Hanok restaurant in Sokcho for a family sundubu lunch: Daecheongmaru

Not long ago I went on a short family trip to Sokcho to refresh myself. One of the things I looked forward to most before the trip was the food. My kids love soft, savory tofu dishes, so this trip I really wanted to feed them a proper bowl of sundubu (soft tofu stew).

Sokcho has so many restaurants, but while looking for a place that would suit the kids' taste and let the whole family eat a comfortable, filling meal, I ended up heading to Daecheongmaru in Sokcho. In the end, the kids ate really well and I got to add another special memory from Sokcho, so it was a very satisfying meal.

Where Daecheongmaru is in Sokcho, and its hanok exterior

Daecheongmaru is located at 430 Gwangwang-ro, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do. The moment we arrived, the beautiful hanok exterior caught my eye. The warmth and cozy atmosphere of the old-style hanok building made me feel, even before stepping inside, that we'd found the right place.

Inside Daecheongmaru: tables that work with kids

Stepping inside, we found a spacious, pleasant interior that was very well suited for families to eat comfortably.

When traveling with kids, a cramped space or uncomfortable seating can make eating a bit of a hassle, but at Daecheongmaru the neat, wide tables and relaxed atmosphere let us settle in without any worries.

What does Daecheongmaru's sundubu taste like?

Once we sat down, we ordered sundubu, the kids' favorite.

A little later, the fluffy, cloud-like sundubu arrived at the table, and just the look of it made my mouth water. True to a Sokcho lunch favorite, the mild, milky, not-at-all-harsh broth spread a full savory flavor through my mouth with the very first spoonful. Best of all, it wasn't an artificial taste — the deep, rich flavor of real soybeans came through clearly, and I was genuinely impressed.

Even my kids, who can't handle spicy food, kept saying "Mom, this is really soft and delicious!" and didn't stop moving their spoons — just watching them made me feel so reassured. I piled sundubu generously over their rice and mixed it in, and they finished a whole bowl of rice each in no time.

The banchan served with the sundubu

The sundubu itself was excellent, but the neat, clean banchan (side dishes) that came with it played a big part too.

None of them were overly seasoned or harsh in flavor — they were put together thoughtfully to bring out the savory taste of the main dish, the sundubu.

From the wild greens to the kimchi, every side dish felt made with care, and they paired perfectly with the sundubu. It felt like a well-balanced spread that could win over adults' palates as well as young kids'.

Eating it myself, I could really feel that this place is known as a Sokcho lunch favorite not just because of one main dish, but because of the care and neatness of the whole spread.

Is there any happier moment than eating delicious food while traveling?

Why sundubu at Daecheongmaru works as a family trip lunch

The meal started simply because the kids love sundubu, but the mild yet deep flavor exceeded our expectations, and the whole family got to fill up happily.

Especially while traveling, eating something heavy or hard to digest can make you uncomfortable when you're on the move, but sundubu sits easily on the stomach while still being filling, so we could move through the rest of our schedule with plenty of energy. If you're looking for a Sokcho lunch spot, especially while traveling with young kids, this restaurant is more than up to the task of giving you a satisfying, worry-free meal.

This trip to Sokcho with my kids ended up filled with delicious food and warm memories. Getting to enjoy the savory sundubu they love so much, right in its hometown of Sokcho, made the trip even more memorable. All that time spent searching "Sokcho lunch restaurant" and wondering where to go wasn't wasted at all — the meal at Daecheongmaru exceeded our expectations. I'd love to recommend it to anyone taking a family trip to Sokcho, or anyone looking for a gentle, neat meal that people of all ages can enjoy :)