Gangneung tofu restaurant with a half-block tofu add-on: Jeong Eunsuk

There's a truly amazing restaurant I visited on a recent trip to Gangneung — 'Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu', located in Gangneung's Chodang tofu village! It's such a famous place that I went in with high expectations, and it was a huge success.

A restaurant that stakes its name on quality — I really, really recommend it!!!!! Nutty, clean, savory, exactly that. I've decided I'm going every time I visit Gangneung. Seriously the best!!

Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu: address, hours and parking

• 📍 Address: 200 Nanseolheon-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do
• 🕜 Hours: 08:00–18:30
• 🚗 Lot in front of the building, plus a very large dedicated lot in the empty space next door!!

Arrive at 11am to skip the wait

When you go to Gangneung, stopping by the Chodang sundubu village is basically a must, right? Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu is especially well located, sitting right across from Heo Nanseolheon's birth house near Gyeongpo Lake.

If you go during peak time there's definitely a wait, so I'd recommend visiting around 11am. I went in at 11 and came out around 12, and the wait was already long by then!

Wood-toned dining room that suits kids and parents

The interior is really pleasant, decorated warmly in wood tones, so it was great for families or couples visiting together.

The tables are spaced generously and the whole place feels tidy, so I felt good even before the food arrived. It's clean enough that you wouldn't feel uncomfortable bringing your parents or visiting with a child. That said, the interior wasn't as spacious as I expected!

Myeongpum table for two, plus extra bossam and half a block of tofu

They even have a master craftsman plaque hanging up, showing real pride in the food, and since it's a sundubu restaurant that stakes its name on quality, I had high expectations!

You might think the price is a bit high, but honestly the portion, quality, taste, and composition all justify it! We first ordered the myeongpum table for two with extra bossam, then added more bossam and half a block of tofu while eating!

The side dishes that start the meal

Not long after ordering, the table was set with a full spread of banchan (side dishes). Before the main dish even arrived, there wasn't a single side I didn't reach for — they came out varied and neatly arranged.

The side dishes weren't overpowering — they tasted homemade, with real hand-crafted flavor. Mild yet full of umami, they were satisfying enough on their own even before the main tofu dish arrived.

Tofu with bossam, and gajami sikhae (fermented flatfish)

The combination of the tofu included in the set and the bossam (steamed pork wrap) we added was so soft, warm, and nutty!! It made me think, this is why people eat hand-made tofu — it was packed full of the soybean's natural savoriness!

The boiled pork for the bossam had no gaminess at all and was tender enough to melt in your mouth the moment you bit into it. Paired with the special gajami sikhae (fermented flounder) or kimchi that came alongside, it really felt like the work of a master craftsman!!!!

One big reason I really recommend this place is the side dishes. It's a fantastic setup for visiting with parents — clean, thoughtful side dishes that made it feel like a genuinely caring restaurant!

The highlight: sundubu hot pot, eaten clear first

The highlight of the meal that day was without a doubt the sundubu (soft tofu) hot pot. The proper way to start is with the pale, clear broth, enjoying the tofu's natural savoriness and clean flavor first. It wasn't overpowering at all — the deep, rich flavor of the soybean itself came through, and it left my stomach feeling comfortable.

Stir in the seasoning sauce: two flavors from one hot pot

💡 A tip you'll regret missing! After enjoying the savoriness of the clear broth for a while, try stirring in a bit of the seasoning sauce partway through to turn it into a spicy, tangy red sundubu jjigae style!

If you're visiting with a child and can't order both the white and red versions, order the white one and ask for the seasoning sauce — they call it 'dadegi' — and you can enjoy the red version too!!!!! It feels like eating two dishes from one menu item. The spicy yet clean sauce seeps all the way into the tofu, and honestly, it's dangerous for how much rice it makes you eat.

A picky eater finished a whole half block of tofu

The extra order: bossam (₩11,000) and half a block of tofu (₩6,000). My baby is a really picky eater who basically only eats meat and rice, but that day it seemed like she ate half a block of tofu!! She usually doesn't touch tofu, but she really ate this one. I wanted to take some home, but it was still too warm out, which was a bit of a shame!

There are countless tofu specialty restaurants in Gangneung's Chodang tofu village, but if you want neat side dishes and a solid set menu, 'Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu' is a choice you really can't go wrong with. Highly, highly recommended. I visited on a sponsored basis, but it's a place I'd genuinely want to revisit and pay for myself!