Weekend window seat for two at Gossi's, Gangneung makguksu restaurant

There's a dish that always comes to mind when you travel to Gangneung or the East Sea area — makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles) and sundubu (soft tofu stew)! I went to Gossi's Donghae Makguksu & Sundubu Kalguksu Main Branch, a Gangneung favorite where you can try both in one place.

Where is Gossi's Donghae Makguksu Main Branch, and what are its hours?

Gossi's Donghae Makguksu & Sundubu Kalguksu Main Branch 📍 Location: 25 Changhae-ro 350beon-gil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea (1st–3rd floor) ⏰ Hours: Mon–Fri 10:00–20:30 / Sat, Sun 08:00–20:30 Break time 15:30–17:00 / Last order 20:00 🚗 Parking available (Gangmun Beach Public Parking Lots 1, 2, free for 1 hour 30 minutes) 🐶 Pets welcome

Gossi's exterior facing Gangmun Beach and weekend parking

Gossi's Donghae Makguksu Main Branch sits right in front of Gangmun Beach, so you get to enjoy ocean views even on the way there. Our accommodation was nearby so we walked, but if you're driving, you can use the Gangmun Beach public parking lot. It gives you 1 hour 30 minutes free, which is plenty of time to eat and head out.

That said, when I went it was a weekend and the public parking lot was completely full. Most cars circled around, couldn't find a spot, and just left, ugh. Worth keeping in mind if you're going on a weekend!

The building spans 1 to 3 floors, so it was easy to spot from a distance, and since it's popular with tourists there were already a lot of people right at the entrance. Waiting registration is required, but luckily a table for two opened up right away so we got in haha.

Also, pets are welcome here, so anyone with a pet can use the place comfortably. It'd be good to check the details about bringing pets in advance though.

Gift corner on the 1st floor, ocean-view window seats on the 2nd

Stepping inside, the overall vibe was clean and bright. The first floor had about 4 tables and a separate gift corner. And seeing all the celebrity autographs on the wall, it really felt like a well-known Gangneung restaurant haha!

Going up to the second floor, Gangmun Beach is visible through the floor-to-ceiling glass, giving it an open, really nice atmosphere. The window seats are for two, and since you can eat while looking at the ocean, it seemed like they'd be popular with couples or pairs. 🌊 The tables weren't cramped together either, so it was comfortable to eat, and the self-service corner was well set up too.

We sat at the very end of the window row. Eating while looking at the sea really made me feel like I was on a trip haha.

Gossi's menu and what we ordered

There's really a wide variety on the menu — from cool buckwheat makguksu to warm dishes, so there's something for everyone haha. We were going to order à la carte, but since there was a set menu, we went with the two-person set and the eel keto buckwheat gimbap (seaweed rice roll)!

How the two-person set tastes: water makguksu, perilla oil makguksu and boiled pork

First, the water makguksu looked refreshing just to look at. You first get a tangy, sweet, clean flavor, and toward the end the distinctive nutty aroma of buckwheat rises up subtly. The broth wasn't too sharp or heavy, and it cleaned up my palate nicely.

The perilla oil makguksu is a dish you enjoy centered on the nutty aroma of perilla oil, without a spicy sauce or strong seasoning, so the fragrance hits from the very first bite. The earthy taste of the buckwheat noodles themselves blends well with the rich nuttiness of the perilla oil, and it's savory the more you chew, making it kind of addictive. Pouring in a bit of the broth that comes alongside adds even more umami — delicious.

The boiled pork had an appealing soft, moist texture, and it wasn't overly gamey, so it was easy to eat without any hesitation. Alternating between makguksu and the pork was really a great combination. 👍 By the way, I'd recommend eating the pork right away while it's still warm!

What does the eel keto buckwheat gimbap taste like?

Instead of rice, it's built around buckwheat noodles, packed generously with egg, vegetables, and more. There was more cucumber than I expected. I can't eat cucumber, so... I picked it out and tried it, and it was still tasty! 🥒 Eaten together with the eel, the sweet and savory flavor of the eel combined nicely with the clean, nutty taste of the buckwheat, and the umami really came through — I enjoyed it a lot haha.

Eating delicious food with a view of the sea felt like proper healing. If you're looking for a great makguksu restaurant in Gangneung, I'd recommend this place! 🤍