Kid-friendly sundubu restaurant in Sokcho with baby chairs

Daecheongmaru is a well-known sundubu (soft tofu stew) restaurant in Sokcho — a good lunch spot to visit with kids.

Starting our Sokcho trip, we were trying to figure out where to go for our first meal, and ended up at Daecheongmaru. I had this idea that you have to eat the famous sundubu when you come to Sokcho, but since we were traveling with a kid, I also wanted somewhere with milder options. Daecheongmaru turned out to be great for a family meal — they have everything from spicy sundubu to Chodang sundubu, grilled dried pollack, and wild greens bibimbap.

Is there a wait at Daecheongmaru at Friday lunchtime?

Even though it was Friday lunchtime, the restaurant was already packed with diners. It's clearly a famous spot, because before long a waiting line started to form too.

If you've been researching Sokcho food spots, you've probably heard of Daecheongmaru already. Since we went at peak lunch hour, I'd suggest building in some extra time around mealtimes.

Ordering spicy and mild sundubu together for a child

The biggest perk of Daecheongmaru is that you can order a spicy dish and a mild one at the same table. I was craving the spicy sundubu, while my kid can't handle spicy food, so we needed something mild like Chodang sundubu.

Being able to order dishes that suit each person's taste at a single restaurant made family dining so much easier.

Chodang sundubu lets you enjoy the naturally soft, mild flavor of the tofu itself, while the spicy sundubu had an addictive, punchy broth. The tofu was soft enough that eating it with our kid felt easy, and it's a good fit for anyone who wants a mild meal rather than something heavily seasoned.

The banchan side dishes at Daecheongmaru

There were so many banchan (side dishes), each one tasty and reminiscent of a home-cooked meal from mom, and I ended up polishing off a whole bowl of rice with them.

The main dishes were great, but having the banchan be just as tidy and delicious made the whole meal even better!

Pairing the sundubu with the side dishes made for a filling meal, and it was nice being able to pick out banchan our kid could eat too, so we could all eat together.

Daecheongmaru location and hours: does it serve breakfast?

• Address: 430 Gwangwang-ro, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 7:20am–9:30pm (break time 3:30pm–5:00pm)
• Daecheongmaru's food menu

It's also close to Sorano Hanwha Resort Seorak and Seorak Pine Resort, so if you're staying nearby and looking for somewhere to eat early in the morning, Daecheongmaru is a great option since it opens quite early. If you're looking for a Sokcho restaurant for a healthy meal made with Chodang sundubu using 100% domestic ingredients, give Daecheongmaru a try. Even though it was busy and hectic the day I visited, both the staff and the owner were kind, which I appreciated.

When looking for a restaurant with a kid, it's not just the food that sticks with you but how kind the staff are — and Daecheongmaru was satisfying on that front too!

Is Daecheongmaru worth a stop on a Sokcho trip?

Daecheongmaru, our first meal of this Sokcho trip, was satisfying overall — from the sundubu to the banchan to the friendly service. Especially when traveling with a kid, it matters that there's something everyone can eat, and I loved that we could enjoy both spicy sundubu and mild Chodang sundubu together.

If you're looking for somewhere to eat during a Sokcho trip, Daecheongmaru is worth adding to the list. Whether you want a hearty breakfast to start your day, a delicious lunch with family, or to try Sokcho's sundubu for dinner, this restaurant works well for all of those. Our family got to have a delicious first meal in Sokcho thanks to this visit, and it's a place we'd love to come back to next time we're in Sokcho.