Korean restaurant in Sokcho for squid sundae to go: Hwangbuja Twigim

At Hwangbuja Twigim (황부자튀김) in Sokcho Central Market, I took away nurungji squid sundae and ate it while looking out at the Yeonggeumjeong sea. I wanted to try the regular squid sundae too, so I chose the half-and-half set and added a small seed shrimp gangjeong.

What did I order, and how much did it cost?

The menu included a range of items, from fried shrimp and squid to squid sundae. Rather than choosing just one à la carte item, I ordered the No. 11 half-and-half set and a small seed shrimp gangjeong.

According to the menu information at the time of the original post, the No. 11 half-and-half set was ₩20,000 and the small seed shrimp gangjeong was ₩10,000. Nurungji squid sundae was listed at ₩15,000 à la carte, while mini squid sundae and Abai sundae were each listed at ₩10,000.

There were also sets that combined fried items or paired sundae with fried items. Sets combining squid sundae with either Abai sundae or jumbo fried shrimp were ₩17,000 each, while the nurungji squid sundae and Abai sundae set was ₩20,000.

How was the squid sundae cooked after I ordered?

Once they took my order, they grilled the squid sundae on a hot plate right there. I could smell it cooking as I waited, and it was packed while warm and crisp, so I wanted to take it away and eat it right away.

Where did I eat the takeaway food?

I took the food to a nearby spot at Yeonggeumjeong with a view of the sea. Eating while looking out over the East Sea, with its sounds and scent around me, was as satisfying to me as eating at a restaurant with an ocean view.

How did the nurungji and regular squid sundae differ?

The No. 11 set contained equal portions of regular squid sundae and nurungji squid sundae. Having both together let me notice the difference in texture on the outside.

The nurungji squid sundae had a crisp exterior from being pressed and grilled. The inside stayed moist, creating a contrast between the outside and inside, and it had a nutty flavor.

The regular squid sundae was soft and moist with an egg coating. Its egg coating had a nutty flavor distinct from the crunch of the nurungji version.

Did the seed shrimp gangjeong pair well with squid sundae?

The seed shrimp gangjeong was crisp outside and filled with savory shrimp meat. It had plenty of seeds scattered over a thick, sweet-spicy sauce, which made it good to alternate with the nutty squid sundae. I briefly considered getting dakgangjeong (sweet-spicy fried chicken), but I was happy I chose the shrimp gangjeong.

If you want to try squid sundae with different textures, I would recommend the half-and-half set and seed shrimp gangjeong combination I had. I ate mine in front of the Yeonggeumjeong sea, but I also thought it would be good to take back to your accommodation during a trip.