Jije-dong fish stew restaurant: roe stew and nurungji, Sokcho Halmae

I went to the new Pyeongtaek hotspot, Sokcho Halmae Dongtae-tang Pyeongtaek Jije-dongsak Branch (속초할매동태탕 평택지제동삭점), and had the Sokcho set for two. It's a hot summer, but a hearty Korean meal with refreshing(?) pollack roe stew and grilled fish is always right, haha. So here's the new Pyeongtaek spot!

Sokcho Halmae Pyeongtaek: location, hours and parking

Sokcho Halmae Dongtae-tang Pyeongtaek Jije-dongsak Branch is at 17 Mosan 1-gil, Unit 104, Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, South Korea, and is open Monday to Saturday from 11:00 to 22:00. Last order is at 21:30, it's closed every Sunday, and there is a parking lot. The break time is listed as 14:30.

The new Pyeongtaek hotspot Sokcho Halmae Dongtae-tang ♡ There's a parking lot beside the building, so it's easy to visit.

How does the waiting work at Sokcho Halmae?

When there's a wait, the restaurant uses Catch Table (a Korean waitlist app). There are also chairs in front of the shop where you can wait.

Before going in, I scanned the signature menu, haha.

Chandeliers and high ceilings: inside Sokcho Halmae

As a new hotspot, the inside is very clean, and the chandeliers make it feel like real care went into the interior, haha. I came for pollack stew, but I like the chandelier vibe too 😆

The high ceiling and green street view are nice too!

There are tables for 2 and for 4, so you can pick one to suit your group. Aprons and high chairs are provided, and the country-of-origin labels are clearly posted.

A whole side is filled with mini pot rice cookers!! Pot rice freshly cooked in a single-serving pressure cooker is the best, even on its own ♡

The self-service bar is neat too. If you run out of side dishes, use the self-service bar! Spoons and napkins are under the table, and paper cups and bowls are on top, so it's convenient.

With the receipt review event, you get free shrimp balls or a drink.

Sokcho Halmae menu and set options

At Sokcho Halmae Dongtae-tang Pyeongtaek Jije-dongsak Branch, you order and pay with the tablet on the table.

There are various seafood-focused à la carte dishes, plus set menus that are good value.

The set for one is a stew plus your choice of grilled mackerel or mini fish balls.

The Sokcho set for two is a stew plus half a mackerel plus mini fish balls, with rice included; swapping to pot rice costs extra. You choose the stew from dongtae-tang (pollack stew), dongtae-altang (pollack roe stew) or altang (roe stew). I ordered the Sokcho set for two with pollack roe stew and one pot rice swap.

• Set for one: stew + your choice of grilled mackerel or mini fish balls
• Sokcho set for two: stew + half a mackerel + mini fish balls, rice included
• Extra charge to swap to pot rice
• Stew choices: dongtae-tang / dongtae-altang / altang

How are the roe stew, mackerel and mini fish balls?

The side dishes with the Sokcho set for two were stir-fried fish cake, pickled perilla leaves, roasted seaweed and kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi). The pollack roe stew and fish arrive soon after!! It became a generous, filling Korean spread. The stew is for two, but it looks like quite a lot, haha.

The mackerel is only half a fish but quite meaty, crispy outside and moist inside. The mini fish balls come fried, so they're a different way to enjoy them. The set for two lets you taste both, which is nice; if you order the set for one, I'd recommend the grilled mackerel of the two.

They light the burner and bring the pollack roe stew to a bubbling boil. The longer it boils, the better it looks!!

Ahh!! This looks so good 🐽 The smell of the roe stew is already hitting my nose.

The pollack roe stew is packed with roe, innards, pollack and more. I'm all set to scoop it into my bowl!! I can't give up the pollack, the roe or the innards!! The broth is totally refreshing too! Even in this hot weather, I keep spooning in the hot broth. Is this real?!!!

I tore off a big piece of mackerel too, and the mini fish balls are good plain, dipped in soy sauce, or with mayo sauce!!

Multigrain pot rice, all the way to nurungji

The pot rice at Sokcho Halmae comes as multigrain rice. Scoop the rice into your bowl, then pour water into the pot to make nurungji (scorched rice) too. The glossy pot rice is so tasty on its own!

A generous, filling Korean meal with refreshing pollack roe stew and grilled fish is the best!! The appeal of Sokcho Halmae doesn't depend on the season!