Rainy evening kkotgae kalguksu finish in Sokcho: Sokcho Haemul Kkot

I recently went on a one-night, two-day trip. I was trying to figure out what to eat in Sokcho, and figured after getting out of the water I'd be craving something hot, so I booked ahead at Sokcho Haemul Kkot Jangkalguksu!

The weather was so overcast and rainy that we couldn't get into the water, but with the rain and the chill in the air, hot jangkalguksu (spicy knife-cut noodle soup) tasted even better. I'm sharing this review in case it's useful when you're looking for a Sokcho dinner spot this fall or winter.

Where do you park?

You can park at Sokcho Haemul Kkot Jangkalguksu in the empty lot right behind the restaurant!

Hours and info

Sokcho Haemul Kkot Jangkalguksu — a Sokcho-style handmade seafood jangkalguksu specialist

• 📍4 Joyang-ro 118beon-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea, 1st floor
• ✔️Hours: 09:00 - 20:00 (last order 19:30)
• ✔️Naver Reservation available
• Free parking available
• Pet-friendly
• Rooms available for parties of 6+
• Takeout available

It's a jangkalguksu place that also serves breakfast, so it's great to come by early in the morning during a Sokcho trip when you're craving something spicy.

Interior and menu — good for a family meal out

Since I visited on a weekend, I pre-ordered through Naver Reservation before arriving.

• Fortifying bracken & sanghwang mushroom seafood jangkalguksu — ₩16,000 per person
• Fortifying beef & octopus special seafood platter jangkalguksu (signature menu) — ₩25,000 per person

I pre-ordered the seafood platter jangkalguksu, loaded with seafood — a real energy-boosting meal!

If you reserve ahead, your table is already set up when you arrive, like in the photo. The seafood looked amazing just from the visuals, so I was excited even before eating.

The starter was ginseng!! Starting an energy-boosting meal with ginseng — just pop it in your mouth whole :)

How to eat Sokcho seafood jangkalguksu

• 1. Put the mussels, scallops, and clams in first, then cook the beef belly and vegetables shabu-shabu style.
• 2. Eat the octopus and squid as you lightly blanch them right away — this deepens the flavor of the broth!
• 3. Once you've finished the meat, vegetables, and seafood, add the sanghwang mushroom hand-cut noodles to the rich broth and simmer for about 7 minutes — done!

Before adding the noodles, if the broth is too salty or running low, you can just ask for more.

The clams and scallops were both so fresh and delicious, and since the broth was spicy, the flavor doubled. But it wasn't overly spicy at all, so it's a broth couples and families can all enjoy together.

I lightly blanched the squid too, and it was so tender, plump, and chewy. The more you eat, the more savory the broth gets, and the flavor just keeps deepening — that's the highlight!! If you overdid it on drinking during your Sokcho trip, this jangkalguksu place serving breakfast might just be perfect for a hangover cure, haha.

Every piece of seafood was big and generous, and with such rich flavor and so many varieties, it was fun to eat too!! A magic that keeps you eating without noticing.

Finishing with blue crab kalguksu

To finish, you add the hand-cut noodles. Honestly, I was already a little full even before the noodles went in, but kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) can't be skipped.

Doesn't it look incredibly spicy just from looking at it? We added blue crab too, turning it into kkotgae (blue crab) kalguksu, and sure enough, the broth was the ultimate finisher.

I'd been saving some octopus to eat with the crab kalguksu, and lightly blanching it made it even more delicious! Sokcho-style seafood jangkalguksu? Highly recommend. Next time I'll come back with my family on our next Sokcho trip!!

Baskin Robbins ice cream from the review event!! After a spicy jangkalguksu meal, finishing off with something refreshingly sweet made it the perfect ending, haha.

If you've been looking for a Sokcho dinner spot, I highly recommend Sokcho Haemul Kkot Jangkalguksu — a spicy, seafood-packed, savory travel meal that'll help you recharge.