Sokcho restaurant for makguksu with pollack salad: Topgol

A Sokcho trip I’d been missing for ages. If you’re in Sokcho, you have to have a refreshing bowl of makguksu (buckwheat noodles), right? ◡̎ When I’m craving a cool, easy-on-the-stomach bowl, Sokcho Topgol Makguksu Main Branch is a great perilla oil makguksu spot to stop by on a Sokcho trip, close to Sokcho Beach.

How close is it to Sokcho Eye?

Just a one-minute walk from Sokcho Eye. Sokcho Topgol Makguksu is right behind it!

Public parking and the restaurant atmosphere

Sokcho Topgol Makguksu supports two free hours at the nearby public parking lots, so be sure to mention it on your way out! I parked at Public Parking Lot 2, the closest one. (A 30-second walk, maybe?)

The interior has such a warm, familiar feeling somehow, haha! Even though vacation season had passed, there were still lots of families there?!

Three events I found at this makguksu restaurant

Free corkage

Event one: free corkage! I don’t think I’ve ever really seen free corkage at a makguksu place.. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) Wine lovers! I recommend bringing a red wine that goes with suyuk and makguksu to enjoy here!

King dumplings for guests in military uniform

Event twooo: king dumplings if you’re wearing a military uniform! This is fun! Such a cute perk for service members. Don’t forget to make the most of it with king dumplings, too!

Receipt review event

Event threee: two free buckwheat king dumplings with a Naver receipt review! Dumplings are so good with makguksu, aren’t they?! Leave a Naver receipt review and they give you two buckwheat king dumplings, so join the event and make sure everyone gets a dumpling with their makguksu :)

Perilla oil makguksu with suyuk, potato pancake, and extra pollack salad

We ordered perilla oil makguksu, suyuk (boiled pork), and potato pancake. Plus extra seasoned pollack salad (I know what I’m doing,,). The potato pancake and perilla oil makguksu looked incredible~~, right?! The yeolmu kimchi (young radish kimchi) and shredded kimchi sides were tasty too.

That perilla oil aroma slowly wafting up.. ദ്ദി I really do like perilla oil ❤︎

Tip for making perilla oil makguksu even better

Eat the perilla oil makguksu like bibim noodles first, then, once there’s a little left, add dongchimi (radish water kimchi) broth and eat it like mul makguksu (noodles in chilled broth)!

When there was a little left, I poured in plenty of dongchimi broth and finished the bowl in no time! Personally, I preferred it bibim-style because the perilla oil aroma came through more fully and the texture was better too ದ്ദി

I was surprised once by the size of the potato pancake, and as someone who loves shredded-potato pancakes, I really liked the chewy batter and the distinct potato texture ˃̶͈◡˂̶͈ Potato pancake, so good! If the occasion allows, have a glass of makgeolli (Korean rice wine) with it too.. I think it would go amazingly well ㅠㅠ

The perfect combination with seasoned pollack salad and suyuk

Praise me for adding the seasoned pollack salad ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ദ്ദി It’s sweet and tangy, so the more pollack salad you pile onto both makguksu and potato pancake, the better it tastes! If you’re eating as a group, I recommend adding the seasoned pollack salad :)

The suyuk was good too, with no unpleasant smell ◡̎ Put seasoned pollack salad on the suyuk, wrap it with makguksu, and it’s absolutely delicious. A perfect combination.

The two of us ate until we were seriously stuffed, but maybe because of the buckwheat, our stomachs felt really comfortable?! That’s why I love makguksu ❤︎ If you come to Sokcho Topgol Makguksu, the perilla oil makguksu is a must!! Enjoy it deliciously in all kinds of combinations, with potato pancake, suyuk, and king dumplings too :)