Sokcho Food Guide 2026: Markets, Sashimi, Ojingeo Sundae & Local Favorites
If you are wondering what to eat in Sokcho, do not stop at the usual list of Korean barbecue, fried chicken and seafood restaurants.
Sokcho has a food culture shaped by the East Sea, traditional markets, North Korean refugee history and the mountain villages around Seoraksan.
That means you can eat freshly prepared sashimi in a market, try squid stuffed like Korean sundae, hunt for regional makgeolli in a local supermarket, recover from a night of drinking with spicy pork-bone stew, and start the next morning with a warm bowl of mussel porridge.
This Sokcho food guide for 2026 focuses on the foods and eating experiences I think make Sokcho more memorable — including several choices that foreign visitors may never think to order on their first trip to Korea.
If you only have one day, start at Sokcho Central Market, try ojingeo sundae and market snacks, eat fresh sashimi later in the day, and look for a regional makgeolli to take back to your accommodation.
The next morning, choose either a spicy Korean hangover meal or a warm bowl of seopjuk before continuing your trip.
1. Start at Sokcho Central Market
The first place I would send a food-focused traveler is Sokcho Central Market, also known as Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market.
These are not two completely different markets. The names are commonly used for the same major traditional market area in central Sokcho.
It is one of the easiest places to understand Sokcho food culture because you can find seafood, sundae, snacks, side dishes and local products without committing to a full restaurant meal every time.
Official market information highlights foods such as ojingeo sundae, Abai sundae and dakgangjeong, while the basement area includes fresh fish and sashimi vendors.
Official market website: Sokcho Central Market
2. Try Ojingeo Sundae — Squid Stuffed Korean-Style
One of the most interesting foods for first-time foreign visitors is ojingeo sundae (오징어순대).
If the word “sundae” makes you think of ice cream, forget that meaning here.
Korean sundae refers to a type of stuffed dish. In Sokcho, a whole squid can be filled with a savory mixture before being sliced into thick rounds.
The contrast is what makes it memorable: slightly chewy squid outside and a rich, soft filling inside.
At the market, you may also encounter creative versions made by individual vendors.
One worth looking for is nurungji ojingeo sundae, which combines the squid-sundae idea with the toasted, crispy character associated with Korean scorched rice.
Do not feel that you need to find one specific famous stall. Walk through the market first, see what is being cooked fresh, and choose the version that looks best to you. Vendor menus and availability can change.
3. Do a Korean Market Snack Crawl
Do not turn Sokcho Central Market into a single-meal stop.
It is more fun to treat it as a snack crawl.
After sharing ojingeo sundae, look for familiar Korean street foods such as:
- Tteokbokki – chewy rice cakes in a spicy-sweet sauce
- Chapssal donuts – chewy glutinous-rice doughnuts
- Dakgangjeong – sweet and crispy Korean fried chicken
- Traditional fried snacks and market sweets
Tteokbokki and chapssal donuts are not uniquely Sokcho foods, but that is not really the point.
Eating them while walking through a busy Korean market is part of the experience.
4. Eat Fresh Sashimi at the Market
Sokcho is an East Sea city, so seafood should be part of the trip.
The market's basement includes an active fresh-fish and sashimi area, making it convenient if you want to choose seafood and eat it locally.
Depending on the season and the day's catch, you may see fish and seafood such as hanchi, busiri and other seasonal species.
Do not build your trip around one exact species being available.
Instead, ask what is especially good that day.
Fresh sashimi on Korea's east coast is often enjoyed for its firm, springy texture.
You may hear Koreans compare it with fish from other coasts, but texture is affected by the species, season, condition of the fish and preparation — not simply which sea it came from.
Instead of choosing only by name, ask the vendor: “What is best today?”
One practical detail: Sokcho tourism information currently notes that the market's fish center has a regular closure on the second Wednesday, so check current operating information if the sashimi center is a major reason for your visit.
5. Turn a Local Hanaro Mart into a Food Stop
This may sound strange to a tourist, but I recommend visiting a Nonghyup Hanaro Mart when traveling around Korea.
Why?
Regional supermarkets can be surprisingly interesting places to discover local products that you may never see in a Seoul convenience store.
This is especially fun with makgeolli, Korea's cloudy rice-based alcoholic drink.
Look through the refrigerated alcohol section and see whether there are bottles produced in Gangwon or using regional ingredients.
Stock changes by store and season, so I would treat this as a small local drink treasure hunt rather than going in expecting one exact bottle.
Sokcho's official tourism information also lists a Nonghyup Hanaro Mart within the Central Market complex, so you can even add this experience to a market visit.
Instead of buying the same beer or soju you can find everywhere in Korea, look for a Gangwon-made makgeolli or another regional drink. Even a supermarket can become part of the travel experience.
6. Drank Too Much? Try a Korean-Style Hangover Meal
The morning after drinking in Korea can become another food experience.
Many Koreans look for haejang — literally the idea of relieving a hangover — with a hot, flavorful bowl of soup or a spicy meal.
This is where I would suggest something foreign travelers often overlook.
Gwandongjip: Gamjatang and Aged-Kimchi Pork Bone Stew
One Sokcho option is Gwandongjip (관동집), located at:
7-8 Seonsa-ro 2-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon State
The restaurant is known for Korean pork-bone dishes including gamjatang and mukeunji ppyeojjim.
Gamjatang is a deeply flavored pork-bone stew, usually served bubbling hot with potatoes, vegetables and seasoning.
Mukeunji ppyeojjim combines pork bones with aged kimchi, producing an intense, sour-spicy and deeply savory flavor.
This is exactly the kind of Korean food I think more foreign travelers should try.
