Sokcho Korean restaurant with ocean-view pork cutlet: Deungdae Gotgan

Back at Deungdae Gotgan on day two of our Sokcho golf trip

When you think of a trip to Sokcho, the sea is the first thing that comes to mind, right? ^^ This is where my husband and I had lunch on the second day of our golf trip to Sokcho. It’s Deungdae Gotgan (등대곳간), along the Deungdae Beach strip. I remembered how good it was when we stopped by last time, so naturally this was the first place I thought of when Sokcho came up again :) Being able to eat while looking at the sea is lovely in itself, and the food is delicious too—there was no reason not to return, haha.

Right by Deungdae Beach, with early meals available

It’s right in front of Deungdae Beach in Sokcho, so it’s very easy to get to. The building has two floors, and the first floor has a space with claw machines and arcade games.

If you’re visiting with children, it could be fun to let them play downstairs before heading up for your meal ^^ You can park along the beachfront, and since they open at 8 a.m., you can have a hearty meal even early in the day.

Second-floor ocean views of waves and rocks

The moment we went up to the second floor and sat down, I automatically said, “This view is the real deal” ^^ Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, rolling waves and rocks of all sizes spread out right in front of you. I was already hooked on the view before the food even arrived, haha. It was cloudy and the waves were crashing quite strongly, but that made the scene feel even more atmospheric, so I kept looking over :) Each table has a gas burner, so you can heat the octopus dishes yourself and enjoy them warm.

Deungdae Gotgan’s menu and what we ordered

There are exactly four menu items: jjageul nakji (spicy braised octopus), nakji haejangguk (octopus hangover soup), jeyuk-bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork), and pork cutlet. The jjageul nakji and pork cutlet are ₩14,000, while the jeyuk-bokkeum and nakji haejangguk are ₩13,000. For a Sokcho restaurant with an ocean view, the prices felt very reasonable :) Their standard policy is one menu item per person, so keep that in mind before visiting.

I had tried an octopus dish last time, but this time we ordered the pork cutlet and jeyuk-bokkeum. I chose the pork cutlet because I thought it would suit my husband’s taste, and of course it did, haha. We also added fried shrimp, and I was surprised at how big the serving was ^^

Thick, homemade-style pork cutlet

The thickness stood out as soon as the pork cutlet plate arrived. Rather than a thin fried cutlet, it was a thick, homemade-style one, and the cross-section looked so satisfyingly substantial when I cut into it. The sides were generous too: japchae rice (glass noodles with rice), cabbage coleslaw, corn, and pineapple, so one plate was more than filling :) Dipping it in the house special sauce added another layer of flavor, and the sauce went better with it than I expected. If you visit Deungdae Gotgan, you really have to try this pork cutlet~

Spicy stir-fried pork and crispy fried shrimp

The jeyuk-bokkeum came with the meat nicely stir-fried in a spicy sauce. It was just the kind of flavor you want to mix through your rice and eat. The fried shrimp had a crispy coating and plump shrimp inside, and it was much tastier than I expected too ^^ My husband had an immediate good reaction after trying it :)

You can tell from the cross-section—it’s really packed inside ^^ The outside was crisp while the inside stayed moist, so the frying still let the meat’s own flavor come through. Dip it in the sauce and another flavor comes in, making you reach for it again and again, haha. My husband and I came out completely full, and eating something delicious while looking at the sea definitely made me feel refreshed. Every time I come to Sokcho, having a meal at a restaurant with such a great ocean view feels completely healing ^^

If you’re going to Sokcho, be sure to stop by Deungdae Gotgan for a delicious meal with a sea view! Since it opens at 8 a.m., it’s also perfect for an early meal if you’re enjoying outdoor activities like golf or surfing. The prices are easy on the wallet, and the ocean view is an extra bonus, so add it to your list when you visit Sokcho ^^