Spicy garlic dakgangjeong at Sokcho market chicken shop Seomin Gapbu

Whenever I travel to Sokcho, I always end up stopping by Jungang Market! From squid sundae (stuffed squid sausage) to fried snacks, sashimi, and dakgangjeong (Korean fried chicken glazed in sweet-spicy sauce), there's so much food to browse it's fun just walking through. This time I stopped by Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip, famous as a dakgangjeong spot in Sokcho Jungang Market, and got garlic dakgangjeong to go! Sokcho is so well known for dakgangjeong that there are tons of chicken shops in the market, but I picked this one because I was curious about the garlic version!

Where is Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip, and what are its hours?

• Hours: Weekdays 10:00 - 21:00
• Hours: Fri, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 22:00
• Parking: 30 minutes free at Sokcho Jungang Market public parking lot

It's easy to find since it's in the alley packed with dakgangjeong and other food stalls, and I visited after spotting the big sign — this place was featured on the TV show Seomin Gapbu (Self-Made Millionaire).

Dakgangjeong menu and prices at Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip

Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip has a huge variety of dakgangjeong! Out front, several kinds of dakgangjeong and fried items were lined up with samples on display, so it was easy to check what was what before buying. They also sell fried items like king shrimp and squid alongside the chicken, so it was great for packing up a few different things at once!

• Boneless dakgangjeong ₩21,000
• Boneless fried chicken ₩21,000
• Garlic dakgangjeong ₩24,000
• Deodeok (bellflower root) dakgangjeong ₩24,000
• Dakgangjeong + shrimp gangjeong half-half ₩21,000
• Cup dakgangjeong ₩5,000
• Nurungji + egg wash squid sundae ₩24,000
• Nurungji squid sundae ₩15,000
• Egg wash squid sundae ₩15,000
• Potato pancake + kimchi pancake ₩13,000
• Buckwheat pancake + sorghum pancake ₩12,000
• 100% real potato pancake ₩7,000

With so many dakgangjeong options, I agonized over the choice, but since I usually love garlic-flavored chicken, I went with garlic dakgangjeong, spicy version! They also had squid sundae and nurungji squid sundae, so I packed those too — perfect for dinner that night!

They also sell frozen squid sundae, which makes a great Chuseok gift too! A lot of places around here sell squid sundae, but buying the regular and nurungji versions together gets you a bit of a discount, so it seemed like a nice option for gift packing!

How to keep garlic dakgangjeong fresh after takeout

As soon as we got it, we opened the lid to let it cool, and since we planned to eat it that evening, we closed it back up for storage. You know dakgangjeong tastes even better once it cools down, right?! It's best kept at cool room temperature the day you buy it and the following day, and frozen if you're keeping it any longer!

What does garlic dakgangjeong with whole fried garlic taste like?

The outside was evenly coated in sweet sauce with a strong garlic aroma that hit me the moment I opened the box! Plus, since the garlic itself is fried before being tossed in, it paired really well with the chicken — very satisfying!

Taking a bite, the outside was slightly chewy from the sauce while the chicken inside stayed moist and tender — the kind of flavor kids would love too! We went with the spicy version, which had a bit of kick, and it really cut through the sweetness of the sauce so you don't get tired of it, with just the right amount of heat.

Spice level: about Shin Ramyun.

Because the garlic is fried before mixing, its natural sweetness blends really well with the sweet sauce on the dakgangjeong, giving it a savory, almost umami depth that I loved! Honestly, I assumed 'garlic dakgangjeong' meant minced garlic stirred into the sauce, but since it's fried garlic instead, I personally found it even tastier!

Is Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip worth it for dakgangjeong in Sokcho?

Sokcho Jungang Market has so many dakgangjeong shops that it's genuinely hard to decide where to buy from! This time, Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip stood out for having such a wide variety — not just regular dakgangjeong but garlic, deodeok, and shrimp gangjeong too. I really enjoyed the garlic dakgangjeong, so if you're planning to visit Jungang Market during a Sokcho trip, stop by while browsing all the food stalls!