Sokcho jangkalguksu restaurant: whole octopus platter dinner, ₩25,000

The weather was so good I ended up leaving for Sokcho on a whim. Trying to decide what to eat for dinner, I got a craving for something spicy and hot, so I went to a Sokcho dinner spot I'd heard about. It's always mentioned as one of the go-to jangkalguksu (spicy noodle soup) places in Sokcho, known for its generous seafood. From the savory kalguksu broth to noodles hand-pulled in-house, this place has it all — and since dogs are welcome, it was a great pick to visit with a pup too, a real local favorite.

Where is Sokcho Haemul Kkot Jangkalguksu, and is there parking?

Sokcho Haemul Kkot Jangkalguksu, a great Sokcho dinner spot, sits just 4 minutes from Cheongcho Lake — a perfect location for a meal followed by a stroll.

There's a dedicated parking lot right behind the restaurant, so I could park comfortably without worrying about a spot.

• 📍4 Joyang-ro 118beon-gil, Sokcho, Gangwon, South Korea, 1st floor
• ⏰ 09:00 – 20:00

For the exact location, check Naver Map.

What's on the menu at Sokcho Haemul Kkot Jangkalguksu?

Sokcho Haemul Kkot Jangkalguksu's menu has two options — gosari sanghwang (bracken fern and sanghwang mushroom) seafood shabu jangkalguksu, and haemul kkot jaengban shabu jangkalguksu — both perfect for restoring your energy.

Inside the restaurant: seating and dining with a dog

Walking in, plenty of customers were already eating.

The interior was spacious and pretty clean, and the AC was blasting so we didn't get too warm even with the hot noodle soup. Since it's a dog-friendly restaurant, they also rent out dog strollers, and I spotted several customers eating with their dogs.

Seafood flower platter shabu jangkalguksu, 25,000 won per person

📌 What we ordered — Haemul kkot jaengban shabu jangkalguksu, ₩25,000 (per person)

First, they bring out ginseng roots portioned per person. Even I, who can't handle bitter flavors, found them not bitter at all, with a pleasant sweet aroma. Getting ginseng before the meal even started already felt like a boost of energy.

The seafood filling the platter looked fresh at a glance, and the simmering broth gave off a savory aroma.

I got impatient and dumped all the seafood from the flower platter in at once.

I tried the well-cooked scallop first — even though it wasn't in season, it was so sweet it melted the moment it hit my mouth. The broth is spicy in a way that pairs well with a shot of soju over dinner. If you'd had a drink the night before, this would also make a perfect hangover cure.

The whole octopus is the highlight of the platter

What surprised me was this plump octopus — a genuinely hearty, solid octopus. It was on a totally different level from octopus I've had elsewhere. I worried the thick pieces might be chewy, but they weren't tough at all — soft and springy. Every bite brought a nutty, sweet flavor that made me think, without even meaning to, 'so this is how good octopus can taste.'

The fresh, live abalone melted the moment it hit my mouth.

The blue crab was packed with meat — a mouthful of its sweet flesh filled the air with crab aroma and made me feel like I was really in Sokcho.

Toss in the vegetables and thin-sliced beef brisket that come with it, and it's ridiculously good, TT.

Finishing with house-made jangkalguksu noodles

The final touch was the kalguksu (knife-cut noodle) made fresh in-house.

The jangkalguksu noodles looked springy even before I tasted them, and they stayed springy and chewy all the way to the last bite.

My mom said the noodles tasted especially good because they're made in-house, and she finished every last strand. Sokcho Haemul Kkot Jangkalguksu was packed with customers as a popular Sokcho dinner spot. The main dish was extremely generous and well put together, so we left satisfied and full — if you're looking for a good jangkalguksu spot in Sokcho, go for it.