Soft tofu restaurant in Sokcho open at 9am on a Sunday: Daecheongmaru

I keep thinking about the chodang sundubu place near Seoraksan — Daecheongmaru is somewhere I wanted to eat at again whenever I visit Sokcho.

Is there a wait at Daecheongmaru in Sokcho at 9am on a Sunday?

We went at 9am on a Sunday and got seated right away, no wait. But there were already a lot of customers eating breakfast, so if we'd gone a bit later I think we would have had to wait.

9am on a Sunday feels like an hour when most people are still asleep, but we wanted to head home early before traffic got bad, so we started the day early. We headed to Daecheongmaru, known as a Sokcho breakfast favorite, around 9am — and sure enough, being a popular spot, there were already plenty of customers eating breakfast.

Daecheongmaru location and parking: an easy stop on the way to Seoraksan

Daecheongmaru is at 430 Gwangwang-ro in Nohak-dong, Sokcho, and the parking lot is really spacious. It's a great spot to stop at on the way toward Seoraksan.

It's well known among tourists, but it's also a genuine local favorite in Sokcho! I remember reading on other blogs that both tourists and local residents come here a lot, haha.

The location is great, and the parking really is huge! Also, the Sokcho City Museum is nearby, so if you're traveling with kids, it's a nice stop after the meal!

We didn't make a reservation, but since we went a bit early, there were still a few open tables and we didn't have to wait for a seat. Since it's such a busy place, the staff cleared and reset tables really quickly too.

The dining hall at this local Sokcho favorite is quite spacious, with plenty of tables. True to its name (Daecheongmaru means a traditional hanok's wooden-floored hall), it's decorated elegantly and prettily in a hanok style, which gave it a warm, nostalgic feel.

Daecheongmaru menu and the 14,000-won chodang sundubu

Daecheongmaru's recommended dishes are wild greens bibimbap, pollack hangover soup, grilled pollack, and sundubu (soft tofu stew). We ordered two bowls of chodang sundubu at 14,000 won each.

The delicious recommended dishes here include Sokcho-style wild greens bibimbap, pollack hangover soup, grilled pollack, and sundubu. I heard the grilled pollack is also great, and the wild greens bibimbap sells a lot too.

Since it was breakfast, we ordered the milder chodang sundubu for an easy stomach — but if I come back for lunch or dinner in Sokcho, I'd like to try the grilled pollack too!

✅ Ordered: chodang sundubu ₩14,000 × 2

There are two types of sundubu jjigae — chodang sundubu (mild) and spicy sundubu — and we went with the mild chodang sundubu. It's not spicy, so it's good for kids too, and it's made with domestic soybeans using the traditional method of making brine from seawater, which made it feel even more trustworthy. It was nutty and delicious.

How many banchan come with the sundubu at Daecheongmaru?

For the price of one bowl of chodang sundubu, a table-breaking spread of banchan came out, including shrimp jang (soy-marinated shrimp). Every single side dish was delicious, and it made for a really happy breakfast.

Everything we ordered arrived at once, all set up!

Even though it was breakfast, the table was loaded with banchan. There was a real variety of shrimp jang and other side dishes — an impressive amount for just one 14,000-won bowl of chodang sundubu. Every dish was tasty, and breakfast felt like such a happy time.

The prices aren't high either, so I don't think there's a better spot for a Sokcho family meal — next time I'd love to come back with more family members!

Free domestic soybean biji to take home from Daecheongmaru

At Daecheongmaru, after your meal, anyone who wants some can take as much as they like of the biji (tofu lees) they keep packaged in the freezer. We took two bags — one for my parents and one for us.

After a delicious breakfast, we walked out with a bag of biji too. They had a ton of it packed and stored in the freezer, and the fact that anyone can take as much as they want was such a nice touch. I'm planning to cook it up with pork and kimchi, boiling it all together. And since it's made from domestic soybeans too, that's an added bonus!

Daecheongmaru hours, address and parking at a glance

That wraps up my review of Daecheongmaru, a comfortable Seoraksan-area favorite — check the map for the exact location!

• Address: 430 Gwangwang-ro, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
• Hours: 07:20–21:30 (break 15:30–17:00)
• Last order: 21:00