Comparing 3 makguksu styles and a 2-person pork set in Gangneung

When you visit Gangneung, you kind of have to eat makguksu (buckwheat noodles) at least once, right? This time I went to Gossi's Donghae Makguksu & Sundubu Kalguksu Main Branch.

The menu had way too many options to just order one bowl and leave, so this time we ordered a bunch and compared them. We had perilla oil makguksu, water makguksu, spicy mixed makguksu, and spicy sundubu kalguksu.

The three makguksu styles all went in completely different flavor directions, so it was great for picking whatever suited your taste, and with the hot, spicy sundubu kalguksu on top of that, the meal felt a lot more varied.

It's good even if you just want makguksu on its own, but it was especially good when several people visit and each want to order something different — a real Gangneung makguksu spot worth knowing about.

Location and hours at Gossi's Donghae Makguksu Main Branch

• Gossi's Donghae Makguksu & Sundubu Kalguksu Main Branch, Gangneung
• 📍 25 Changhae-ro 350beon-gil, Gangneung, Gangwon, South Korea (1st–3rd floor)
• ✔️ 10:00 - 20:30 (break 3:30-5 PM, last order 8:00 PM)

Exterior and getting there

The main branch is on the ground floor of the building, so the sign catches your eye as soon as you get close. The exterior already has that comfortable, familiar makguksu-shop vibe, and there's a menu display in front of the entrance so you can get a rough idea of what's on offer before going in.

It's a good stop if you're looking for Korean food while traveling around Gangneung, or when you want something easy like makguksu or sundubu.

When I look for restaurants in Gangneung, I prefer places with a solid menu lineup over spots that are just tourist-crowded, and this place had sundubu kalguksu alongside the makguksu, so it's the kind of place worth mentioning when recommending good Gangneung restaurants.

First-floor atmosphere

The first floor interior was fairly compact and neatly arranged. The tables were set up for comfortable dining, and one side had notices and menu materials organized.

As you can see in the photo, kids' chairs were available too, so it looked like a fine spot for families. The interior wasn't overly flashy or decorated — more of a comfortable restaurant atmosphere that lets you focus on the food.

Dog-friendly third floor, ocean view at the window

Last time I visited we ate on the second floor, but this time, since we had our dog with us, we ate on the third floor. Heading up toward the window, you get a wide-open ocean view, which made it feel way more like a travel-destination restaurant than a plain makguksu shop.

Sitting by the window let us see the scenery outside while eating, which made the whole atmosphere so much nicer. Since we came all the way to Gangneung, eating a leisurely meal while looking at the sea feels totally different from just eating and leaving.

The second floor also had plenty of tables, and there was a separate self-serve corner where you could easily grab what you needed. So it seemed like it wouldn't feel cramped even with a family or a group of friends.

Menu and ordering

You could order comfortably right at the table. Looking at the menu, there are several kinds of makguksu, so first-timers might have a hard time deciding. We went ahead and ordered perilla oil makguksu, water makguksu, spicy mixed makguksu, and spicy sundubu kalguksu so we could compare them all.

If you love makguksu, I'd recommend visiting with a group and each ordering something different to share, rather than everyone getting the same one.

Side dishes and the self-serve bar

This is the basic side dish spread at Gossi's main branch. They come out well suited to eating alongside makguksu, and you can get more from the self-serve bar.

An absolute feast..! I ordered two of the 2-person sets, so we got a plate of boiled pork added for each pair!

Perilla oil makguksu

The first thing that caught my eye was the perilla oil makguksu. The noodles were piled with seaweed flakes and nutty toppings, so it looked like it would smell intensely fragrant just from the visual. Once you mix it well, the perilla oil and seaweed flakes coat the whole noodle and it gets glossy. When you actually eat it, what comes through first isn't a strong seasoning flavor but the distinctive nutty aroma of perilla oil.

The more you chew, the more the buckwheat noodle's clean flavor and the perilla oil's nuttiness come up together, making it much softer and easier to eat than the other makguksu. If you're not really into spicy food or tangy seasonings, perilla oil makguksu will probably suit you best. It starts out plain, but you keep reaching for it as you go.

Water makguksu

Water makguksu is the familiar style with buckwheat noodles in a cold broth. As shown in the photo, there's plenty of broth with toppings on top, and it's a menu that especially suits summer or hot days. Once you mix the noodles well into the broth, a refreshing, clean flavor hits first.

Unlike the mixed makguksu, the seasoning isn't strong, so it's easy to eat and pairs well with meat or other dishes. When I'm eating several makguksu at once, I like how the water makguksu broth kind of resets your palate midway through. If you're looking for Gangneung's best makguksu and want to start with the most basic one, this is the safest choice.

Spicy mixed makguksu

The mixed makguksu had presence from the visual alone. The red seasoning coated the noodles all over, and just looking at it made my appetite kick in. Mix it well and take a bite — the spicy, sweet-and-tangy seasoning blends nicely into the noodles. If perilla oil makguksu is about nutty flavor, mixed makguksu is definitely about the seasoning's strong presence.

So if you like bold flavors or spicy noodle dishes, this one will probably suit you better. It tasted even better paired with kimchi or other side dishes along the way, and adding a bit of kimchi on top of the noodles gave it more texture too. Makguksu really comes down to preference, but eating several kinds together like this made each one's strengths really clear.

Spicy sundubu kalguksu

Eating three bowls of makguksu alone can start to feel a bit cold, and that's exactly when the spicy sundubu kalguksu came in perfectly. As shown in the photo, it comes out piping hot with a red broth holding soft tofu and noodles. It's a totally different dish from the makguksu, so it was really nice to have a spoonful of broth in between. The broth is spicy as the name suggests, but the sundubu (soft tofu) softens the heat nicely.

Scooping up the soft tofu together with the kalguksu noodles was so filling I thought this alone would make a complete meal. When going with a group, I'd recommend mixing in one hot dish like this rather than ordering only makguksu varieties. After cold makguksu, one spoonful of hot broth really hits the spot.

Boiled pork from the 2-person set

I ordered two of the 2-person sets, so we got two plates of boiled pork. Well-cooked, moist, warm pork came with green onion kimchi and other side dishes to go with it — genuinely delicious.

Rice makgeolli

Makgeolli (rice wine) really suits the atmosphere of a makguksu shop. As shown in the photo, we had makgeolli alongside our meal, and it went well with both the makguksu and the sundubu kalguksu.

A cool sip of makgeolli, then a bite of perilla oil makguksu, then a spoonful of spicy sundubu kalguksu broth — it really felt like a proper Korean meal in Gangneung. If you're not driving while traveling, having a light drink alongside is a nice option.

Which makguksu should you pick?

I tried the perilla oil makguksu, water makguksu, spicy mixed makguksu, and spicy sundubu kalguksu at Gossi's main branch, and each one had such a different character that it was satisfying overall.

If you like nutty and clean flavors, go for perilla oil makguksu; for something cool and refreshing, water makguksu; for spicy and tangy, mixed makguksu; and if you want hot broth too, spicy sundubu kalguksu. Especially if you're visiting with a group, I'd recommend ordering one of each and sharing small portions like we did.

If you're looking for a great Gangneung makguksu spot, a recommended Gangneung restaurant, or somewhere to eat makguksu and sundubu in one place, definitely consider Gossi's Donghae Makguksu & Sundubu Kalguksu Main Branch.

As a traveler, the wide menu selection and being able to taste several dishes in one sitting made it a great fit for anyone searching for local recommendations in Gangneung too!