Sokcho Korean restaurant for crispy squid sundae: Hwangbuja Twigim

At Sokcho Central Market, I had nurungji ojingeo sundae and Abai sundae at Hwangbuja Twigim (황부자튀김). I have eaten squid sundae in Sokcho several times before, but this time the crisp exterior and moist filling especially stayed with me.

What was the wait like when I visited?

I once waited a long time for squid sundae somewhere else and found it underwhelming. So I did not have high expectations this time simply because the line was long.

Hwangbuja Twigim was crowded when I went, so there was a wait. While I waited, a staff member asked what I would like to order in advance.

Right in front of me, squid sundae was grilling on a hot plate. Waiting with the smell of it cooking made me want to try it, and when I finally took a bite, I felt I had chosen well.

What was on the menu, and how much was the set?

I came looking for squid sundae, but the variety of food displayed in front of me also caught my eye.

There were king prawns, peeled prawns, red snow crab meat, and fried squid as well.

The piles of baby crab also caught my attention. At the time of my visit, it was marked ₩10,000 per box. Since the two of us wanted to try other market foods too, we did not buy any.

We ordered Set No. 12, which came with nurungji ojingeo sundae and Abai sundae. It was ₩20,000 at the time of my visit, and it was a good combination for us because we wanted to try both.

Was the nurungji squid sundae hard?

The dish I had looked forward to most was nurungji ojingeo sundae. Seeing it turn golden on the hot plate made the wait feel longer.

When I tried it, the texture differed from regular squid sundae. The outside was grilled crisp, with a savory roasted flavor as I chewed.

I had previously found nurungji-style food uncomfortably hard, so that was something I worried about. But this was not hard. The exterior was crisp while the inside remained moist, which was just the texture I like.

How was it with Abai sundae?

The Abai sundae that came with it was generously filled, making it satisfying to chew and more filling than I expected. I also liked that it was grilled fresh to order.

I could not eat it immediately after buying it, but it was still tasty after some time had passed. Alternating between the nurungji ojingeo sundae and Abai sundae made me feel I had chosen the right set.

What would I want to eat if I returned?

Even if I return to Sokcho Central Market, I would want to eat the nurungji ojingeo sundae again. Compared with the squid sundae I had eaten before, the texture of this one remains memorable.

I especially liked the crisp grilled exterior and savory flavor. I skipped the baby crab because I wanted to try several market foods, but I was satisfied with the two kinds of sundae I chose this time.