Sokcho market tempura stall with free parking coupon: Hwangbuja Twigim

For squid sundae (stuffed squid sausage) and shrimp tempura in Sokcho Jungang Market, Hwangbuja Twigim is the place to go :)

Where is Hwangbuja Twigim and what are its hours?

Hwangbuja Twigim is located at 16 Jungang-ro 147beon-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do, Nos. 26-27 Sokcho Tourist and Fisheries Market, South Korea. It's open 08:00-20:30 and closed every Wednesday.

Sokcho Jungang Market parking fees and the free 30-minute coupon

Parking at Sokcho Jungang Market costs ₩400 for the first 30 minutes, then ₩200 for every 10 minutes after that. If you spend over ₩15,000 at Hwangbuja Twigim, they'll give you a coupon for 30 minutes free.

Once you park and walk down, you hit the public restrooms of Sokcho Jungang Market, and you can walk right into the market across the street — a really convenient spot. Getting the parking coupon meant I could visit without worrying about the parking bill, which was great.

Why Sokcho Jungang Market belongs on a Sokcho itinerary

If you're planning a trip to Sokcho, Sokcho Jungang Market is a must-stop on any Sokcho travel course. There's just so much food inside the market that browsing and picking things to eat is always fun.

This time I was craving squid sundae and shrimp tempura from the market's food scene, so I stopped by Hwangbuja Twigim.

Hwangbuja Twigim sits at No. 27, right at the entrance of the central alley, in the Jungangtong section of Sokcho Jungang Market.

Hwangbuja Twigim menu: order a set and get four dishes

Hwangbuja Twigim's menu has plenty of market snacks Sokcho is famous for: king shrimp tempura, squid sundae, fried squid, snow crab tempura, and shrimp gangjeong (sweet glazed shrimp).

With various fried items and pancake-style dishes on offer, it was nice being able to pick according to taste.

If you want to try several menu items, I'd recommend going for a set! We ordered Set No. 2 (king shrimp and nude shrimp) and Set No. 11 (squid sundae and nurungji squid sundae). Choosing two set menus let us try four different dishes at a reasonable price — very satisfying.

Squid sundae grilled to order on the hot plate

The squid sundae gets grilled right there on the griddle in front of you the moment you order. Watching it cook is fun in itself, and it let me soak up the market atmosphere — I was glad I'd come to check out Sokcho Jungang Market.

After we got our takeout order, I went to snap a photo and noticed the place had suddenly filled with customers, forming a wait line. Sokcho Jungang Market's famous Hwangbuja Twigim, indeed 👍

The smell of freshly fried squid and nurungji squid sundae wafted up, and I couldn't wait to dig in!

How the king shrimp tempura and nurungji squid sundae tasted

I couldn't resist the temptation of freshly fried tempura and ate it hot right away, so only a few shrimp tempura pieces were left by photo time 🤣 The crispy batter held plump shrimp meat inside, perfect for eating one by one like a snack.

With the half-and-half squid sundae and nurungji squid sundae set, the squid sundae was packed full inside, making each bite quite filling. Both were delicious, but unlike the plain squid sundae, the nurungji version had a crispy, scorched-rice-like exterior — a clear win. The nutty flavor and crunchy texture of the nurungji suited my taste even better.

If you're on the hunt for good squid sundae in Sokcho and want something a bit special, the nurungji squid sundae is a solid choice.

Final verdict on Hwangbuja Twigim

⭐️ Final verdict ⭐️ Sokcho Jungang Market has no shortage of food, but if you want to enjoy Sokcho's famous dishes — squid sundae and shrimp tempura — all in one stop, why not drop by Hwangbuja Twigim at Sokcho Jungang Market? The shrimp tempura is tasty, but the nurungji squid sundae was even better!