Sokcho Korean restaurant takeout: Hwangbuja Twigim fried seafood

While looking for food to take back to our accommodation at Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market, I stopped by Hwangbuja Twigim (황부자튀김). I could choose from various seafood fritters and bukkumi, so I ordered all of that day's food in one go.

Where is Hwangbuja Twigim in the market?

Walking through the alley inside Sokcho Central Market where the fritter shops are gathered, I found the Hwangbuja Twigim sign. Fritters and bukkumi were neatly displayed in front of the shop. Its address is Units 26–27, Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market, 16 Jungang-ro 147beon-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon, South Korea.

What did I pack, and how were the price and portion?

I could choose individual items or order a set with several things in it. Prices varied from the ₩10,000 range to the ₩20,000 range.

I chose sussubu-kku-mi (sorghum pancake with sweet red bean filling), a red snow crab and shrimp fritter set, and shrimp gangjeong (sweet-spicy glazed shrimp). The three came to about ₩30,000. The boxes felt substantial when I received them, and there was enough for two of us to eat at our accommodation.

Were the sussubu-kku-mi and seafood fritters good after cooling?

The first thing I reached for at the accommodation was the sussubu-kku-mi. The outside was lightly crisp, while the inside retained sorghum's distinctive chewy texture. It became nuttier as I chewed, and the sweet red bean filling in the middle was not overly sweet for me. I liked having a mild item alongside the fritters.

The batter on the red snow crab and shrimp fritters was not too thick, so I could taste the ingredients. The red snow crab fritter had a subtle sweetness, and the shrimp fritter had a springy texture. Even though we ate them after they had cooled somewhat by the time we reached our accommodation, they stayed crisp better than I expected.

How was the shrimp gangjeong with the fritters?

The shrimp gangjeong was coated in a sweet, lightly spicy sauce. The sauce was not too strong, so I could also taste the shrimp's savory flavor. Eating only fritters can become a little rich, but having shrimp gangjeong in between added variety, and the combination worked well.

It was easy for two people to take out and eat one item at a time at our accommodation, and the items also went well with beer or drinks. It was a fitting selection when I wanted to share several flavors instead of eating just one dish.

Were there any downsides to waiting and carrying the takeout?

Because I visited at a busy time, the narrow market alley was a little crowded with people ordering and people waiting. I also waited a bit between placing my order and receiving the food. It is worth allowing for this crowding during busy periods such as weekends or vacation season.

If hot fritters are sealed completely in a bag, steam can build up inside and make them soggy. If taking them to your accommodation rather than eating them right away, I felt it would be good to pay attention to the packaging so some of the heat can escape.

Where did I park, and how did I get the discount voucher?

I used a public parking lot near the market and asked for a parking discount voucher when paying. If you use the parking lot, it would be useful to check for the voucher while settling the bill.

This time, it was convenient to choose everything from sussubu-kku-mi to red snow crab fritters, shrimp fritters, and shrimp gangjeong in one place and eat them at our accommodation. It suited my plan to pack market food and try several flavors during a Sokcho trip.

What are the opening hours?

According to the original post, Hwangbuja Twigim is open daily from 08:00 to 20:30.