Sokcho bakery café open at 9am for yuja oranda: Bultan Gamja Bread

When you think of Sokcho, Gangwon-do, you probably think of squid, dakgangjeong (Korean fried chicken), or raw fish — but isn't the real signature ingredient of Gangwon-do potato? I usually love potato bread, so when I heard there was a special potato bread spot in Sokcho, I had to go check it out!

Let's go take a look at the colorful graffiti art and pack up some potato bread and Sokcho jjondeugi (chewy rice snack) at the Sokcho bakery café "Bultan Gamja Bread"!!

Potato bread takeaway at the 9am opening in Sokcho

I checked out of my accommodation at 9am and stopped by to pack up before heading back to Seoul. Even at that early hour, there were quite a few customers already there for potato bread, which made me even more curious about the taste.

Sokcho Bultan Gamja Bread Main Store: hours, address and parking

• Address: 34-20 Hagsapyeong-gil, 1st floor, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
• Hours: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• Closed: None / Break time: None
• Parking: Large lot in front of the store
• Amenities: Takeaway / groups welcome / Sokcho café

Once I visited in person, I found it wasn't just a bread shop — it operates as a full bakery café where you can sit and relax with a drink.

Why is it called Bultan Gamja Bread? The black squid ink colour

Turns out the name "Bultan Gamja Bread" (burnt potato bread) comes from the memory of potatoes charred black over an old-fashioned wood-fired stove. It's not actually burnt, though — the black color comes from squid ink. So the bread has a fun potato-like shape and a unique color, haha! What made it even more special was that the black wasn't just food coloring, but squid ink, a Sokcho specialty — a real Sokcho dessert must-visit!

A bakery café with a special Sokcho dessert — <Bultan Gamja Bread>

Inside Sokcho Bultan Gamja Bread: seating, drinks and the mousse-toy corner

Before visiting, I assumed Bultan Gamja Bread would be mostly a takeaway spot, but it actually had plenty of indoor seating and a warm, pleasant atmosphere. They also sell coffee and tea, so you can use it like a proper dessert café.

You could enjoy Sokcho potato bread, with its natural potato flavor, alongside a drink — a spot where you can enjoy café time even from early morning.

There was also a corner where you could buy mousse toys to paint.

The store also sells coffee and tea. Many customers just bought bread to go, but plenty of others sat inside enjoying it leisurely with a drink. There was ample seating, making it a nice place to rest during a trip. Pairing the potato bread with an Americano really brings out the charm of its not-too-sweet flavor, haha!

Both the yuja oranda (citron cracker) and Sokcho jjondeugi they sell were great snacks to enjoy in the car, so come check out Bultan Gamja Bread, a Sokcho snack must-visit!

How does the roasted potato bread taste?

The biggest feature of Bultan Gamja Bread is that the potatoes are roasted directly rather than boiled or steamed! They say every morning they wash, roast, and peel Gangwon-do potatoes by hand, and you could naturally feel that care in the taste. They also make everything fresh daily, so you get to taste truly fresh bread. Roasting the potato is said to bring out its natural sweetness more, and eating it, I could tell — it wasn't artificially sweet, just a natural potato flavor. Inside the bread is cream cheese and butter together, giving it a soft yet savory balance.

Bultan Gamja Bread Main Store is great as a travel snack, and also as a recommended Sokcho gift for family or friends.

It's especially light to carry and easy to store, so many people buy it as a Sokcho souvenir or dessert gift. It's also fine as a kids' snack or travel memento. I packed a box myself for my mom too.

The outside of the potato bread is coated with a powder made from ground domestic grains like black sesame, black beans, and black rice. At first I thought it was just there for the black color, but eating it, I could really taste the nutty flavor of the grains. Potato bread usually makes you think of a sweet taste first, but this one wasn't overly sweet, so it was actually easy to eat without feeling heavy.

Does Sokcho jjondeugi taste like squid? Trying it in the car

Besides the potato bread, another product caught my eye — Sokcho jjondeugi (chewy rice snack).

It wasn't just regular jjondeugi — it's made using a Sokcho specialty ingredient, which made it stand out and caught my attention. That anticipation before trying it...

I also took a photo of the ingredients label for reference.

Called "squid jjondeugi," I was very curious and a bit worried it would have overpowering seasoning powder, but it looked like the plain, clean jjondeugi I usually eat, with just a subtle squid aroma that added extra flavor.

A Sokcho bakery café must-visit <Bultan Gamja Bread Main Store> — my honest review of the tasty Sokcho potato bread and squid jjondeugi, packed up and eaten in the car!