Sokcho soft tofu restaurant open 7:20am for breakfast: Daecheongmaru

Looking for somewhere gentle on the stomach for breakfast after a Sokcho trip! Sundubu (soft tofu stew) is exactly right for that, haha.

On trips you end up eating a lot of intense food — skate stew, Sokcho dakgangjeong (fried chicken) — so a gentle sundubu breakfast really hits the spot.

Here's my review from breakfast at Daecheongmaru (대청마루), a hugely famous spot in Sokcho!

Where is Daecheongmaru, and what are the hours and parking?

Daecheongmaru is at 430 Gwangwang-ro, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea, and it's open 07:20–21:30. There are plenty of parking spots right in front of the store, so no need to hunt around.

I'd spotted this place while driving past before — always tons of cars parked, and from the reviews it's already super famous...

Opening at 7:20am is perfect breakfast timing ❤️ We stayed at the nearby Hanwha Resort and drove over for breakfast — it was like a 5-minute drive, haha, really close by.

There's really generous parking right in front of the store too, so no need to worry about parking at all! 🚗

Since it's a popular spot there can be a wait! But turnover is fast and there are plenty of seats inside, so even if there's a wait it doesn't seem to last long.

Tofu — good for you and good tasting! The kimchi here was delicious too, and sure enough it was homemade kimjang kimchi.

What soybeans does Daecheongmaru use?

We only use 100% pure domestic Korean soybeans 🌱🫘

Daecheongmaru only uses domestic soybeans! Sure enough, all the great tofu restaurants use domestic beans...

Seating and private rooms inside Daecheongmaru

Inside, Daecheongmaru has 70 seats on the 1st floor and 100 seats on the 2nd floor. There are also private rooms, so it looked like a comfortable place to eat as a group.

With 70 seats on the 1st floor and 100 on the 2nd floor prepared, there's no need to worry about seats. There are rooms too, so it looked comfortable for a group meal!

Daecheongmaru menu and prices

Daecheongmaru is famous for sundubu but among regulars the wild greens bibimbap is a total steady seller too, haha. The grilled hwangtae (dried pollack) is supposed to be amazing as well...

The banchan that empties a bowl of rice on its own

Basic side dishes that make short work of a bowl of rice

Daecheongmaru's side dishes fill the table before the sundubu even arrives. Shrimp jang, hwangtae, myeongtae, tofu, and kongbiji (soybean pulp) all come out, so it's not a meal where you just eat plain sundubu on its own.

Rice thieves showing up as basic banchan... is it even possible for the table to be this full with just side dishes?

Shrimp jang and hwangtae!!! Why is the hwangtae so good, the rice nearly disappeared before the sundubu even arrived.

Myeongtae (pollack)!!! I didn't know it could be this good, chewy and spicy and sweet... ❤️

As you'd expect from a great tofu restaurant, even the tofu that comes as a basic side dish is on another level! So soft it made me want more.

Kongbiji too, of course...

Chodang sundubu, 14,000 won: what does it taste like?

Cho-dang sundubu, ₩14,000

Daecheongmaru's cho-dang sundubu is ₩14,000 and comes as a full set with a bowl of rice. The broth isn't intense at all — it's a mild style where the nutty flavor of the soybean is the main event.

The sundubu set I ordered! A bowl of rice comes with it too.

It arrives with a pale, soft-curdled look. The broth isn't intense at all, really mild — the nutty soybean flavor from the sundubu itself is the main thing...

Scoop it with a spoon and it's soft and silky going down. At first you might think the seasoning is milder than expected, but that mildness is exactly why it goes down so easily, haha. This is the kind of taste that makes total sense as a Sokcho breakfast pick, haha.

Spicy sundubu, 15,000 won: fine if you can't take heat?

Spicy sundubu, ₩15,000

Daecheongmaru's spicy sundubu is ₩15,000, and it leans more sharp-and-refreshing than truly hot. It has a seafood-based savory depth, so even people who don't handle spicy food well could probably eat it without much trouble.

And personally, I'm glad I ordered the spicy sundubu alongside the cho-dang! Less spicy than sharp and refreshing — that cool savoriness from the seafood base!

It's not overly intense, so even people who can't handle spicy food well should be fine. And best of all, taking a bite of cho-dang sundubu then sipping the spicy sundubu broth is such a good combo, hahaha.

On the way out: must-buys at Sokcho Market

No need to go to Sokcho Market after all...

On the way out, they have all the popular items sold at Sokcho Market too, hahaha. If you missed anything at the market, I'd recommend picking it up here, haha.

Is Daecheongmaru worth it for breakfast in Sokcho?

Daecheongmaru was a solid, filling meal when I wanted sundubu in Sokcho! The cho-dang sundubu wasn't intense at all and really let you taste the nutty soybean flavor, while the spicy sundubu had a sharp, refreshing broth — two completely different charms.

Best of all, the banchan lineup was so varied that it didn't feel like just eating plain sundubu — it felt like a proper full Korean meal, totally satisfying!! It opens early in the morning too, so it's perfect for anyone looking for breakfast in Sokcho. After eating so much intense food on this Sokcho trip, it was nice to have a gentle breakfast for once ❤️