Lid Lifter · 36 stories

Lifting the Lid

I write about meals at restaurants I visit in Gangwon, Daegu, and Gyeongbuk. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Things to do · Shopping

PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho Korean restaurant for a 5 PM dinner after break time: Bigeumdo

Bigeumdo is a hanok-style Korean restaurant on Sinheung 2-gil in Sokcho, Gangwon, near Seoraksan. On the way home from a Sokcho trip, the writer walked into Bigeumdo at 5 PM, just as break time ended, and had spicy pork stir-fry (jeyuk bokkeum), tofu stew and grilled flatfish with no wait. The spicy, sweet-and-salty tofu stew and neat side dishes stood out. The pork was a little fatty, but Bigeumdo is a hearty dinner spot worth revisiting on the next Sokcho trip.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonCafés

Sokcho egg tart bakery: last-day 3pm pickup, on-time bonus tart, Doris

Doris Patisserie is a pink egg tart bakery inside Sokcho Central Market in Sokcho, Gangwon. On the last day of a Sokcho trip, the writer booked a 3pm pickup, took home a box of 6 original egg tarts, received 1 extra tart from the owner for arriving on time, and enjoyed the Doris Patisserie tarts at home with coffee. With crisp, flaky pastry and a not-too-sweet custard, Doris Patisserie egg tarts are worth booking ahead and picking up on time.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonShopping

Sokcho snack shop: dry-cough doraji deodeok syrup, Sokcho Yetgokgan

Sokcho Yetgokgan (속초옛곳간) is a traditional snack shop in the dakgangjeong (fried chicken) alley of Sokcho Jungang Market in Sokcho, Gangwon, selling house-simmered syrups and handmade yakgwa (honey cookies), yugwa (puffed rice crackers) and oranda (sweet grain clusters). On the last day of a Sokcho trip, I picked Sokcho Yetgokgan's doraji deodeok syrup (bellflower and deodeok root syrup) to drink as tea for a winter dry cough. My friend bought ginger syrup, and we also tasted the handmade yuzu yakgwa. If you want souvenir snacks from Sokcho Jungang Market, Sokcho Yetgokgan is a stop you can trust.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonCafés

Sokcho bakery café: frozen potato bread when chilled sells out, Bultan

Sokcho Bultan Gamja Bread Main Store is a bakery café on Haksapyeong-gil in Sokcho, Gangwon, specializing in potato bread and squid jjondeugi (a chewy squid snack). On the last day of a Sokcho trip with a friend, the writer reserved ahead, but the chilled potato bread had sold out, so they bought frozen potato bread and a 12-piece bag of squid jjondeugi. The potato bread was moist and not too sweet, and the jjondeugi got more savory with every chew. Chilled products can sell out early, so reserve before visiting Sokcho Bultan Gamja Bread.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonCafés

Sokcho market croquettes, pre-booked pickup, no wait: Samsam Goroke

Samsam Goroke is a handmade croquette shop on Chicken Alley (닭전 골목) in Sokcho Central Market, Sokcho, Gangwon, across from Manseok Dakgangjeong. The writer reserved ahead in case the popular flavors sold out early and picked up a 17,000 won mixed-flavor box with no wait, but her husband ate the whole box himself, so the taste notes come from him. Samsam Goroke is a Sokcho market snack her croquette-loving husband enjoyed enough to leave not a single one.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho tonkatsu spot with sous vide tenderloin: Sous Vide Gongjakso

Sous Vide Gongjakso (수비드공작소) is a sous vide pork cutlet and steak restaurant on the 3rd floor of a building on Ekseupo-ro 2-gil in Sokcho, Gangwon. On the last evening of a Sokcho trip with a friend, the blogger ordered the sous vide tenderloin cutlet and a cube steak rice bowl topped with a poached egg; the tenderloin cutlet had no greasiness and was tender enough to pull apart along the grain. For a different take on tonkatsu in Sokcho, Sous Vide Gongjakso is worth recommending.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho tofu restaurant lunch: pink tofu jeon with kimchi, Yetgoeul

