Tofu restaurant near Hanwha Resort Sokcho: cheese sundubu, Kongbatteul

A tofu meal on our Sokcho trip: why we came to Kongbatteul Sokcho Branch

Kongbatteul Sokcho Branch (콩밭뜰 속초점) is a tofu restaurant near Hanwha Resort Sokcho and the Haksapyeong Sundubu Village. My husband and I are in the middle of a happy, excited trip to Sokcho right now. The sea views are great, of course, but you can't skip the local specialty, warm and nutty tofu dishes, right?

Sokcho is famous for Haksapyeong Sundubu Village, so we wanted a proper tofu meal and searched hard, and that's how we found Kongbatteul Sokcho Branch! It sits near Hanwha Resort Sokcho and the Haksapyeong village, so it was really easy to get to. When you plan a Sokcho route you often end up around Hanwha Resort or Seoraksan, and this place is so accessible that it's perfect for a stop in the middle of your itinerary.

Is Kongbatteul Sokcho Branch good value?

Order just one main at Kongbatteul Sokcho Branch and a whole table of side dishes comes with it. Travel prices have gone up so much lately that even one meal can add up, but here you get a filling, tidy meal without the price worry, and I could see right away why it has a reputation as a great-value tofu restaurant. The sides were laid out generously and neatly, and it put me in a good mood before I even started eating!

Inside the restaurant and seating

The inside of Kongbatteul Sokcho Branch is clean, with generous space between tables. Walking in, I was impressed by how tidy and pleasant it felt. The tables are well spaced and kept clean, so it's an ideal spot for families, couples or married pairs to eat at a relaxed pace.

Kongbatteul Sokcho Branch menu: what we ordered

We ordered one tofu kimchi stew and one new cheese jjolmyeon sundubu (soft tofu stew with chewy noodles). The menu had a wide range of tofu dishes, from the signature sundubu to various stews and specialties, so there's plenty to choose from. Many people were having the popular jjamppong sundubu (spicy seafood-style soft tofu stew), the plain chodubu (tofu with a light vinegar-style sauce) and kongbiji (soybean pulp stew), but after some thought we each picked the main we most wanted. My husband chose the tofu kimchi stew, with its spicy, deep broth, and I went for the new cheese jjolmyeon sundubu!

After a short wait, our mains arrived bubbling away, along with a nice variety of fresh side dishes.

How was the tofu kimchi stew?

The tofu kimchi stew at Kongbatteul Sokcho Branch has well-fermented kimchi flavor with the nuttiness of tofu soaked in. My husband's stew had the sweet-sour depth of ripe kimchi, and the tofu's nutty taste really soaked through. The tofu itself was firm and fresh, so it paired perfectly with the broth! The deep flavor was so addictive that a bowl of rice vanished in no time.

The new cheese jjolmyeon sundubu: fine if you can't handle spicy food?

The new cheese jjolmyeon sundubu at Kongbatteul Sokcho Branch is a spicy soft tofu stew with cheese and jjolmyeon (chewy wheat noodles) added, and thanks to the cheese even I, who don't handle spice well, enjoyed it. The nutty cheese melts into the spicy, silky sundubu, making the broth really smooth and appealing. The springy jjolmyeon noodles in the stew go wonderfully with the soft tofu, a real treat! If you want a different kind of sundubu on your Sokcho trip, I recommend it!

How were the basic side dishes?

The side dishes that come as standard at Kongbatteul Sokcho Branch were neat and seasoned just right, one by one. It felt like being served a healthy home-cooked set meal with care. It was a satisfying meal where we could really taste the plain, deep flavor of tofu.

Who is Kongbatteul Sokcho Branch for?

If you want a gentle, filling, good-value meal on your Sokcho trip, I strongly recommend stopping by Kongbatteul Sokcho Branch near Haksapyeong village! The soft sundubu and the carefully made side dishes made our Sokcho trip even more enjoyable and rich.

Kongbatteul Sokcho Branch hours, closed day and parking

• Address: 134 Wonamhaksapyeong-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon, South Korea
• Hours: 08:00–19:30
• Closed: Every Wednesday
• Parking: Dedicated lot at the restaurant