Sokcho restaurant for crispy potato pancake: Topgol Makguksu

A makguksu meal near Sokcho Beach

While traveling in Sokcho with my husband, I thought, if we came all the way to Sokcho, we had to have makguksu (buckwheat noodles)! So I looked up good makguksu spots and Sokcho Topgol Makguksu, said to be a holy ground for Deulmemak, caught my eye~ I already love perilla-oil buckwheat noodles, so a holy ground? We had to go straight away~ And Topgol Makguksu was so satisfying, with delicious potato pancake and dumplings as well as makguksu.

• Location: Sokcho Topgol Makguksu Main Branch, 1F, 12 Haeoreum-ro 188beon-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon State
• Hours: Mon–Fri 09:30–21:00 / Sat–Sun 09:30–22:00
• Parking: Sokcho Beach Public Parking Lots 1, 2, and 3, a 1–3 minute walk away
• A 2-hour discounted parking ticket is provided with a meal

If you use Sokcho Beach Public Parking Lots 1, 2, or 3, just 1–3 minutes away on foot, they provide a 2-hour discount ticket—so park at one of the public lots and be sure to pick up your ticket~ Pets can enter only if they are in a carrier, too, so keep that in mind~

The restaurant felt bright and clean, and the cozy tables farther inside looked like they would be great for a family gathering~

As you would expect from a popular Sokcho restaurant, they had put care into the waiting area too~ There is even a free photo booth, so taking a commemorative picture while you wait would be lovely~

They were selling buckwheat noodles and buckwheat cookies by the register~ I wanted to try the cookies, but on the way out I got so excited about taking pictures at the photo booth that I happily snapped photos and walked right out, haha. Next time I visit, I am definitely buying some~!!!

Makguksu and shredded potato pancake ordered by kiosk

It was convenient because we could order and pay directly from our table through the kiosk~ They give you two buckwheat dumplings for joining the review event, so you may want to take part~ We ordered buckwheat makguksu, Deulmemak, shredded potato pancake, and giant buckwheat dumplings~

The banchan (side dishes) were shredded radish salad and young-radish kimchi~ The radish salad was lightly tangy and crisp, but the young-radish kimchi was seriously insane~ Crisp, cool, and tangy—it was ridiculously good!

I wanted lots of young-radish kimchi, so I was thrilled there was a self-service bar~ Seeing it loaded with shredded radish salad and young-radish kimchi made me feel so secure. Is this how a soldier feels with plenty of bullets at the ready? Haha.

It was fun that tapping the makguksu menu on the kiosk brought up directions for how to eat it deliciously~ Each noodle dish had its own instructions, so follow them for the tastiest bite!!!

Following the directions for the buckwheat makguksu first, we added fruity dongchimi (radish-water kimchi) broth, perilla oil, mustard, and vinegar~ We wanted it refreshing, so we skipped the sugar.

All of our food arrived~ Every single thing looked delicious, and I was so pleased with this generous spread!!!

Crisp, fluffy potato pancake and two kinds of makguksu

This shredded potato pancake is called “Potato, Why Do You Go So Well with Pancakes?”~ The name made me smile from the moment we ordered it, and seeing it arrive at the table made me smile again. The huge pancake covered the whole plate, which was so satisfying~ They even provided a pizza cutter instead of scissors, so cutting it cleanly and easily was fun too.

The buckwheat makguksu is what you might think of as bibim makguksu (spicy mixed buckwheat noodles)~ Its tangy, sweet, and nutty balance was perfect, and I loved the crunchy texture from the cucumber and naengmyeon radish kimchi.

Deulmemak, which they say was trademark-registered with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on 26.03.03, is basically perilla-oil buckwheat noodles~ It was a little salty and nutty, the kind of flavor that keeps pulling you back. The lingering finish had a faintly bitter touch of buckwheat fragrance, and the springy, chewy buckwheat noodles had a great texture too~

Eating it with young-radish kimchi was cool and tangy, like it woke up my appetite~ Add a little fruity dongchimi broth and it becomes tangier, with a refreshing water naengmyeon feel.

While we were eating, I noticed celebrity signatures on the wall~ Among them, the signature from mukbang YouTuber Hibab seemed to shine especially brightly. I will eat deliciously like Hibab too!!!

The giant buckwheat dumplings had an appealing earthy flavor~ Their savory buckwheat wrappers were packed with richly flavorful filling, making them both hearty and delicious.

My husband said he was not drinking, but he could not resist the sight of the shredded potato pancake and eventually ordered soju~ A delicious anju (dish for drinks) deserves a drink alongside it, right? Of course~ But do not our hands making a cheers look just like a heart? I love you!!!

The makguksu and dumplings were a wonderful match~ The buckwheat makguksu and dumplings were tangy, sweet, and earthy, while perilla-oil makguksu plus dumplings was nutty + nutty = ultimate nuttiness.

The shredded radish salad was just tangy enough and cool, so it paired nicely with the dumplings too~ It did not overpower their umami, but made my mouth feel clean and refreshed.

Until now, my life’s best potato pancake was the one at Wondaeri Makguksu, but Sokcho Topgol Makguksu’s shredded potato pancake is challenging that spot~ It was crispy outside while the fluffy potato texture remained inside, which was so amazing. The potato flavor was deep, and that crisp-outside, fluffy-inside texture was so fresh.

It was nice with pickled onions too—crisp and refreshing~ Wrapped with the perilla-oil makguksu, it made my mouth feel wonderfully nutty and abundant. Such a happy flavor!

Yagwanmun tea and a commemorative photo

I took a photo because the hornet nest hanging from the ceiling was so fascinating~ But why is Santa Claus hanging up there? Haha.

There was yagwanmun tea in a broth dispenser beside the self-service bar~ Curious about the taste, I poured a cup. Its dark color made me cautiously expect it to be very bitter, but plot twist~ It had a gentle medicinal-herb aroma and such a lovely toasty flavor! So my husband and I each had a cup.

On the way out, I saw that they roast their perilla seeds themselves~ It was lovely to see the care they put into every ingredient.

My husband and I also took the picture we had promised ourselves we would take after eating, from the moment we walked in~ With a commemorative photo too, it was a pleasant meal right through to the end.

Corkage is free, so keep that in mind~ I was touched once more seeing that they dry the yagwanmun themselves too. My husband quietly seemed impressed as well, saying, “They really pay attention to their ingredients~”

Sokcho Topgol Makguksu Main Branch is near Sokcho Beach, where you can see the Sokcho Eye Ferris wheel, so it would be nice to take a stroll and look around after your meal~ If you are looking for a delicious place to eat, a date spot, or somewhere to gather, I recommend Sokcho Topgol Makguksu Main Branch!!!