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Cafés, restaurants and places in Gangwon, written by bloggers who went there.
Sokcho Topgol Makguksu Main Branch is a makguksu restaurant near Sokcho Beach in Sokcho, Gangwon. We shared deulmemak, pollack sashimi buckwheat noodles, potato pancake, and 17,000-won solo suyuk, with the unseasoned deulmemak lingering in my memory. A satisfying first meal before or after a beach walk.
Gangneung Sand Main Branch (강릉샌드 본점) is a sand dessert café near Gyeongpo Pavilion in Gangneung, Gangwon. I chose coffee and Chodang sweet corn flavors, explored the fifth-floor rooftop observatory, and loved the lightly frozen sand and gift-ready packaging. Verdict: a lovely stop for a break and Gangneung souvenirs.
Hwangbuja Twigim is a Korean snack restaurant in Sokcho, Gangwon, where visitors can take away fried foods and sundae. My husband, Arin, and I shared Set 1 and Set 12, including king prawns, red snow crab meat, nurungji squid sundae, and Abai sundae. Verdict: the king prawn stayed pleasantly crisp after takeaway, though the atmosphere I observed in the shop was disappointing.
Gangneung Sand Main Branch is a dessert café in Gangneung, Gangwon, with six flavors of buttercream sand cookies. I preferred the nutty black sesame flavor, while my husband preferred the sweet strawberry one; a box of 10 costs ₩17,000. Verdict: a lovely individually wrapped travel gift to share.
Seo Jubang is a bar on Yeongnang Coast in Sokcho, Gangwon. To finish a Sokcho trip, we ordered the Sokcho drinking set with flatfish makhoe and sea cucumber innards jeotgal, plus an array of lighter dishes, and loved the unexpectedly quiet inner room. Verdict: Seo Jubang is a lovely pick for drinks, dates, or get-togethers.
Hanggu Hwareo is a live seafood and snow crab restaurant at Daepo Port Fish Market in Sokcho, Gangwon. Three women shared the Snow Crab C Course, with two meaty crabs, sashimi, plentiful banchan, crab-shell bibimbap, and spicy fish stew. Verdict: a great pick when you want snow crab and sashimi together by the sea.
Cafe Neorae is a large bakery café in Sokcho, Gangwon, with wide windows overlooking rocks and natural scenery. I tried Jeju green tea Basque cheesecake, Neorae pudding, and a generously sized Mont Blanc while taking in the rooftop views. Verdict: a relaxing stop for coffee, dessert, and a little Gangwon atmosphere.
Hwagye Dakgalbi is a large dakgalbi restaurant in Sinbuk-eup, Chuncheon, with separate charcoal-grill and griddle dining spaces. I tried the ₩50,000 two-person set with salt and soy sauce dakgalbi, grilled deodeok, and icy makguksu. Verdict: a satisfying choice for juicy chicken still on the bone in a comfortable setting.
Hyeondae Memil is a buckwheat noodle restaurant near Namchuncheon Station in Chuncheon, Gangwon. I tried bibim makguksu, mala cream buckwheat sujebi, truffle potato pancake, and ongsimi, and loved the generous vegetables and cozy old-house atmosphere. Verdict: Don’t stop at makguksu—order the mala cream sujebi and truffle potato pancake too.
Samsam Goroke is a croquette bakery in Sokcho Jungang Market, Gangwon. I packed six locally inspired flavors to eat at the beach, and the spicy jjamppong croquette was my favorite. Verdict: a great pick for hotel snacks or gifts during a Sokcho trip.
Sokcho Yetgokgan is a traditional snack shop in Sokcho, Gangwon, inside Sokcho Jungang Market. I packed two yuzu-scented oranda and enjoyed their soft jocheong texture through the next day. Verdict: a practical take-home snack after a Sokcho trip.
Minja Hoetjip is a sashimi and seafood takeaway shop in Jumunjin Fish Market, Gangneung. We pre-ordered a small assorted sashimi platter by phone and enjoyed it at our accommodation with complimentary seafood. Minja Hoetjip makes for an easy, generous hotel dinner on a Gangneung trip.
