Sokcho seafood takeout: a two-red-snow-crab lunchbox

While exploring Sokcho Jungang Market on a family trip, I wanted to have red snow crab as well as sample a few other market foods. I picked up a two-red-snow-crab lunchbox from Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market Large Parking Lot (예스수산), where the crab is prepared and packed like a lunchbox, and ate it at our accommodation.

Where is the seafood takeout shop in Sokcho Jungang Market?

Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market Large Parking Lot is at the start of the food alley in Sokcho Jungang Market. It was easy to find as we began looking around the market, and it was well placed for picking up red snow crab while buying other foods one by one.

Packaged red snow crab lunchboxes were on display, and I could also see live red snow crabs and king crabs in the tanks. Since I planned to eat at our accommodation, I liked that the crab was prepared and packed ready to eat.

What are the price and packaging of the red snow crab lunchbox?

I tried the ₩28,000 lunchbox containing two red snow crabs. At first, I thought a lunchbox would not hold much, but it was more substantial than I expected when I opened it at our accommodation.

The crab shells were packed separately, with the innards inside wrapped in plastic. Nothing leaked or mixed together on the way to our accommodation, and it was convenient to eat straight away without preparing anything further.

How was it with other market foods at our accommodation?

The biggest advantage of the packaging was how easy it was to eat with other foods from Sokcho Jungang Market. We bought small portions of foods such as dakgangjeong (sweet crispy fried chicken), fried foods, and ojingeo sundae (stuffed squid), then spread them out at our accommodation so the family could try a little of everything.

The two-crab portion was suitable alongside the other foods. I was curious about the yield, and the legs had more meat than expected. The lunchbox format did not leave me feeling that the taste or portion was lacking, and it also reduced the hassle of dealing with the shells.

What should you prepare to mix rice into the crab shell?

I had warm instant rice and sesame oil with it. Mixing rice into the innards left in the crab shell after eating the red snow crab made it savory and nutty.

Adding two or three drops of sesame oil gave it a nuttier aroma. I recommend using only a few drops, since too much can mask the distinctive flavor of the innards.

If you plan to eat it this way at your accommodation, it helps to prepare instant rice and a small bottle of sesame oil separately. I did wish the shop had included a single-use packet of sesame oil. For me, mixing rice into the crab shell was the tastiest finish to the meal that day.