Gangneung tofu restaurant, ₩50,000 set for two: Jeong Eunsuk Chodang

If you're planning a Gangneung trip and can't decide where to eat, here's a spot you shouldn't skip in Chodang-dong! It's Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu (정은숙초당순두부), known as a go-to Gangneung sundubu (soft tofu stew) restaurant 🍲

A certified cooking master's tofu table — "Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu"

Where is Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu, and what are the hours?

Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu is at 200 Nanseolheon-ro, Gangneung, and it's open Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun 08:00–18:30 (last order 17:30), closed every Tuesday. They offer reservations, separate men's/women's restrooms, Wi-Fi, baby chairs, a waiting area, easy payment, and parking.

The moment I saw the sign for Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu, I thought, "this isn't an ordinary place." The words "certified cooking master" were printed in big letters!

Is parking easy at the Chodang-dong restaurant?

There's a wide parking lot right in front and right next to the restaurant, so no worries at all if you're driving 🚗💨

TableManager waiting and the Naver Reservation prepay tip

Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu handles waiting through a TableManager kiosk! We had a reservation and got seated right away, but from 11:30am onward it looked like people were waiting about 5 minutes. I'd definitely recommend a Naver Reservation!!

The waiting area is also plenty spacious!!

And one more waiting tip! There was a notice saying that if you prepay ₩20,000 after making a Naver Reservation, you can enter ahead of walk-in guests. If you're like me and want to cut down on wait time, I'd recommend booking through Naver plus prepaying in advance.

Inside Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu and the photo-review sundubu pudding

The inside was bigger and more comfortable than I expected! It was busy even in the morning so I couldn't take more photos ㅠ_ㅠ but there are plenty of tables and window seats too, so even with a wait, turnover felt pretty fast.

Leave a photo review and you get sundubu pudding too!!

Menu and the ₩50,000 Chodang tofu table for two

Here's the menu!

• Chodang premium table (sundubu jjigae + dubu samhap + seasoned grilled kodari)
• Chodang tofu table (sundubu jjigae + dubu samhap)
• Dubu samhap (tofu three-way platter)
• Chodang tofu jeongol (tofu hot pot)
• Chodang sundubu jjigae (soft tofu stew)

We ordered the Chodang tofu table for two — ₩50,000.

Ta-da—! Our order arrived! Something they kept emphasizing here is the principle that "freshness is honesty," and once I saw the ingredients, I could tell it wasn't just talk!! Seaweed hand-harvested by a haenyeo (female diver) from Jeongdongjin, flatfish caught by East Sea fishermen, soybeans grown by Gangwon locals — they only use local ingredients, apparently 🌊🌾

How does the sundubu jjigae (soft tofu stew) taste?

The sundubu jjigae comes out gently bubbling, and it's so soft it practically dissolves the moment your spoon touches it. Spicy and sharp — perfect for a hangover! And it had big chunks of crab in it too, so picking out the meat was half the fun!

What comes on the dubu samhap (tofu three-way platter)?

The dubu samhap is a combo of boiled pork + tofu + gajami-sikhae (fermented flatfish with rice and seasoning) — the pork had zero gamey smell and was very clean tasting, and the gajami-sikhae was sweet and tangy, perfect as a side with rice. The tofu was great even just dipped lightly in soy sauce, with the nutty flavor of the soybean coming through fully 😋

Is Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu worth a visit in Gangneung?

If you're trying to pick a Gangneung sundubu restaurant, Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu is my top recommendation! ✨✨ Real tofu made by a certified national cooking master, freshness from local ingredients, the owner's heartfelt story, and if you grab the waiting tips too, you'll have a much smoother visit 🥢 It didn't feel like just a meal — it felt like eating Gangneung's history. Definitely add it to your Gangneung sundubu list! ❤️❤️