Sokcho market tempura, quick morning line, ₩35,000 takeout: Hwangbuja

Where is Hwangbuja Twigim in Sokcho Jungang Market?

Hwangbuja Twigim (황부자튀김) is deep inside Sokcho Jungang Market (Sokcho Tourism & Fish Market), near where you can see the Hanaro Mart. When you're in Sokcho, the market is just too good to walk past, right?

Head into the market and look for the Hanaro Mart, and you'll find it nearby. I was wandering around the market this time too, wondering what to snack on, and Hwangbuja Twigim caught my eye.

Is there a morning wait at Hwangbuja Twigim?

I went in the morning, and there were already about three groups waiting in front of Hwangbuja Twigim. The turnover was fast, though, so I didn't wait long.

Honestly, if you search for Sokcho Jungang Market eats, so many places come up that it's hard to choose. I figured, "If it's this busy in the morning, it must be pretty popular," so I joined the line too.

I worried that ordering would take a while with people waiting, but the turnover was surprisingly quick. Above all, the staff were fast and friendly from the moment they took my order, so the wait didn't feel frustrating at all.

What I ordered at Hwangbuja Twigim and what it cost

At Hwangbuja Twigim I picked three à la carte items and took out ₩35,000 worth: nurungji squid sundae for ₩15,000, nude shrimp for ₩10,000 and fried squid for ₩10,000. The menu was so varied that choosing just one wasn't easy.

When you're looking at all the different fried foods in a market, you want to try a bit of everything, don't you? Hwangbuja Twigim was the same: there was so much on the menu that picking one thing was hard.

In the end, I mostly chose what I wanted to eat.

• Nurungji squid sundae ₩15,000
• Nude shrimp ₩10,000
• Fried squid ₩10,000

That came to ₩35,000 in total for takeout.

If you're looking for Sokcho Jungang Market eats and want to try a little of several dishes, ordering this way seemed like a good idea.

Can you eat in at Hwangbuja Twigim?

Yes, there's a hall inside Hwangbuja Twigim, so you can eat there. Most customers take out, though.

What does Hwangbuja Twigim's nurungji squid sundae taste like?

The nurungji squid sundae (누룽지오징어순대, ₩15,000) at Hwangbuja Twigim is a regular squid sundae (squid stuffed with noodles and rice) whose surface is griddled on an iron plate for a crispy texture. It was the item I was most curious about in this order.

Unlike a regular squid sundae, the surface is griddled for crunch, so the name caught my eye right away.

When I actually got it, the outside was golden and griddled, and the inside felt moist. The nutty, crispy outer layer together with the filling that squid sundae is known for felt different from ordinary fried food. I ate it as takeout, and the texture was still pretty good.

If you're hunting for Sokcho Jungang Market eats, want squid sundae, and want something a little different from the usual, the nurungji squid sundae is worth a look.

How are the nude shrimp and fried squid at Hwangbuja Twigim?

The nude shrimp at Hwangbuja Twigim came peeled, so it was easy to eat with no prep, and the fried squid paired a crispy batter with chewy squid. I couldn't leave out the nude shrimp and fried squid I ordered alongside.

The shrimp is made peeled for easy eating, so there's no need to deal with shells, which I liked, and the fried squid's crispy batter went well with the chewy squid.

Fried food from the market has its own charm when eaten warm, right? So I'd recommend eating it soon after takeout if you can. Ordering several items at once is also nice for sharing with family.

What to order first on a return visit to Hwangbuja Twigim

Hwangbuja Twigim lets you pick several items, from squid sundae to shrimp and fried squid, so it seemed like a good place for anyone looking for Sokcho Jungang Market eats to try a variety of flavors at once. What stayed with me most from this visit, food aside, was how impressive the staff's fast, friendly service was even with customers waiting from the morning.

If you're stopping by Sokcho Jungang Market looking for a quick bite or something to take out, Hwangbuja Twigim is worth a look. If I go back, I'd start with the nurungji squid sundae again, out of what I tried this time. If you're looking for market food on a Sokcho trip, take this as a reference. Having tried Hwangbuja Twigim myself, I kind of get why people were waiting.

Hwangbuja Twigim opening hours and parking

• Address: 16 Jungang-ro 147beon-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do (Sokcho Tourism & Fish Market, Stalls 26 and 27)
• Hours: 08:00–20:30
• Parking: the Sokcho Tourism & Fish Market public parking lot is available
• Parking tip: a notice says a 30-minute parking ticket is given with purchases of ₩15,000 or more.
• Regular closing day: recent online info lists it as either Tuesday or Wednesday, so check with the shop before you go.

When I visited, about three groups were already waiting in the morning, but the staff were quick, so it wasn't as frustrating as I expected.