Sokcho market snack stall, ₩17,000 half-and-half set: Hwangbuja Twigim

While traveling in Sokcho, I stopped by Sokcho Tourist and Fisheries Market (속초관광수산시장) on a weekend evening to check out dinner options. Among all the market food, I really wanted to get squid sundae (오징어순대, stuffed squid sausage) and tempura to take out, so I went to Hwangbuja Twigim, which kept coming up as a Sokcho Jungang Market favorite. I packed up squid sundae, king prawn tempura, and red snow crab meat tempura all at once and ate it back at the hotel — here's how it went.

How busy is Sokcho Jungang Market on a weekend evening?

I visited around a weekend evening, and true to its reputation as a big draw for Sokcho travelers, the place was seriously crowded. Heading deeper into the market, all kinds of food caught my eye — dakgangjeong (fried chicken bites), savory pancakes, tempura, seafood, you name it.

While casually browsing and looking for something to take back to the hotel, one spot stood out with a noticeably long line — that was Hwangbuja Twigim, the exact place I'd planned to visit that day.

Where is Hwangbuja Twigim, and what are its hours?

• Address: 16 Jungang-ro 147beon-gil, Sokcho Tourist and Fisheries Market Units 26-27, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
• Hours: 08:00 – 20:30
• Regular closing day: Every Wednesday

Hwangbuja Twigim sits right inside Sokcho Tourist and Fisheries Market, so it's an easy stop while wandering around.

When I got there, a pretty long line had formed out front. At first I thought I'd be waiting a while, but once I actually got in line, it moved faster than expected. The system was: grab a menu, decide what to order, pay, then keep moving along the line until you pick up your food.

Choosing the menu and paying before joining the line

Looking at the menu, there was a wide range of squid sundae and various tempura options. Rather than picking just one thing, I was drawn to the set combos that let you try a few items together.

• Squid sundae + king prawn tempura combo: ₩17,000
• Red snow crab meat tempura: ₩10,000

Since I was in Sokcho, I wanted to try the squid sundae, and among the tempura options, the hefty king prawn and the somewhat unusual red snow crab meat tempura caught my curiosity, so I picked both.

Tempura fried nonstop in front of the stall

Personally, what caught my eye most while waiting was watching the food being made continuously right at the front of the stall. I could see the squid sundae and tempura turning golden brown right in front of me, and since orders kept pouring in, everything was being made at a pretty fast clip.

With so many customers, food was going out and getting restocked constantly — the turnover really felt fast.

In particular, there was a row of different tempura types displayed right at the front, and it looked seriously tempting. I'd already ordered and paid, but watching the other tempura while waiting made me consider adding one more order.

Even with the long line, since food kept being made and packed continuously, I got my order more smoothly than I'd expected.

Unpacking the squid sundae and tempura back at the hotel

We didn't eat right away — we packed everything up to take back to the hotel. The smell inside the market made me want to dig in on the spot, but we decided to lay it all out comfortably at the hotel instead.

Of everything we tried that day, the squid sundae was the first thing I reached for. The outside was fried to a golden brown, giving it a different texture from the usual steamed squid sundae.

The outer layer had a nutty, slightly seared flavor, while the inside had that distinctive squid sundae filling — a great combination. It also worked well as something you pack up at the market and enjoy back at the hotel.

King prawn tempura vs. red snow crab meat tempura

The king prawn tempura lived up to its name — the shrimp were quite sizable, and the batter wasn't hollow inside either.

Biting in, you got the crispy batter and the shrimp meat together, and it went great alternating bites with the squid sundae.

I ordered the red snow crab meat tempura out of curiosity, since it's a bit different from the usual shrimp or squid tempura you find at markets.

Rather than just a thick batter shell, there was a good amount of filling inside, making it more satisfying than I expected. Personally, I like trying a little of everything, so adding the red snow crab meat tempura to the combo set turned out to be a good call.

Is Hwangbuja Twigim worth it as Sokcho market street food?

Of the Sokcho Jungang Market spots I visited this time, this was the one that really captured that bustling market atmosphere. If you're looking for squid sundae and want to try tempura alongside it, the menu variety makes it easy to pick something to your taste.

If you're like us, browsing the market during a Sokcho trip and looking for a late-night snack or simple dinner to eat back at the hotel, taking it to go is a solid option. Personally, from this visit to Hwangbuja Twigim, the combination of the golden-fried squid sundae and the plump king prawn tempura stuck with me the most.