Gangneung tofu restaurant, mild hot pot over jjamppong: Jeong Eunsuk

Gangneung breakfast: why we chose soft tofu hot pot over sundubu jjamppong

Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu (정은숙초당순두부) is a chodang soft tofu restaurant on Nanseolheon-ro in Gangneung where you can get a mild tofu hot pot. On the morning of day two of our Gangneung trip, we were looking for something that wasn't spicy and headed straight here.

We'd stuffed ourselves with makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles) and raw fish the day before, so we wanted something easy on the stomach. Gangneung means chodang soft tofu first, right? At first I wondered whether to try the famous sundubu jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup with soft tofu). But spicy food first thing in the morning felt like too much, so I found Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu, a Gangneung tofu spot with a mild tofu hot pot, and we rushed over.

We were sure we had to eat chodang tofu in Gangneung, and for the two of us a mild, lightly seasoned tofu hot pot suited us better than spicy jjamppong sundubu. So, review time, let's go!

Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu opening hours and wait times

Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu opens at 8:30am, yet when we arrived around 11am the parking lot was already full. There were 7 teams waiting at 11am, but turnover is fast so we didn't wait long.

We got there around 11am and the parking lot was already packed!!!! Since it opens at 8:30am, lots of people come from early in the morning~ There's a waiting area at the entrance and it was full of people. By the time we finished eating and came out, there wasn't even a seat left!

When we arrived at 11, there were 7 teams ahead of us. But it's a meal place, not a bar, so turnover is quick and we didn't wait long~ The closer it gets to lunchtime, the longer the wait gets, so going a bit early is the way to cut the line! You could tell just from the wait that this is a very popular Gangneung tofu restaurant~

Inside Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu and the tofu pudding review event

The dining room was full of customers too. There seemed to be a lot of tourists, but I was excited to hear that plenty of locals come to this tofu hot pot place as well~

They also give you sundubu pudding if you write a Naver photo review! There was pudding in the fridge next to the counter. We meant to join in and totally forgot, so please, anyone who does, taste the sundubu pudding for me! Imagine how good that silky pudding must be.

Premium Set vs Tofu Set: what's the difference?

At Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu, the Chodang Premium Set and the Tofu Set differ by ₩5,000, and the difference is whether spicy grilled kodari (semi-dried pollock) is included. We ordered the Chodang Premium Set for two, with the kodari.

Looking at the menu, it was Premium Set or Tofu Set, with a ₩5,000 gap for whether you get the spicy grilled kodari or not. We went with the ✔ Chodang Premium Set for two, which includes the kodari, so we could eat our fill!

The Chodang Premium Set came with tofu hot pot, tofu bossam (boiled pork wraps served with tofu), spicy grilled kodari, and a variety of side dishes. The spread was perfect for two~ It felt like a proper Korean meal, all the way in Gangneung.

Chodang Premium Set side dishes and how fast the food arrives

With the Chodang Premium Set, the side dishes were laid out first and the main dishes followed right away. The fast service showed us why turnover at Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu is so quick.

The side dishes came out first! Every one of them was healthy and tasty. It was nice to have a table that looks after both flavor and health on a trip, and it felt like a hearty meal to start the morning.

Then the main dishes came out right away! There's a reason the turnover is so fast, you know? Quick food was wonderful for two hungry people like us~

Is the soft tofu hot pot at Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu bland?

The tofu hot pot at Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu is boiled at the table, and it tastes mild and clean rather than like a rich sundubu stew. If you hate bland food it might be a little mild, but it was generous with chodang tofu.

The tofu hot pot is boiled at your table. It isn't the rich, deep sundubu jjigae (soft tofu stew) we're used to, but a mild, clean-tasting tofu hot pot! If you dislike bland food, it might be a bit mild?! Still, the tofu was packed in generously, so it felt hearty.

I tried the broth first and it was pure mildness! Not harsh at all, with the nutty flavor of the tofu coming through, so it was easy on the stomach and perfect for breakfast. The tofu was really soft and the broth was clean, so it settled our stomachs, which I loved. After eating all sorts of things the day before, it was just right for us. When I was young I liked spicy, punchy flavors, but now that I'm older I like gentle ones like this, so it gets my approval as a Gangneung tofu restaurant!

Tofu bossam with flounder sikhae: how the pairing works

The tofu bossam in the Chodang Premium Set had tender meat with no gamey smell, and it went especially well with the flounder sikhae (fermented flounder with rice and chili) served alongside. You can order extra flounder sikhae at Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu.

And the tofu bossam was better than I expected. The bossam pork was really tender with no gamey smell. It was moist, and eating it with the tofu was a great combo. The flounder sikhae served with it was the real hit. Bossam plus flounder sikhae together was insanely good,,!!! I wanted to buy the sikhae by itself. You can order extra flounder sikhae, so keep that in mind.

Seasoned grilled kodari: why we picked the Premium Set

The spicy grilled kodari at Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu had a chewy texture soaked with sweet and spicy sauce, and it came on an iron plate so it stayed warm to the end. Alternating the mild tofu hot pot with the spicy kodari makes a nice balance.

The spicy grilled kodari was soaked in a sauce that's moderately spicy and sweet, and the chewy texture was the best! Since the tofu hot pot is mild, eating it with the spicy kodari gives a great balance. It came on an iron plate, so we could keep eating it warm. The kodari was so good that I felt really glad we ordered the Chodang Premium Set.

Finishing with sundubu sulbap: who is this breakfast for?

To finish, we put the leftover rice into the remaining tofu hot pot and ate it like sundubu sulbap (soupy rice). The Chodang Premium Set at Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu is especially recommended for anyone looking for non-spicy Korean food, or for a Gangneung trip with parents.

I just felt like making sundubu sulbap, like doenjang sulbap (rice in soybean paste stew)?! It ended so well that I was glad we picked the tofu hot pot! The Premium Set in particular felt far more satisfying than ordering just the tofu hot pot on its own~ With tender tofu bossam and chewy spicy kodari too, it felt like a proper meal on a trip!

If you're looking for non-spicy Korean food in Gangneung, or you're visiting Gangneung with your parents, I recommend Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu even more as a Gangneung tofu restaurant.