Samgyeopsal is great, but you can find grilled pork recommendations in almost every Korea guide.
A steaming pot of pork bones and properly aged kimchi is a different kind of experience.
It is messy, rich, spicy and deeply Korean — and for some travelers, it may be the meal they are still thinking about after leaving Sokcho.
Current public listings show daytime-to-evening operation with a break period and a weekly closing day, but restaurant hours can change. Check the latest listing before making a special trip.
If you have already eaten Korean barbecue several times during your trip, skip another samgyeopsal dinner and try gamjatang or mukeunji ppyeojjim instead.
7. Try Seopjuk for a Very Different Sokcho Breakfast
The next recommendation is almost the opposite of a spicy pork-bone meal.
Seopjuk (섭죽) is a warm porridge made using seop, a name used in Gangwon for the large native mussels associated with the East Sea.
The result is warm, filling and much gentler than many Korean soups.
This makes it especially attractive in the morning, after hiking, or when you simply want a break from spicy food.
Seopjuk Maeul
A well-known place to try it is Seopjuk Maeul (섭죽마을).
Address: 352 Gwangwang-ro, Sokcho-si, Gangwon State
Current listings show opening hours of approximately 07:00–16:00, with last orders currently listed around 15:30.
That makes this much more of a breakfast or lunch destination than a dinner restaurant.
The seopjuk is currently offered in both:
- Mild / white porridge
- Spicy / red porridge
If your stomach is tired from several days of spicy Korean food, I would start with the mild version.
If you still want something with more Korean-style heat, choose the spicy version.
8. And Then Look for Juak
Do not automatically leave after breakfast.
If the small seller nearby is operating when you visit, look for juak (주악).
Juak is a traditional Korean-style sweet made from glutinous rice dough, fried and finished with a sweet coating.
It is small, chewy, slightly sticky and surprisingly satisfying after a gentle bowl of porridge.
The combination is one of those travel experiences I like because it does not feel designed specifically for foreign tourists:
warm Korean porridge → small traditional sweet → continue into the mountains or back toward Sokcho.
Small vendors can change their days and operating hours, so treat the juak stop as a bonus rather than something to build your entire schedule around.
9. What About Mulhoe?
Yes — you should still try mulhoe.
It combines sliced raw fish and vegetables with a cold, spicy broth and is especially refreshing after hiking or during warmer weather.
For me, it works particularly well after a Seoraksan day because the contrast feels very Sokcho:
mountains in the morning, cold seafood beside the sea later in the day.
We cover that mountain-and-sea route in more detail here:
Where Should Food Lovers Stay in Sokcho?
If food is a major part of your Sokcho trip, staying near central Sokcho and the market makes evening food exploration easier.
If your priority is Seoraksan, staying closer to the mountain can make an early hike easier — then you can return to central Sokcho for dinner.
For a balanced first trip, compare both the market area and the coast before booking.
This is an affiliate link. JAY Beyond Seoul may earn a commission if you book through it, at no extra cost to you.
JAY's One-Day Sokcho Food Route
If I were building a food-focused Sokcho itinerary for a first-time visitor, I would not try to eat everything in one sitting.
Late Morning — Sokcho Central Market
Start with:
- Ojingeo sundae
- A creative variation such as nurungji ojingeo sundae if available
- A small portion of tteokbokki
- A chapssal donut or another market sweet
Afternoon — Explore Sokcho
Walk, visit the coast, or take a break before the next meal.
Early Evening — Fresh Sashimi
Return to the market or another seafood area and ask what fish is especially good that day.
Evening — Try a Regional Drink
Check a Hanaro Mart or local supermarket for a Gangwon makgeolli you have never seen before.
Next Morning — Choose Your Recovery
If you want something spicy and powerful:
Gamjatang or mukeunji ppyeojjim.
If you want something warm and gentle:
Seopjuk.
Then add juak if you find it nearby.
Sokcho Food FAQ
What food is Sokcho famous for?
Popular Sokcho foods include ojingeo sundae, Abai sundae, dakgangjeong, fresh sashimi, mulhoe and regional seafood dishes. Gangwon specialties such as seopjuk are also worth seeking out.
Are Sokcho Central Market and Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market different?
They are names used for the same major central market complex in Sokcho.
What should I eat at Sokcho Central Market?
For a first visit, try ojingeo sundae, market snacks and fresh seafood rather than spending your entire appetite on one large dish.
Can I eat sashimi at Sokcho Central Market?
Yes. The market complex includes a basement fresh-fish and sashimi area. Available fish changes with season and supply.
What is seopjuk?
Seopjuk is a Gangwon-style porridge made with seop, a local name used for large native mussels. It is a good option for breakfast or a gentler meal.
What should I eat after drinking in Sokcho?
If you want the Korean hangover-food experience, try a hot soup or stew. Gamjatang is a classic choice, while aged-kimchi pork-bone dishes offer an even stronger flavor.
Final Thoughts
The best Sokcho food trip is not about finding one famous restaurant.
It is about moving through different sides of the city.
Eat squid sundae in the market. Try whatever sashimi is especially good that day. Search a local supermarket for an unfamiliar Gangwon makgeolli. Eat something fiery and deeply flavored after a night out. Then slow everything down with warm seopjuk the next morning.
That is the Sokcho food experience I would remember.
And it is a lot more interesting than eating the same samgyeopsal meal you can already find almost anywhere else in Korea.
Useful Resources
Sokcho Central Market Official Website
Sokcho Tourism – Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market
Information checked on September 1, 2026. Restaurant hours, individual market stalls, seafood availability, prices and regional alcohol stock can change. Check current information before making a special trip for one specific item.
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