Sokcho bakery takeout snacks for the hotel room: Bultan Gamja Bread

A late summer trip to Sokcho and an unusual snack to bring back

A while back my family and I headed to Sokcho for a summer vacation that started later than planned. Since our schedule had slipped, we arrived in Sokcho taking things slow with the kids — and of course, no trip is complete without scoping out some good snacks.

We'd more or less settled on where to eat meals, but I kept searching for something fun and different the kids could enjoy on the road or back at the lodging — and that's how I landed on Sokcho Bultan Gamja Bread Main Store.

Where Sokcho Bultan Gamja Bread is on Haksapyeong-gil, and its parking

Sokcho Bultan Gamja Bread Main Store sits at 34-20 Haksapyeong-gil, 1F, Sokcho, Gangwon. It's tucked near the quiet Haksapyeong-gil, with Mount Seorak unfolding like a folding screen behind it, so it was easy to drive to. There's a generously sized dedicated parking space right in front, which made getting the kids in and out very comfortable.

These days it feels like a parking war wherever you go, but here, I felt at ease from the moment we pulled in.

We stepped inside, and the cute potato-character standee and other playful touches immediately caught the kids' eyes.

Apparently a lot of celebrities have stopped by too. Honestly, there are so many bakeries these days riding on regional specialty ingredients that I've visited quite a few, but this Sokcho bakery stood out — the visuals alone were fresh and unique.

Why is the potato bread black on the outside?

The moment they saw the bread on the display shelf, the kids' eyes lit up — why is it so black? True to the name, it really does look 'burnt,' scorched all over, which got a laugh out of us.

They use squid ink, bean powder, and black sesame to recreate the look of a potato roasted in a wood-fire hearth — combining East Sea squid and Gangwon-do potatoes, two local specialties, into one clever idea.

Looking into the health benefits of potato and squid ink, it turns out to be a pretty great combination.

Unpacking the potato bread set and jjondeugi at the lodging

We packed a generous order to enjoy with the kids back at the lodging — the potato bread set plus the squid-flavored jjondeugi (Korean taffy snack) we'd been curious about. The second we walked in with the boxes, the kids were pestering us for snack time.

The first thing we tried, Bultan Gamja Bread, released a mild, nutty potato aroma the moment we split it in half.

The outside had a chewy yet soft texture, and inside it was packed full of filling made from freshly baked potatoes. Since they use potatoes roasted fresh every morning rather than boiled or steamed ones, there was a deep, natural potato sweetness and flavor. It wasn't a harsh or artificial sweetness — it was mild and savory, so we felt totally comfortable giving it to the kids.

For the adults, it paired perfectly with a latte, and I thought it'd go nicely with milk for the kids.

What does squid-flavored jjondeugi taste like?

Next up, the squid-flavored jjondeugi turned out to be an even bigger surprise. It had that nostalgic chewy texture of the jjondeugi we used to buy at the corner stationery store as kids, wrapped in a pleasant, salty, savory squid flavor.

The more you chew it, the more addictive it gets — it was a great snack for the road or as a side while having a beer back at the lodging.

The kids seemed to find the chewy texture fun too, reaching for more again and again. It was the kind of snack that's hard to stop eating once you open the bag — I actually regretted not buying a few more packs.

When you're traveling, sometimes souvenirs look flashy but fall short on substance, and it's disappointing. This Sokcho bakery, though, left me with the impression that it had put real care into the natural flavor of the ingredients on top of the fun shape. Finding this appealing snack by chance on a trip with the kids made the little joys of the vacation feel even bigger.

Is Sokcho Bultan Gamja Bread good for travel gifts?

If you're planning a trip to Sokcho, or looking for a distinctive dessert to enjoy while on the move with family and kids, I'd definitely recommend stopping by. It's a special way to enjoy the deep flavor of potato, Gangwon-do's signature ingredient, alongside the savory richness of squid, all at once.

The packaging is also clean, so it's more than fine as a travel gift or souvenir — this Sokcho bakery is one I'll remember. Our kids especially loved the jjondeugi so much that I'm already planning to stop by again next time and pack plenty more.