Gangneung noodle restaurant with a kkamak-jang pork set: Gossi's

When you think of Gangneung, makguksu (buckwheat noodles) and sundubu (soft tofu) are must-eats. I went to Gossi's Donghae Makguksu, right in front of Gangmun Beach, where you can try both in one place — here's my honest review.

Where is Gossi's Donghae Makguksu in Gangneung?

Gossi's Donghae Makguksu is a makguksu and sundubu specialty restaurant located right in front of Gangmun Beach in Gangneung, on Changhae-ro 350beon-gil. The menu ranges from makguksu to sundubu kalguksu, boiled pork belly, and buckwheat gimbap — plenty of local Gangneung dishes. Best of all, you can eat while looking out at Gangmun Beach through floor-to-ceiling windows.

At Gossi's Donghae Makguksu, you can taste buckwheat noodles made fresh in-house at the time of order, plus makguksu and sundubu made with local Gangwon-do ingredients.

Since it's right in front of Gangmun Beach, it's great to eat and then go play by the sea afterward.

Where do you park near Gangmun Beach?

Park at the Gangmun public parking lot! You get free exit for up to 1 hour, and for longer stays just ask at the restaurant counter.

Inside Gossi's: ocean-view seating and atmosphere

Walking into Gossi's Donghae Makguksu, the space was bigger and more comfortable than I expected. There were plenty of tables too, so it's fine for a family visit. What I liked most, of course, was the ocean view! Gangmun Beach and the blue sea stretched out beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, and it really felt like being on vacation the whole time I ate.

There are also two-seat tables by the window, so if you're on a couple's trip to Gangneung, it could work as a date spot where you eat while watching the sea. Baby chairs are also provided, so I'd recommend it for a family trip with a baby too!

What's on the menu at Gossi's Donghae Makguksu?

They sell mul-makguksu, bibim-makguksu, and perilla oil makguksu, as well as sundubu, sundubu kalguksu, boiled pork belly, and buckwheat gimbap. It's also good if you're visiting with a group — everyone can order what they want and share.

We ordered the perilla oil makguksu pork belly set and the spicy sundubu kalguksu. Eating the nutty perilla oil makguksu and adding a piece of pork belly made it filling, and pairing it with the hot, spicy sundubu kalguksu broth gave a totally different feeling again. I was glad we ordered all three together — the combination really worked.

How do the perilla oil makguksu and kkamak-jang pork taste?

The first dish we ordered at Gossi's Donghae Makguksu was the perilla oil makguksu. You could enjoy the distinctive nutty aroma of perilla oil along with the flavor of the buckwheat noodles. From the first bite, the perilla oil scent spreading through my mouth was really good — clean yet nutty, the kind of taste that keeps your chopsticks moving!

If just makguksu feels like not enough, try it with the pork belly. We ordered the set that includes kkamak-jang (black soybean paste) pork belly, and the pork belly exceeded expectations too. There was no gamy pork smell at all, and the meat was really tender. Chewing it, it had just the right amount of chewiness!

What is the spicy sundubu kalguksu like?

This is the spicy sundubu kalguksu. Soft sundubu combined with kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) and eaten together with the spicy broth turned out to be a much better combination than I expected. Especially taking one hot, spicy sip of the broth gave that feeling of everything clearing right up inside!

It's not just spicy — the soft sundubu is mixed in too, so the spicy broth and the soft sundubu texture alternate, and I kept reaching for more. It's a dish I kept thinking about even after finishing, so I think I'll order it again next time I visit.

Why Gossi's is worth adding to a Gangneung trip

Gossi's Donghae Makguksu in Gangneung was great because it let me try all the dishes I wanted to eat in Gangneung in one place. From the nutty perilla oil makguksu, to the hot spicy sundubu kalguksu I kept thinking about, to the tender, chewy, non-gamy kkamak-jang pork belly — as a true local Gangneung favorite, we left with a table full of the local dishes Gangneung is known for.

On top of everything, being right in front of Gangmun Beach means you can naturally continue on to a beach walk or a café after your meal. Whether it's a family trip with a baby or a couple's date in Gangneung, if you're looking for a place to eat near Gangmun Beach, it fits well into your Gangneung travel route, so I'd recommend it. If you're searching for a real local favorite or a genuine hidden gem in Gangneung, add Gossi's Donghae Makguksu to your itinerary — a place where you can taste Gangneung's signature makguksu and sundubu in one sitting.