Sokcho market chicken shop where kids ate deodeok like chips: Seomin

A Sokcho trip just isn't complete without some serious eating! After soaking up plenty of East Sea views, we went looking for a local snack and ended up at Sokcho Tourist and Fishery Market, always buzzing with warmth and the smell of good food.

Before heading back to our accommodation, we wandered the market looking for a late-night snack and some beer food the whole family could share. The moment we stepped into the alley, a sweet-spicy, savory dakgangjeong smell hit us and pulled us right in. Following our noses, we spotted a shop with an especially long line of people waiting with expectant faces.

It was Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip — famous among travelers as one of the best dakgangjeong spots in Sokcho Jungang Market.

Parking at Sokcho Jungang Market and how to get the free voucher

There's a large public parking lot right across from Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip, so we didn't have to worry about parking at all! A money-saving tip: just mention at checkout that you'd like a parking voucher. If you spend over ₩15,000, they'll hand you a 1-hour free parking voucher without hesitation. Register it at the unmanned payment kiosk before you drive out to save a good chunk on parking — don't forget!

Among the many dakgangjeong shops in Sokcho, Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip stood out for selling a signature deodeok dakgangjeong made with deodeok (mountain bellflower root), a healthy touch you don't usually see. Curious about the taste, we grabbed a box to go without hesitation and tried it back at our accommodation — the deodeok, which we expected to taste bitter, turned out to be such a hit that the kids crunched through it like chips without even knowing what it was.

What time to arrive for takeout without a wait

Apparently 2pm–6pm on weekends and holidays is peak time for the entire Sokcho Jungang Market. Lots of reviews mention that visiting during this window can mean a 30-minute-plus wait just for takeout. T_T

The recommended times are right after the market opens, between 9am and 11am, or after 7:30pm once the dinner rush winds down — visit then and you can pick up your order calmly with no wait. We went around 6:30pm and still waited about 20 minutes.

Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip menu and prices

• Boneless dakgangjeong: ₩21,000
• Boneless fried chicken: ₩21,000
• Garlic dakgangjeong: ₩24,000
• Deodeok dakgangjeong: ₩24,000
• Dakgangjeong + fried chicken half/half: ₩21,000
• Dakgangjeong + shrimp dakgangjeong half/half: ₩21,000
• Shrimp dakgangjeong: Small ₩11,000
• Half-portion dakgangjeong / cup dakgangjeong

As soon as we got back to our accommodation, we excitedly opened the box of deodeok dakgangjeong we'd taken out. The portion was really generous, with crisply fried chicken and fragrant deodeok mixed together under glossy sauce.

The kids ate the deodeok dakgangjeong without noticing the deodeok

At first I was a little worried the kids might be put off by the characteristic bitterness of deodeok. Well, turns out that worry was completely unnecessary!

The kids had no idea what deodeok even was, but they loved the sauce so much they ate it with zero hesitation. Lightly frying the deodeok and tossing it in the sweet dakgangjeong sauce wiped out the bitterness entirely, leaving just a chewy, crunchy texture that was genuinely delicious.

Watching the kids pick up the dakgangjeong and deodeok like chips, saying how chewy and tasty it was, was such a cute and surprising sight! Dakgangjeong usually gets soggy or the meat turns tough once it cools, but even after being packed up and carried back to our accommodation, this deodeok dakgangjeong stayed crispy outside and moist inside. No gamey chicken smell at all, and the chunky pieces of meat gave a really satisfying bite.

How to store dakgangjeong and eat it at its best

Keeping it at room temperature and eating it cold

Because the dakgangjeong is coated in jocheong (grain syrup) and a special sauce, you can leave it at cool room temperature the day of purchase or the next day and eat it cold, and it still keeps its signature crispness and chewiness — the sauce clings on almost like it's been re-baked in an oven for extra flavor. That said, if you're eating it at your accommodation while traveling like we did, refrigerating it is a better idea.

Storing dakgangjeong in the fridge or freezer

If you're planning to keep it for a while, they recommend storing it in an airtight container in the freezer. Before eating, pop it in an air fryer at 160–170°C for about 5 minutes, and that crispy-outside, juicy-inside texture comes right back!

If every trip to Sokcho has meant the same plain dakgangjeong, try Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip's deodeok dakgangjeong, loaded with fragrant, crispy deodeok, at least once! The healthy, chewy texture of deodeok pairs perfectly with the sweet-spicy dakgangjeong sauce — a flavor everyone, young and old, can enjoy. Even little kids who have no idea what deodeok is can eat it happily like a snack, so it's a great pick for kids' treats or a late-night bite on a family trip.