Solo dinner chicken stew in Donghae, 30,000 won: Mukho Sotbokkeumtang

Here's my review from this trip to Mukho after eating some seriously good dakbokkeumtang — let me tell you about Mukho Sotbokkeumtang! You get great food AND an ocean view, so I can confidently recommend it if you want to have it both ways :)

Where is Mukho Sotbokkeumtang, and what are its hours?

Mukho Sotbokkeumtang is located on the 2nd floor, unit 7, 151 Iljul-ro, Donghae-si, Gangwon-do, and is open daily from 11:00 to 23:00. I visited when it was already getting dark so my photos came out dim, but if you go around lunchtime you'll get a truly picture-perfect ocean view! The view of Kkamak Rock is spectacular. It seems like the kind of atmospheric spot that would work whether you're going with parents or with a partner.

Since it's open from early until as late as 11pm, you get the perk of a leisurely, unhurried meal.

Mukho Sotbokkeumtang caught my eye with its flashy sign! The chicken figurine perched on top of a pot was so cute. There were seats on the 1st floor too, but I wanted to eat with an ocean view so I went up another floor.

What does the 30,000 won small dakbokkeumtang include?

There were plenty of menu options, but since I'd come to a sotbokkeumtang (pot-braised stew) restaurant, I obviously had to get the signature dakbokkeumtang! I ordered the small size (serves 2) for ₩30,000. Looking back now though, I'm curious about the dak-hanmari too.

When people go to Mukho or Gangneung, they usually go for raw fish and seafood, but if you're not great with seafood, dakbokkeumtang in Mukho is a really good option. They also had hanwoo daechang gopdoritang and woosamgyeop doritang. For sides there was a flying fish roe rice ball, and for add-ins there was octopus, chewy rice cake, and flat glass noodles.

Tablet ordering, self-serve side dishes and the review event

At Mukho Sotbokkeumtang you can order easily via tablet, and extra side dishes are self-service. Both owners were really kind, which I loved!

They said you also get fish cake skewers if you do a review event, so don't miss out on that kind of thing! I found out while browsing blogs that Mukho Sotbokkeumtang used to be called 'Ihandak Hanmari.' Apparently they were always fully booked and slammed with takeout and delivery... haha, feels like I really found a good spot.

They even laid out a guide on how to eat it deliciously, so I also enjoyed my sotbokkeumtang so much! They say ramyeon noodles, kalguksu noodles, and fried rice are must-tries, so don't forget to order those, haha.

The side dishes — kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), pickles, mu-saengchae (spicy radish salad) — were all a great match for the chicken stew. Spicy-sweet dakdoritang is great even in hot summer, but it seems like it would be popular in winter too.

How does the boneless chicken stew taste when you eat alone?

The food came out fast, which I loved. I was so hungry while traveling around Mukho, and I got so excited just thinking about eating dakbokkeumtang. They also clearly labeled the country of origin for the ingredients, so you can eat with peace of mind.

It seemed like a lot of families come here too, and apparently adding octopus lets you taste more of that deep ocean flavor! I visited alone so I didn't order any extras.

Looking at these photos again makes me want to eat it all over again. There was so much rice cake in it, it almost looked like tteokbokki! I went with the boneless option so it was easy and comfortable to eat.

Why pair dinner here with a Dojaebigol walk?

The owner kept checking the table carefully until the chicken was fully cooked, so all I had to do was wait, haha. And since Mukho Sotbokkeumtang is close to Dojaebigol, it seems like a natural place to stop by right after your sightseeing course. The location makes parking easy too. Of course, walkers like me can also easily get there.

The bubbling, spicy-sweet dakbokkeumtang was addictive — it had been a while since I had such a hearty meal, which made it taste even better. A memorable meal in Mukho.

I'll wrap up this review by showing you the pot fully emptied out!