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Cafés, restaurants and places in Gangwon, written by bloggers who went there.
Hoega is a sashimi and seafood restaurant in a residential area near Beonyeong-ro in Sokcho, offering takeout pickup for travelers. Ordering ahead by phone and picking up a small mixed sashimi platter and mulhoe (cold raw fish soup) to eat back at the hotel worked out well, especially the mulhoe with its broth packed separately. A solid choice for Sokcho travelers who want a relaxed seafood meal at their accommodation.
Bongpyeong Memil Migayeon is a buckwheat noodle restaurant in Bongpyeong, Pyeongchang, Gangwon, that makes its 100% buckwheat noodles in-house. Visiting on a Saturday at noon during the buckwheat flower festival, the writer took waiting number 35 and got seated in about 15 minutes, then tried the plain memil makguksu (buckwheat cold noodles), hanwoo yukhoe bibim makguksu (raw beef tartare mixed noodles), buckwheat pancakes, and an extra serving of noodles. It's a great fit for anyone who wants to taste buckwheat itself rather than a heavily seasoned bowl.
Sokcho Topgol Makguksu Main Branch is a makguksu (buckwheat noodle) restaurant near Sokcho Beach serving deulmemak, its patented perilla oil buckwheat noodles. Visiting on a weekday evening to dodge the lunchtime wait, the writer and a friend ordered two deulmemak, a single-serving suyuk (boiled pork), and pollack salad — a perfect amount for two. Between the nutty perilla aroma, the deep dongchimi (radish water kimchi), and the pollack salad, it's a great stop on a Sokcho trip.
Jeongseong Katsu Chuncheon Toegye Branch is a handmade tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant in Toegye-dong, Chuncheon. The Triple Mixed Katsu Set (₩14,900) pairs loin, tenderloin and cheese katsu with spicy sauce and curry, alongside the Western-style King Tonkatsu Set and Kimchi Fish Cake Udon. With varied menu options and generous portions, it suits solo diners, dates and family meals alike.
Gangneung Sand Main Branch is a large Santorini-style dessert café near Ojukheon in Gyodong, Gangneung. The writer brought her dog in a pet stroller, drank coffee on the indoor second floor, took photos at the dog photo zone, and tried the strawberry and Chodang corn flavors of Gangneung Sand. With a pet carrier bag or stroller, indoor seating is allowed, making it a solid pick when searching for a dog-friendly café in Gangneung.
Yukdaejang Dangye Musil-jeom is a 24-hour yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) restaurant in the Dangye-dong and Musil-dong area of Wonju, Gangwon. The writer ordered hanbang bossam (medium), cha-dol yukgaejang at spice level 1, traditional yukgaejang at the mild base level, and a kids' seolleongtang, with free rice refills along the way. With a large parking lot and a baby chair on hand, it works equally well for a family dinner or a late-night drinking session.
Samgyori Dongchimi Makguksu Namhangjin branch is a makguksu (buckwheat noodle) restaurant near Namhangjin beach in Gangneung, Gangwon. On the last day of a Sokcho-Gangneung trip, the writer ordered two bowls of pollack sashimi makguksu and buckwheat dumplings for lunch with a baby in tow, pouring in icy dongchimi (radish water kimchi) broth. Even without much sauce, the noodles tasted clean and mild — a solid lunch pick for Gangneung with a child.
Coffee Dripper is a self-roasting drip coffee café tucked inside Gangneung's Chodang Sundubu Village. The writer tried the master's recommended beans, Ethiopia Aricha and Kenya Ungoranu, paired with a salted vanilla financier and sundubu (soft tofu) pudding, and both cups were rich and full-bodied, exactly to taste. With about 13 parking spots on site, it's an easy stop on a Gangmun Beach itinerary.
Moana Burger is a handmade burger restaurant on Nanseolheon-ro in Chodang-dong, Gangneung, near the Chodang Sundubu Village and St. John's Hotel, making it an easy lunch stop on a Gangneung trip. The burgers were good, but the buffalo wings with house-made sauce stole the show. A solid change of pace when you're tired of Korean food and seafood on a Gangneung trip.
Cafe Neorae is a large café spanning floors 2 to 4 with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Ulsanbawi Rock in Sokcho, Gangwon. Drawn in by the mountain view after browsing Sokcho Jungang Market, the writer settled into a third-floor window seat for a Neorae Latte, a Chodang corn latte, and tissue bread. Cafe Neorae turned out to be as strong on bakery and coffee as it is on its view.
Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu is a Korean restaurant run by a certified Korean Cooking Master in the Chodang sundubu (soft tofu) village of Gangneung, Gangwon. The writer brought her father for the Chodang Deluxe Table, featuring crab sundubu jjigae (soft tofu stew), tofu samhap (tofu trio), and seasoned grilled kodari (dried pollock), and he called it the best sundubu he's ever had. A polished, comforting spread that's perfect for taking parents out to eat.
Baegya Coffee is a large four-floor bakery café right in front of Sacheonjin Beach near Gyeongpodae in Gangneung. On a day trip with my wife, we ordered an egg tart, a mini mocha butter pound cake, an iced Americano and a watermelon slushie, took in the ocean view from the 3rd floor, and explored the rooftop and the terraced 2nd floor, each with a different layout. The watermelon slushie, packed with real watermelon, was hands down the best watermelon drink I've had all year.
