4-person Chodang Myeongpum table repeat visit: Jeong Eunsuk Chodang

Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu is one of the places I almost always stop by whenever I go to Gangneung. You kind of have to eat chodang sundubu (soft tofu stew) once when you're in Gangneung, but rather than just having a single bowl of sundubu and calling it a day, I like this place when I want a whole spread of Gangneung Korean food on one table.

This time too, I ordered the Chodang Myeongpum table for 4. It's not just sundubu jjegol (soft tofu hot pot) — you get bossam samhap and kodari (dried pollock) alongside it, so with one order you end up eating a nice variety of things.

Above all, this place is run by a Master Chef of Korea, so every dish is consistently good overall, which is why I keep coming back to this Gangneung chodang sundubu spot every time I visit.

The exterior, getting there, and parking

Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu occupies a fairly large building, so the sign is easy to spot once you're nearby. And parking is important if you're driving around Gangneung, right?

As you can see in the photo, there's parking right in front of the restaurant, and a wide space to the side as well.

There were a lot of cars when I visited, but the parking area itself is generous, so it was easy to come by car. That said, this is a Gangneung chodang sundubu restaurant that usually has quite a wait. Knowing that, I made a point of visiting early in the morning this time.

As a result, I got in without any wait, but the place filled up fast once mealtime hit. If you hate waiting like me, I'd recommend going a little earlier rather than right in the middle of lunch hour.

Interior size and group seating

Once you step inside, the place is bigger than you'd expect. It's a famous restaurant in a tourist area, but it doesn't feel chaotic or old — everything was kept clean overall. The tables weren't crammed together either, so it was comfortable for a family meal. When I visited, I saw a lot of family groups with parents too.

Toward the back there's a space that functions almost like a separate room from the main hall, with room for a larger group — good for visiting as a group. When you take a family trip to Gangneung, you're usually a group of four or more, right? In that case, a place where you can eat several dishes on one table and also has group seating is definitely more convenient than somewhere that just serves individual bowls of sundubu.

On the wall you could see notices about TV appearances along with various certificates. The fact that it's run by a Master Chef of Korea is one of the reasons I keep coming back.

The menu board and the price of the Chodang Myeongpum table

Looking at the menu, you can order individual dishes, but I'd recommend the Chodang Myeongpum table if you come here. Based on the menu board in the photo, the Chodang Myeongpum table was ₩25,000 per person, with a minimum order of 2 people. There were four of us, so we ordered the table for 4.

It's not a set meal with just one dish — sundubu jjigae, bossam samhap, kodari, and various basic side dishes all come together on one table, which makes it a great option especially when you're visiting with several people. If you've traveled all the way to Gangneung and want to try a variety of things in one meal, I personally prefer this composition over a single dish.

The 4-person Myeongpum table, dish by dish

Once the dishes start getting laid out, the table fills up fast. Sundubu jjigae, bossam, tofu, kodari, and various side dishes all arrive at once, and it really does feel like a 'myeongpum' (fine/premium) table, living up to its name.

I've been here so many times I already knew what to expect, but seeing the table set again still makes me think how generous it is. Some famous restaurants at tourist spots only have one great main dish while the rest is ordinary, but the advantage here is that you can eat a variety of things one after another.

Sundubu jjigae

The first thing I reach for is always the sundubu jjigae. At first it looks like soft, fluffy white sundubu piled up generously, but once it starts boiling, the broth turns red and looks more and more appetizing.

The sundubu is so soft that it breaks apart easily and fluffily when you scoop it with a ladle. Once you spoon out a bowl, you get a hot broth loaded with soft sundubu — this is exactly the flavor you need to have in Gangneung.

Since it's a jjigae, you can scoop out plenty of broth and sundubu together, which is another plus. If you like a warm, spicy soup rather than just plain, mild sundubu, this will especially suit you.

A spoonful of rice followed by a sip of the sundubu jjigae broth is really satisfying. The main reason I keep coming back to Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu whenever I look for a chodang sundubu spot in Gangneung is, in the end, this sundubu.

Bossam samhap

The Myeongpum table also comes with bossam samhap. Soft bossam (boiled pork) and tofu arrive in big pieces, along with kimchi and vegetables to pair with them.

Bossam alone is already good, but I much prefer eating it together with the tofu. As in the photo, it's delicious with bossam and kimchi on top of rice, and just as clean-tasting with tofu topped with kimchi alone.

Wrapping tofu, kimchi, and chives together in a perilla leaf for one bite also works well overall thanks to the tofu's mild flavor. If the sundubu jjigae is the hot, spicy dish, the bossam samhap is the clean, light one you can eat in between — I like that the two menus don't overlap.

With four of us eating, everyone could mix and match combinations they liked, which made it good for a family visit too.

Seasoned grilled kodari

Another thing I love about this set is the seasoned grilled kodari (dried pollock). It arrives on a hot plate with a deep red seasoning coating it — the look alone makes you want more rice. The seasoning is well soaked into the surface of the kodari, so putting a piece of kodari meat on a spoonful of rice pairs really well.

I also wrapped some rice and kodari together in lettuce, and that was delicious too. The advantage here is that even though it's a sundubu specialty restaurant, they're not just good at sundubu — everything else that comes with the table is solid overall.

A bite of sundubu jjigae, then a bite of kodari, back to bossam, then tofu with kimchi. Being able to keep switching between dishes means you get tired of it much less than eating just one thing.

The side dishes make the table even more generous

A variety of basic side dishes also came out, making the table really full. There are already three main dishes, and with the side dishes added, it becomes a proper spread even for four people.

So if you're looking for a place in Gangneung to bring your parents, or a Gangneung Korean restaurant for a proper meal during a family trip, I think this kind of spread is especially good.

When you travel, people sometimes want different things, right? Someone wants sundubu, someone wants meat, someone else likes fish — the Chodang Myeongpum table pretty much covers all of it in one order.

Final thoughts

I'm not recommending Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu because I went once and it was fine — this is a place I visit consistently every time I go to Gangneung. This time too, I had the Chodang Myeongpum table for 4, and it was satisfying as always.

From the hot sundubu jjigae with its soft, fluffy tofu, to the bossam samhap with clean-tasting bossam and tofu, to the kodari that pairs so well with rice — it all comes out together, making for a really varied meal.

There's the fact that it's run by a Master Chef of Korea, but honestly, the food itself is what keeps bringing me back even after many visits. The interior is clean, there's a back space that looks good for group use, and the parking is generous, so it was fine to visit during a family trip too.

That said, it's popular enough that you should expect a wait during mealtimes. I went early in the morning this time and got in without waiting. Like me, this might become the Gangneung chodang sundubu spot you think of every time you visit.

By the way, if you match 0.89 at the entrance, they give you a gift, so definitely give it a try haha!!