Sokcho tofu restaurant, engaged couple's no-wait first meal: Jinsol

My boyfriend finally had a weekday off, so we put our hectic wedding-prep life on hold and left for a two-day trip to Sokcho. We set out early, and for our first meal we picked chodang sundubu (soft tofu stew), a must when you're in Sokcho. Since it was breakfast, we wanted something mild and light, and that's how we ended up at Jinsol Halmeoni Sundubu (진솔할머니순두부).

In the three years we've been together, we'd had chodang sundubu exactly once. I love tofu and remembered it being delicious, so I came hoping for another great meal with him.

Where is Jinsol Halmeoni Sundubu? Parking and opening hours

Jinsol Halmeoni Sundubu is at 118 Wonamhaksapyeong-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon, and it's open daily from 07:30 to 20:00. Search "진솔할머니순두부" in your navigation app and it takes you right to the door.

There's a big parking lot in front with room for about 30 cars. We drove, and a staff member was guiding cars in, so parking was easy. With hours of 07:30 to 20:00, it's a rare spot in Sokcho where you can have breakfast and still come back for dinner.

Inside Jinsol Halmeoni Sundubu and the wait

The inside is seriously huge. We arrived around 11 am on a weekday and, luckily, walked right in with no wait. It was almost lunchtime, so one side was already set up for a group reservation. A lot of tour groups did arrive while we ate, and I could tell this big space must fill up on weekends and at peak times.

Jinsol Halmeoni Sundubu menu

The menu starts with the classic chodang sundubu, plus spicy sundubu and jjamppong sundubu (spicy seafood tofu stew) with seafood like abalone, shrimp and scallop. There are also meals like bibimbap (rice bowl with mixed toppings) and bulgogi set meals, along with hot pots and set menus. You can add side dishes like grilled pollack and potato pancake, so there's plenty to choose from.

What we ordered for our first meal in Sokcho

We ordered one of the signature dishes, the mild chodang sundubu, and one spicy jjamppong sundubu. We'd gotten up and left right away that morning, and this was our first meal after arriving in Sokcho, so we kept the order simple.

What side dishes come at Jinsol Halmeoni Sundubu?

The sundubu came out quickly, neatly served with a variety of side dishes.

The sides were japchae (glass noodle stir-fry), salted squid and a little buckwheat pancake. I don't usually eat with lots of side dishes laid out, so seeing a table full of them after so long really got my appetite going.

Chodang sundubu: a mild, easy breakfast

The chodang sundubu I ordered had a milky white broth with plenty of soft tofu, and it tasted just as mild as I'd hoped. It wasn't harsh at all, so it was easy to eat for breakfast, and honestly I thought my parents would love it too.

What seafood is in the jjamppong sundubu?

My boyfriend's jjamppong sundubu had a spicy broth with the savory depth of seafood, a different charm from the chodang sundubu.

The abalone wasn't big, but there was a whole one in there, plus shrimp, crab and a scallop, so it looked hearty just to look at. We swapped bowls back and forth. I loved the mild, nutty chodang sundubu, but the spicy, savory jjamppong sundubu kept pulling my spoon back too.

The two dishes taste so different that going back and forth kept us from getting tired of either, and we enjoyed them even more.

Biji (soybean pulp) at Jinsol Halmeoni Sundubu

As we finished and were heading out, a sign on one side caught my eye saying bean curd (biji, the soy pulp left over from making tofu) is available. We'd just had a big sundubu breakfast and walked past, but if it hadn't been the first day of our trip, I thought my mom would have loved it if I'd taken some home to her.

Is Jinsol Halmeoni Sundubu good for breakfast in Sokcho?

It was a satisfying first meal in Sokcho, with mild chodang sundubu and spicy jjamppong sundubu. It filled us up without feeling heavy so early in the day, a good way to start a trip. If you're looking for a breakfast spot in Sokcho, I'd recommend giving Jinsol Halmeoni Sundubu a try.