Yetgoeul Sundubu (옛고을순두부) is a soft tofu restaurant in front of Seoraksan on Wonamhaksapyeong-gil in Sokcho, Gangwon. Right after arriving in Sokcho, the writer and a friend had chodang sundubu (soft tofu), spicy sundubu and buckwheat jeonbyeong (buckwheat crepe roll) for lunch, and the pink tofu jeon (pan-fried tofu) served as a side dish was a treat with kimchi on top. Yetgoeul Sundubu was busy with tour groups, so the order came a little late, but the meal was worth the wait.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonCafés

Sokcho café on a friends' trip: rattan chairs & biji tea, Cafe Neorae

Cafe Neorae is a two-level café on the 2nd and 3rd floors in Haksapyeong Soft Tofu Village, right in front of Seoraksan in Sokcho, Gangwon. On a trip to Sokcho with a friend, the writer stopped at Cafe Neorae briefly before heading to their lodging. From a rattan-chair window seat with a view of Seoraksan, they had a sweet Chodang corn latte and biji tea (Neorae tea) that tastes like Solomon's seal tea. With its clean space, rattan interior and mountain view, Cafe Neorae is worth a return visit with more time to spare.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Dongtan baby octopus restaurant: brisket & minari set, Jeongipum

Jeongipum Jjukkumi Dongtan Branch 1 is a griddle baby octopus restaurant on the first floor at 8-5 Wangbaesan 2-gil in Dongtan, Hwaseong. On an early weekend lunch, the writer ordered the beef brisket, baby octopus and vegetable set for 2, ate it with minari (water dropwort), and finished with fried rice wrapped in roasted seaweed. With a roomy, comfortable dining room, high chairs and a walk in neighbouring Wangbaesan Sports Park, Jeongipum Jjukkumi Dongtan Branch 1 suits a weekend family meal with a little one.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

After-work clam hot pot kalguksu with coworkers in Pyeongtaek: Songdam

Songdam Kalguksu (송담칼국수) is a Korean noodle restaurant serving hot pot kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) and shabu-shabu kalguksu on Gangbyeon-ro in Anjung-eup, Pyeongtaek. A regular who has eaten at Songdam Kalguksu more than 10 times came after work with coworkers and ordered clam hot pot kalguksu for 3 plus kimchi, meat and vegetable dumplings. Young radish barley rice and corn bread also came with the meal, so 3 servings were more than enough. With its refreshing clam broth and well-stuffed dumplings, Songdam Kalguksu is an easy recommendation for an after-work group dinner.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Godeok dakgalbi lunch with potato pancake for makgeolli: Semo Dakgalbi

Semo Dakgalbi Pyeongtaek Godeok Urban Grove Mall Branch is a dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken) restaurant on the 2nd floor of Urban Grove Mall in Godeok, Pyeongtaek. On a Sunday lunch, the writer and her husband ordered the dakgalbi set: dakgalbi for two, mul makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles in broth) and a potato pancake, at the mildest Shin Ramyun spice level. The dakgalbi came out already stir-fried from the kitchen, and the potato pancake was so savory her husband called it the perfect snack with makgeolli (rice wine). The set was too generous to leave room for fried rice, but the writer says she is 200% coming back to Semo Dakgalbi.

Written Oct 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Tonkatsu with a granddaughter in Dongtan: soft tenderloin, Kkot Gatsu

Kkot Gatsu (꽃가츠) is a tonkatsu (pork cutlet) restaurant in Mokdong, Dongtan, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. Around noon on a weekday, the writer, her daughter and her granddaughter shared a Kkot Katsu Set (200g tenderloin with su-udon) and a Premium Loin Katsu Set (200g top loin with hwa-udon), plus a cola and a bowl of rice, for 43,000 won. The Kkot Gatsu tenderloin was tender enough for the baby to eat, and with a high chair and a self bar, Kkot Gatsu suits family meals with little children.

Written Oct 9, 2026Sponsored