Gangneung tofu restaurant, samhap with flounder sikhae: Jeong Eunsuk

Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu, the Chodang Village restaurant with 12,000 reviews

Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu is a sundubu (soft tofu) restaurant in Gangneung's Chodang Village with close to 12,000 reviews. Traveling Gangneung with my husband, we knew Chodang-style sundubu was a must, so we dug around and landed here. Thanks to their reservation system, we got in with no wait, and the set table, plated with the touch of a master chef, was so elegant it felt like a place we could bring our parents to. Here's my honest review.

• 📍 Address 327-2 Chodang-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do
• ⏰ Hours Closed Tuesdays, 08:00–18:30, last order 17:30
• 🚾 Restrooms Separate men's/women's restrooms inside
• 🚘 Parking Lot in front of the restaurant
• 🚶🏻 Wait No wait on a Monday 11am visit
• 📝 Notes Waiting available, group seating, Naver Reservation

■ Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu summary Location/parking — right in front of the Heo Gyun and Heo Nanseolheon Memorial Hall, parking for 8 in front plus a side lot One-line review — a Certified Cooking Master's restaurant where you can enjoy gajami sikhae (fermented flatfish), tender bossam (boiled pork), and ultra-soft tofu together as a samhap (three-way combo)

Where is Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu? Right across from the Heo Nanseolheon Memorial Hall

Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu sits right in front of the Heo Gyun and Heo Nanseolheon Memorial Hall in the heart of Chodang Village, so it's easy to find even on a first visit. It's just a 5-minute drive from Gangmun Beach, the St. Johns Hotel, Arte Museum, and Anmok Beach, so it's easy to fit into an itinerary — which is why both travelers and Gangneung locals keep this place busy.

Is there enough parking?

There's a lot for about 8 cars right in front of the restaurant, plus a spacious empty lot right next to it. Even if both fill up at peak times, you can park for free at the Heo Gyun and Heo Nanseolheon Memorial Hall lot right across the street, so parking is never a worry.

Inside the restaurant and the group tables

Inside, Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu has a range of tables from 4-tops to 8-tops. Large picture windows keep the space open and airy, with no sense of being cramped.

The restaurant can easily accommodate group visits, making it a great choice for family gatherings or company dinners, and the tables are spaced generously enough for comfortable dining.

The banchan (side dishes) that wake up your appetite

Even the banchan (side dishes) are clean and light — fresh salad, fragrant miyeok muchim (seasoned seaweed salad), and cheongpomuk muchim (seasoned mung bean jelly). On top of that, crisp lettuce and perilla leaves for wraps, kimchi, and a nutty broccoli-perilla seed salad all come together to settle your stomach gently, without overwhelming it.

What's on the menu from Certified Cooking Master No. 48

This is a table built by Gangwon-do's only Certified Cooking Master No. 48, with a range of well-plated Korean dishes from the Chodang Tofu Table to the Premium Table, sundubu jeongol (soft tofu hot pot), and the tofu samhap. It's said to have been chosen as one of Gangneung's signature dishes during the Pyeongchang Olympics season, so you can taste the master's warm, skilled touch.

The two of us visited and ordered the Chodang Premium Table for two.

Chodang Premium Table for two, 50,000 won

A perfectly balanced master's table. It arrives packed to the brim, generous and abundant — a table that stands out even among Gangneung's many sundubu restaurants for its sheer quality. Eating it, you feel pampered the whole way through, and it's genuinely delicious.

Kodari gangjeong (glazed half-dried pollack), included in the set

Sweet, crispy, and richly savory. The kodari (semi-dried pollack) comes off the bone, so there's nothing to catch in your mouth — the outside is coated in a sweet-and-spicy sauce while the inside stays moist and juicy, letting the seasoning really shine.

It tastes almost like yangnyeom chicken but not overly sweet, so it works as a rice side dish for anyone, young or old — the kind of flavor that just makes you smile.

What is tofu samhap? Adding boiled pork for 11,000 won

The tofu samhap at Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu is a dish of tofu, gajami sikhae, and bossam, included in the Chodang Premium Table. The core of this dish is a softness so extreme it melts in your mouth.

Handmade from soybeans grown directly in Gangwon-do, the tofu is soft and silky with no beany smell, and the just-boiled bossam, still warm, has tender meat with zero off-flavor. Eating them together is pure bliss!

The fresh gajami sikhae, made from flatfish pulled from the East Sea, is tossed in a special sauce that bursts with umami. The chewy, springy texture of the flatfish contrasts perfectly with the soft bossam.

We wrapped the gajami sikhae and bossam together with fragrant chives, garlic, and spicy cheongyang chili peppers. We fell for the harmony of the samhap so hard, we ordered an extra bossam for ₩11,000! This is truly the real taste of a Gangneung local.

Sundubu jeongol (soft tofu hot pot), made mild if you're with kids

The sundubu jeongol at Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu is deep and refreshing, the kind that clears your head. The pot is packed with handmade soft tofu, cloud-soft and clean-tasting. The standard version comes spicy with red pepper flakes, but it can be made mild for families with children — a thoughtful touch for family diners.

A whole half of a blue crab simmers in the pot, anchoring a deep seafood base, along with shiitake and enoki mushrooms for extra depth.

The broth is sharp and refreshing enough to wash away last night's hangover — the kind of jeongol that's perfect for a hangover cure. The spicy broth soaks all the way into the tofu, so every bite bursts with savory juice.

What was good, what wasn't, and would we return

What we liked — Even I, someone who usually dislikes soybeans, found myself scraping the bowl clean. It made me realize how delicious healthy, unadorned Korean food can be when it lets the ingredients shine. It's the kind of long-established, genuinely local Gangneung restaurant that leaves your stomach feeling settled, not overstimulated.

What fell short — The tofu, handmade from soybeans they grow themselves, is honestly the best tofu I've ever had in my life, and my only regret is that after so many trips to Gangneung, I never knew about this excellent food before. From now on, I'll be stopping by every time I come to Gangneung.

Would we go back — It's a perfectly composed table that carries the philosophy of a master chef, so next time I definitely want to bring my parents. I'm confident this is a Gangneung sundubu restaurant that will win over even the pickiest older palates.

Who Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu is best for

Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu is a flagship restaurant in Chodang Village that elevates any Gangneung trip, thanks to its care and attention to detail. Tofu dishes with exceptional texture and deep umami leave a lasting impression, making it a trustworthy sundubu restaurant in Gangneung. With well-arranged group seating, it's perfect for anyone looking for an elegant Korean restaurant to bring their parents to, or a place for a group gathering without the wait.