Gangneung makguksu restaurant with a 19-month-old: Gossi's Donghae

Today I want to share our visit to Gossi's Donghae Makguksu, right across from Gangmun Beach in Gangneung.

There are so many restaurants around Gangmun Beach that it's hard to decide where to go. We were looking for somewhere with kid-friendly food and a view of the beach, and got a local recommendation for Gossi's Donghae Makguksu as a Gangneung must-visit.

The makguksu (buckwheat cold noodles) itself was mild and pretty good, but honestly the best part was the full view of Gangmun Beach from inside the restaurant. There were plenty of high chairs, and the 3rd floor even allows dogs — so I'd really recommend this place to anyone traveling in Gangneung with kids or pets.

Where is Gossi's Donghae Makguksu? Right in front of Gangmun Beach

Gossi's Donghae Makguksu sits right across from Gangmun Beach — close enough that you can see the beach just by turning your head from outside the building. Being able to walk straight to the beach after eating was a nice bonus.

The building has the restaurant's name in big letters, so it was easy to find. Since we were with our baby, things like walking distance and high chair availability mattered a lot, and it was pretty comfortable on both counts.

Ocean-view window seats facing Gangmun Beach

What struck me most about Gossi's Donghae Makguksu was the view of Gangmun Beach right from the table. Through the big windows, the blue sea and the beach stretched out beautifully — being right by the water made the meal feel like an actual Gangneung getaway.

Honestly, restaurants in tourist areas sometimes get visited for the location more than the food. But here, both the ocean view and the food were great, which made it even more satisfying.

If you sit by the window, you get to eat your makguksu with this view. The weather was great too, so the blue sea looked especially pretty. We came in for a meal and ended up getting a proper look at the ocean too, haha.

Why Gossi's Donghae Makguksu works with a baby: roomy floors and plenty of high chairs

The inside of Gossi's Donghae Makguksu had a lot of tables and felt more spacious than expected. There were other families with kids when we visited too, and the number of high chairs was quite generous.

It's always a bit awkward going to a restaurant with a baby and finding no high chairs, or not enough of them. Gossi's had several ready to go, so we didn't have to worry about that at all. Our 19-month-old sat comfortably in one and ate her meal.

Perilla oil makguksu, 11,000 won: the 19-month-old ate half a bowl

I ordered the perilla oil makguksu to share with my baby.

The perilla oil makguksu apparently uses perilla oil pressed directly in Yangyang. The nutty perilla oil aroma went well with the seaweed flakes, and the seasoning wasn't overly salty or sharp, so it was easy to eat without any fuss.

More than anything, our 19-month-old ate it really well.

At first I only planned to give her a little bit, but she kept taking bite after bite and ended up finishing almost half the bowl. Whether there's something my kid can actually eat is a huge factor when picking a restaurant, so seeing her eat this well made me feel like I'd picked the right dish.

The perilla oil makguksu isn't spicy at all and has a nutty flavor, so it was great to share with my baby. If you're looking for a restaurant near Gangmun Beach that works with a baby, I'd suggest trying this one.

How spicy is the bibim makguksu at Gossi's Donghae Makguksu?

The (fermented pollock) bibim makguksu at Gossi's Donghae Makguksu is ₩12,000, and in photos the red sauce looks like it'd be very spicy — but it was milder than I expected.

The seasoning wasn't overly sharp and paired nicely with the noodles, and there was a generous amount of raw fish on top, making it really enjoyable. My friend who came with us tried it too and said it wasn't that spicy, mentioning she'd love to bring her elementary-school-age kids next time.

Even people who don't handle spicy food well should be able to manage this fairly comfortably. (Milder than Shin Ramyun.) That said, spice tolerance varies a lot for kids, so the perilla oil makguksu would probably be the safer choice for a baby.

Salad buckwheat gimbap, 6,500 won: buckwheat noodles instead of rice

We also ordered the buckwheat gimbap (seaweed roll), which is packed with buckwheat noodles and vegetables instead of rice.

Looking at the cross-section, there's cabbage, carrot, cucumber and other colorful vegetables, which made it look really appetizing. It felt different from regular gimbap and paired nicely alongside the makguksu. It was easy on the stomach too, and I liked the contrast between the crunchy vegetables and the soft buckwheat noodles.

If makguksu alone feels like it's missing something, or if you're visiting with a group, this gimbap is a good one to order and share.

Side dishes and broth come with the meal, and if you pour a bit of broth into the bibim makguksu and mix it in, it gets moister and even tastier! The makguksu is so good on its own you almost don't need the side dishes~!

The third floor at Gossi's Donghae Makguksu, where dogs are welcome

Gossi's Donghae Makguksu isn't just comfortable to visit with kids — it's also dog-friendly. The 3rd floor is set up as a space where you can bring your dog. Since it's a designated floor rather than the whole restaurant, both regular customers and pet owners can enjoy the space more comfortably.

Finding somewhere to eat with a dog in Gangneung isn't always easy, so being able to eat right in front of Gangmun Beach with your dog felt like a real perk.

With plenty of high chairs for kids and a dedicated space for dogs, this was truly a kid-friendly and pet-friendly restaurant by Gangmun Beach.

Is Gossi's Donghae Makguksu worth a visit with a toddler?

Gossi's Donghae Makguksu is a place where you can enjoy a gorgeous view straight onto Gangmun Beach alongside mild, easy-to-eat makguksu.

I didn't expect much from a restaurant in a tourist area, but both the perilla oil makguksu and the bibim makguksu were mild and delicious. It was especially satisfying to see our 19-month-old eat half a bowl of the perilla oil makguksu.

The restaurant is spacious with plenty of high chairs, making it easy to visit with kids, and the fact that dogs are welcome on the 3rd floor was a nice surprise.

If you're looking for a restaurant with a beach view near Gangmun Beach, or a Gangneung spot you can bring your kid or dog to, Gossi's Donghae Makguksu is worth a visit. You can even take a walk along Gangmun Beach before or after your meal, so be sure to check it out 🤗