Sokcho makguksu spot for a first-day brunch: extra pollack, Topgol

Why Topgol Makguksu was our first meal in Sokcho

Sokcho Topgol Makguksu Main Branch (속초탑골막국수 본점) is a makguksu (buckwheat noodle) restaurant near Sokcho Beach, and I stopped by for breakfast-slash-early-lunch on this trip. Makguksu is one of the first foods that comes to mind when you think of a Sokcho trip, isn't it?

We went for a breakfast-slash-early-lunch at this Sokcho makguksu favorite, Topgol Makguksu.

I've been to Sokcho Beach many times, and somehow this is my first time at Topgol Makguksu.

Sokcho Topgol Makguksu Main Branch: location, hours and parking

The main branch is at 12 Haeoreum-ro 188beon-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon, on the 1st floor, open daily 09:30–21:00 (last order 20:30). For parking, use Sokcho Beach public lots 1, 2 or 3: you get 2 hours free with a meal, and it's a 3-minute walk to the restaurant.

• Address: 12 Haeoreum-ro 188beon-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon, 1st floor
• Hours: daily 09:30–21:00, last order 20:30
• Facilities: group reservations, Wi-Fi, high chairs, easy payment, takeout, dogs allowed
• Parking: Sokcho Beach public lots 1, 2, 3 (2 hours free with a meal) / 3-minute walk

It's near the Sokcho Eye Ferris wheel ticket office, across from the big Sokcho Hangari Mulhoe (jar-style cold raw fish soup) restaurant.

There's a big public parking lot right in front, so parking is easy, and there's an entrance that wheelchairs and strollers can use, so it's accessible for everyone.

People say this is a place to visit the moment you arrive in Sokcho... and this trip I finally tried the makguksu at Topgol Makguksu Main Branch, loved by locals and tourists alike. Now that I've been, I get why so many people say, "First meal after arriving in Sokcho? Topgol Makguksu, no question."

What about dogs and the waiting area?

Dogs are allowed, but a notice at the entrance asks you to zip the carrier or stroller cover shut when you come in.

It's a place with long waits, so the waiting area is well done. There's even a photo printer so you won't get bored while you wait. It was early lunchtime, so there were still tables open. Sleeping in on a trip and eating an early lunch seems to be everyone's routine, haha..

Topgol Makguksu has a clean interior and friendly service, and the care and flavor in each bowl beat my expectations. It looks like celebrities have been here too..

Table perilla oil and side dishes

Every table has a bottle of perilla oil. The oil is said to be made by cold-pressing perilla seeds grown in the clean area of Goseong, Gangwon. Maybe that's why it had a deep, rich nuttiness unlike regular perilla oil.

The side dishes are a simple two: seasoned radish and young radish kimchi.

The young radish kimchi was so nicely fermented that my companion fetched extra from the self-service corner, so there's no photo of the corner... haha

Topgol Makguksu menu and how to order

The signature menu item is deulmemak (perilla oil buckwheat makguksu), and you order at the table with a T-order tablet.

Deulmemak is the signature, and you order on the tablet at your table.

The star here is the Sokcho perilla oil makguksu.

We ordered deulmemak, pollack-salad buckwheat makguksu, an extra pollack salad, and a potato pancake.

How does the deulmemak (perilla oil makguksu) taste?

The moment the perilla oil makguksu arrived, that nutty aroma hit my nose first.

The rich perilla oil and the chewy buckwheat noodles go really well together. From the first bite, the natural buckwheat flavor and the fragrant oil filled my mouth, and I couldn't help but marvel.

The pollack-salad buckwheat makguksu was even better because the pollack salad itself was so good.

What impressed me most at Topgol Makguksu was the buckwheat noodles. They say they use 100% domestic buckwheat and make the noodles fresh every morning. There was a huge pile of buckwheat flour next to the kitchen.

Is the pollack salad add-on (₩4,000) worth it?

I added pollack salad for ₩4,000, and it was worth it. I bought some seasoned pollack salad not long ago and it tasted so bad I struggled to finish it, but the pollack salad here is delicious. I wanted to just eat it as a side with rice.

Shredded potato pancake (₩17,000)

The potato pancake is ₩17,000, and it isn't made with grated potato but with shredded potato, pan-fried.

I also liked that they give you a pizza cutter so you can slice it like a pizza.

It's soft yet springy, so I enjoyed it right down to the last bite.

The fresh toppings and vegetables served with it were neatly prepared, and every ingredient tasted fresh. Best of all, the seasoning isn't heavy and the flavor is clean, so I think anyone, young or old, could enjoy it without a problem.

Start your trip with a bowl of makguksu made with healthy ingredients and real care. A bowl of Sokcho perilla oil makguksu full of nutty aroma will surely be a satisfying choice.

Next time: the summer dongchimi makguksu

I hear the summer favorite, dongchimi makguksu (noodles in a cold radish water kimchi broth), is popular too. The cool, tangy dongchimi broth pairs well with the buckwheat noodles, so it's especially popular on hot days. Next visit, I definitely want to try the dongchimi makguksu too.

Free corkage, birthday perks, and the Sokcho Eye Ferris wheel after lunch

The main branch offers birthday perks and free corkage, so it seems like a good place for special days too. Above all, the staff were so friendly that I felt good the whole meal.

It's close, so after eating we also rode the Sokcho Eye Ferris wheel. If you're planning a Sokcho trip, start your first meal at Topgol Makguksu Main Branch. I confidently recommend it as a place where you can feel the real charm of Sokcho makguksu.

If you're looking for a good Sokcho makguksu restaurant, I recommend visiting Topgol Makguksu Main Branch at least once. It suits family trips, dates, trips with friends, and solo meals alike.