Sokcho makguksu restaurant that presses perilla oil on site: Topgol

A deulmemak pilgrimage site even my husband approved — Sokcho Topgol Makguksu Main Branch

My husband and I took a short overnight trip to Sokcho. These days it's sunny when I'm working and rainy the moment I go out to play, haha. We couldn't dodge the rain on this trip either, but I wasn't about to give up on good food. For lunch we headed to Sokcho Topgol Makguksu Main Branch, close to Sokcho Beach and Sokcho-i.

Sokcho Topgol Makguksu Main Branch, a Sokcho makguksu spot known for its nutty perilla oil aroma.

Sokcho Topgol Makguksu Main Branch at a glance

• Address: 12 Haeoreum-ro 188beon-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea, 1st floor
• Hours: 9:30 AM – 9:00 PM (10:00 PM on weekends)
• Parking: Sokcho Beach public parking lot, free with a meal

How to get there and where to park

Sokcho Topgol Makguksu Main Branch is close enough to walk from Sokcho Beach and Sokcho-i. It was a perfect stop after a walk on the beach.

We parked at the public lot across from the restaurant. Since we ate there, we got free parking, so there was no need to worry about parking fees.

What the restaurant feels like inside

The space felt calm and tidy with green plants scattered around, and there was even a fun photo zone set up at the entrance.

What we ordered and what's at the self-service corner

We took our seats, checked the menu, and ordered. We went with three dishes: deulmemak for ₩13,000, pollack salad makguksu for ₩13,000, and potato pancake for ₩17,000.

On one side there was a self-service corner with side dishes and tableware, plus warm yagwanmun tea (a Korean herbal tea) to drink. There was even a microwave set aside just for baby food — such a thoughtful touch!

Watching the perilla oil being roasted and pressed

While I was busy taking photos, the owner explained the whole process of making perilla oil. We watched the perilla seeds roasting inside the machine and got a close look at the leftover pulp after the oil was pressed. This is why they call it a deulmemak pilgrimage site — I was even more excited before I'd taken a single bite.

How did the deulmemak, pollack salad makguksu and potato pancake taste?

The moment the deulmemak hit my mouth, I got a strong, nutty wave of perilla oil aroma. I ate it plain and nutty at first, and once I added the dongchimi (radish water kimchi) broth near the end, the cool tang turned it into a whole different delicacy.

My husband's pick, the pollack salad makguksu, went in with plenty of dongchimi broth from the very first bite. The sweet-and-tangy sauce paired beautifully with the pollack, and my husband — who almost never compliments food — said it was genuinely delicious.

We were shocked when the potato pancake arrived. It was huge, haha. Even after all that makguksu, the pancake — crispy outside, soft inside — just kept disappearing.

Final thoughts on Sokcho Topgol Makguksu Main Branch

From the deeply perilla-scented deulmemak to the sweet-and-tangy pollack salad makguksu and the huge, crispy potato pancake, all three dishes satisfied us completely. My husband was the one who first called it a real find, so I'd say we truly discovered a great Sokcho makguksu restaurant. There seems to be a wait at lunchtime, so booking ahead through Naver is a good idea.

It was a short trip with disappointing rain the whole time, but eating well and watching the rainy sea was pretty great too. Topgol Makguksu is the kind of Sokcho makguksu restaurant I'll keep coming back to whenever I'm craving makguksu in Sokcho!