Kid-friendly bulgogi restaurant in Haksapyeong, Sokcho: Soyachon 338

Hey everyone~ I just got back from a 2 night 3 day trip to Sokcho! When you think of Sokcho, raw fish or dakgangjeong (Korean fried chicken) usually come to mind first, but since I was traveling with my 5-year-old, I needed a restaurant that both adults and kids could enjoy haha 🍚 After searching for Sokcho's best hanwoo (Korean beef) spots, I decided on hanwoo bulgogi at Soyachon!

Where is Soyachon 338 and where do you park?

Soyachon 338 is located on the 2nd floor at 132 Wonam Haksapyeong-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do, and you can use the private parking lot in front of the building. It's open daily from 10:30 to 20:50, closed on Wednesdays.

• 🏠2F Soyachon 338, 132 Wonam Haksapyeong-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
• ⏰Daily 10:30–20:50 (closed Wednesdays)
• 🅿️Private parking lot in front of the restaurant

Soyachon runs barbecue on the 1st floor, hanwoo dining on the 2nd floor, and even a sundubu (soft tofu stew) shop next door! Since it's a standalone building with its own parking lot, parking was easy.

Inside Soyachon 338: is it easy with kids?

The 2nd floor of Soyachon 338 is a hall that can seat 200 people at once, so it's also great for group gatherings. With an elevator and baby chairs on hand, it was easy to bring the kids along too.

The restaurant is a hall that can hold 200 people at once, so it seemed great for group gatherings. Perfect for eating together if you're traveling in a group! With the elevator and baby chairs ready, it was also great for dining with kids. (My second child is still on baby food, so I asked if I could use a microwave, and they happily let me — I was so grateful!! ㅠ_ㅠ)

What's on the menu at Soyachon 338?

Soyachon 338 sells not just grilled hanwoo but also meal menus like hanwoo bulgogi, hanwoo gukbap (beef soup with rice), yukhoe mulhoe (raw beef in cold broth), and yukhoe bibimbap (raw beef rice bowl). The owner's pride in the quality of the hanwoo was on another level.

True to its reputation as a top hanwoo spot in Sokcho, they had not only high-quality hanwoo but a variety of meal options like hanwoo bulgogi, hanwoo gukbap, yukhoe mulhoe, and yukhoe bibimbap. The quality of the hanwoo on offer looked really great too. The owner was full of pride, saying you don't usually see hanwoo like this at a regular restaurant!! It made me trust the place even more.

What we ordered and what it cost

At Soyachon 338 we ordered hanwoo bulgogi for two, ₩44,000 (includes 2 bowls of rice), and doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), ₩3,000. The spicy doenjang jjigae paired especially well with the hanwoo bulgogi.

• ✅Hanwoo bulgogi for two, ₩44,000 (includes 2 bowls of rice)
• ✅Doenjang jjigae, ₩3,000

The spicy doenjang jjigae was so good alongside the hanwoo bulgogi!

Hanwoo bulgogi on a hot stone plate, not in a pot

I was also happy that the bulgogi came out on a hot stone plate instead of a regular pot! Once it's set over the flame and starts boiling, you can eat it warm right away. Because it's a stone plate, once it starts boiling the food doesn't cool down quickly, so it stayed warm the whole meal, which I loved ☺️

Vegetables, mushrooms, and glass noodles are mixed in with the meat too. As the broth simmers down, the seasoning soaks into the meat and vegetables — and the seasoning was genuinely so good it surprised me!!

The side dish spread

And the side dishes came out in a full spread too. There was everything from kimchi and namul (seasoned vegetables) that go well with rice, to sides that pair nicely with the meat. With so many kinds of side dishes, we could mix and match while eating, which made the meal even more filling. From the main dish to the side dishes to the stew, everything was so good that one bowl of rice wasn't enough!+_+

They also cut the bulgogi into easy-to-eat pieces and served it out for each of us, so it was really convenient to eat :)

How did the hanwoo bulgogi taste?

Soyachon's hanwoo bulgogi got even better as the broth reduced down! Mixing the bulgogi broth with rice was seriously delicious. (Just looking back at the photos makes me want it again..🤎) If it had been on my way home I would've wanted to pack it to go lol. The portion was generous too, so we finished the meal feeling fully satisfied without wanting for anything.

Simmering the meat and vegetables together in that sweet, savory sauce until they were nicely reduced was truly excellent. Since the meat quality was clearly good, it made everything taste even better!!

Soyachon 338 was one of those top Sokcho hanwoo spots I'd want to stop by again on my next trip to Sokcho. The owner and staff were all so kind, which made for a pleasant end to the meal. If you're looking for a group gathering spot or a restaurant to visit with kids in Sokcho, give it a try!