Ocean-view nakji stew at Deungdae Gotgan, a Sokcho Korean restaurant

Deungdae Gotgan right by Deungdae Beach: location and parking

Deungdae Gotgan (등대곳간) is right in front of Deungdae Beach in Sokcho 🌊 Being directly by the sea, the location was honestly so nice.

You can park in front of the restaurant or in nearby parking spaces, though since it is near the beach, parking could be a little complicated during peak season... But I visited in the off-season, so I was able to park right in front of the restaurant, which was incredibly convenient.

Still, it is such a great location for looking around Deungdae Beach and then continuing on to a meal! There is a pocha (Korean pub tent) street next door, so you can even keep the second or third round going after eating. If you are looking for a good restaurant by Sokcho's Deungdae Beach, I loved the location from the start.

Deungdae Gotgan is on the second floor of a two-story building. Go in through the arcade entrance on the first floor and follow the stairs up to the restaurant :)

An ocean view from the window seats in Yeongrang-dong

And the biggest highlight here is definitely the view! The sea stretches out beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows on the second floor, so if you sit by the window, you can properly enjoy the ocean view while you eat 🌊

I visited at around 10:30 a.m. on an off-season weekday and got a window seat, so I was really happy with it. There will probably be a wait during peak season, so it might be best to visit at a less busy time if possible!

There is a self-service bar in one corner, where you can help yourself not only to the basic side dishes but also to ingredients used for fried rice. It is not in the photos, but 🚻 the restroom is inside the restaurant. You do not need to go outside the building, which made it convenient during the meal :)

Two servings of jjageul nakji with udon noodles

At Deungdae Gotgan, a popular spot by Sokcho's Deungdae Beach, jjageul nakji (spicy simmered octopus stew) is the best menu item.

Besides octopus, there are various options including stir-fried pork and pork cutlet, so I thought it would be a good place for people of all ages to visit.

We ordered two servings of jjageul nakji plus udon noodles 🐙 The jjageul nakji bubbles away right on the table!

The basic side dishes included bean sprouts, stir-fried fish cake, and danmuji (pickled radish),

and every single side dish was tasty too! I especially loved the combination of seasoned bean sprouts and stir-fried octopus. It felt like they had put together a meal that people who cannot handle spice could still enjoy with the side dishes!

The sauce was pleasantly spicy, and I enjoyed it. But if even Shin Ramyun tastes spicy to you, this might be a little hot 🌶️

I only added the udon noodles because I was trying to eat fewer carbs... but now that I think about it, I regret that so much.

If I go again, I am definitely getting the fried rice too...!

The octopus in the jjageul nakji was wonderfully springy, with a flavor that was perfect for mixing with rice and the sauce! If you cannot handle spicy food especially well, try it with these seasoned bean sprouts.

For two people, jjageul nakji with udon noodles followed by fried rice at the end would probably be just the right amount to leave you full.

A meal that delivers both sea views and flavor

Overall, I was really satisfied with both the food and the view. Sitting by the window, the photos came out just as nicely as they would at an ocean-view café 📸 So among the restaurants by Sokcho's Deungdae Beach, I would recommend this one when you want to enjoy the view too.

If you want to eat octopus in Sokcho while looking at the sea, I recommend Deungdae Gotgan 🌊🐙 Next time I visit, I am going to properly have jjageul nakji + udon noodles + fried rice too 😂 If you are looking for a restaurant by Sokcho's Deungdae Beach, I recommend it as a place where you can have both the view and the flavor!