokcho E-mart. It's right next to a GS convenience store, just past a children's playground, so even on our first visit we found it easily without getting lost.

Walking about 50 meters down the alley below Jangsu Bathhouse, the restaurant came right into view. Out front there's a dedicated parking space for about 3-4 cars, so we could park with zero stress and just walk in.

Inside Gwandongjip: table spacing and the group room

As soon as we opened the door, the owner greeted us kindly, which made the morning feel warm right away. The whole interior was neat and well-kept, yet had that familiar, comfortable feeling of visiting your grandmother's house in the countryside.

The tables were spaced generously apart, so my husband and I could sit facing each other and focus comfortably on the meal. There was also a private group room tucked in the back, which looked like a solid option for a family dinner or a gathering.

Gwandongjip menu and the price of mukeunji-ppyeojjim

Sitting down, I slowly read the menu board on the wall. A note caught my eye explaining that since 2005, a son has carried on the recipes his parents used to run 'Jeopalgye Gamjatang' in Hwacheon. The signature specialties were gamjatang (pork bone stew), mukeunji-ppyeojjim, and spicy chicken stew, alongside hearty meal options like ppyeo-haejangguk (pork bone hangover soup), budae-jjigae (army stew), and tofu hot pot. Wanting to taste something deep and rich, we ordered the small mukeunji-ppyeojjim (serves 2) for ₩35,000, made with well-fermented kimchi and carefully boiled pork bones.

How did the aged kimchi braised pork bones taste?

After a short wait, a set of tidy side dishes arrived along with a large pot brimming with mukeunji-ppyeojjim. It had already been cooked through in the kitchen, so we just kept the flame low and let it simmer gently before digging in right away.

The spicy, rich aroma rising as the pot bubbled away was already making my mouth water, and the first spoonful of broth — where the deep tang of aged kimchi met the rich savoriness of bone broth — instantly felt like it was clearing out my hangover.

The pork bones packed heavily into the pot were especially impressive — boiled so tender that the meat slid right off the bone at the slightest touch of chopsticks. There was no dryness whatsoever, just a texture that melted apart softly in the mouth, and it genuinely made us go 'wow.'

We used the tongs to tear off big pieces of the whole-leaf aged kimchi and wrapped them around warm white rice — perfectly fermented, with a tangy, spicy kick that cut cleanly through the richness of the meat for a perfect balance.

Add in the potatoes, boiled until soft and mealy, and the vegetables soaked through with deep seasoning, and before we knew it a whole bowl of rice had disappeared — we just couldn't put our spoons down.

Is Gwandongjip in Joyang-dong, Sokcho worth a visit?

Gwandongjip was a place we stumbled onto by chance while traveling, but there was nothing to complain about — from the owner's warm, generous smile to the deep, well-honed flavor of the mukeunji-ppyeojjim lingering in our mouths. For anyone looking for gamjatang in Jo-yang-dong, Sokcho, or gukbap near Cheongcho Lake, I think this is a place that would satisfy just about everyone. Next time we're back in Sokcho, I'd love to try the gamjatang or spicy chicken stew too — a place I'd return to with 200 percent certainty.