Sokcho, a charming coastal city nestled in the northeastern part of South Korea. The city is known for its fresh seafood and vibrant flavours. Beyond seafood, Sokcho is also celebrated for its unique local delicacies.
After concluding my South Korea trip covering nine different cities, Sokcho is one of the best food cities. Despite some misses during my short stay, the hit dishes scored extremely high. If you only have a short stay in this city, consider prioritise your visits to some of the hits below.
1. North Korea Blood Sausage (Abai Soondae 아바이순대)
Not just the regular soondae stuffed with vermicelli we get from the street carts scattered throughout the country. In Sokcho, you must try this special version called ‘abai soondae’ (say: ah-bye-ee soon-day), which is stuffed with glutinous rice, pig’s liver, meat, cabbage and more.
Abai is a slang from Hamgyong Province in North Korea referring to ‘Father’. As the Abai village in Sokcho was a place where refugees from North Korea resided. The small village sees rows of shops and houses stuck closely together. About 80% of these restaurants are offering the same dishes, with 1 or 2 that are featured on national TV channels so are slightly more popular than the others. However, we chose a cosy small eatery and it was delicious. We even had an appetiser on the house.
The abai soondae is served with a side of seasoned pollack and perilla leaves kimchi. When the three are stacked together, it’s a work of art. Put it in your mouth in one go.
Verdict: HIT
Price: 16,000 won for small, 28,000 won for a mixed platter of abai and squid soondae
Address
미경이네
강원 속초시 아바이마을길 18 청호동 840
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2. Squid Blood Sausage (Ojingeo Soondae 오징어순대)
When you visit abai village, the restaurants often have the option of ordering a mixed soondae platter. The platter includes two types of soondae – abai soondae and squid soondae.
During the Korea war, people who moved from Hamgyong Province to Gangwon Province were unable to obtain pig intestines so squid was used as a substitute. They dipped in egg and pan-fried each slice. It was delicious and is much milder than abai soondae, personally found it very fitting for kids’ palettes or people who don’t enjoy the blood taste in soondae.
Verdict: HIT
Price: 16,000 won for small, 28,000 won for a mixed platter of abai and squid soondae
Address
Same as Abai Soondae above. Alternatively, you can also find them in Sokcho central market’s food street.
3. Red Crab (Hongge 홍게)
The name “Red Crab” comes from the crab’s bright red colour, which is a distinguishing characteristic of this species, the same species as the famous Snow Crab. Red Crab is considered a delicacy in South Korea and commonly found in the East Sea. it is often prepared by simply steaming it, keeping the meat juicy, sweet and succulent.
The taste is as good as any freshly prepared crab anywhere else so don’t order with the expectations of getting your mind blown.
The smaller-sized red crabs are usually used to top off instant ramen noodles which for sure, did not magically enhance the taste or quality. Plus, there is not much meat in these smaller crabs.
Verdict: MISS
Price: 70,000 won for 900g to 1kg. 20,000 won for marinated red crab.
Address
동해안붉은대게
속초 해수욕장 제1공영주차장 근처 50m(북쪽), HJ 하우스 1층
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4. Potato Dough (Kamja Ongsimi 감자옹심이)
Potato is one of the most famous products of this province so it’s not surprising to find dough made with potato instead of just plain flour. With potato, the dough becomes extra chewy. Most of the restaurants would serve with a soup base made with anchovies, zucchini and other vegetables.
This restaurant located inside the central market also offers an alternative thick gluey base made with perilla seeds – which is an absolute hit for me who has been enjoying dishes with perilla seeds throughout the country.
Verdict: HIT
Price: 12,000 won for traditional soup, 13,000 won for perilla seed soup
Address
속초신토불이감자옹심이한식
강원 속초시 중앙로147번길 16 속초중앙시장 종합중앙시장상가 내부 1층 55호
Naver | Google Maps
5. Sweet Crispy Korean Fried Chicken (Dakgangjeong 닭강정)
Dakgangjeong is a must-have not only in Sokcho central market but also in general, when you visit any traditional markets in South Korea. However, the popularity of Sokcho’s dakgangjeong is on the next level. Locals from different parts of the country would specifically buy them in boxes and bring them back home.
All the famous dakgangjeong stalls in the central market function like factories. You won’t get to smell the oil from the freshly fried chicken or seats to enjoy it while it’s hot. You can only choose the predetermined package from the menu, based on the plastic food displays.
Upon payment, you will receive your pre-packed chicken in a (nicely) wrapped box like I actually bought the food displays instead of the real food. Without saying, the chicken is icy cold.
As travellers, we don’t always have the luxury of reheating food. Even if we have, it wouldn’t taste the same as the hot, freshly fried chicken. It’s quite obvious that I will recommend the World to give this a miss when you’re in Sokcho.
Verdict: MISS
Price: 19,000 won and 20,000 won for boneless.
Address
만석닭강정 중앙시장점
강원 속초시 중앙로147번길 16 중앙동 471-4
Naver | Google Maps
6. Innovative Hotteok (Sweet Pancakes 호떡)
If you visit Korea during Autumn or Winter, you might get bored of the usual hotteok flavours all over the country but still can’t stop yourself from passing by a stall without buying one, this hotteok place in Sokcho is for you.
They topped their regular hotteok with flavoured powders like Pringles (sour cream), Oreo (chocolate cookie), black sesame, soybean, cheese, seeds and more. Once you taste it, you may find it mind-boggling, stunned and confused (like me) but they do taste pretty good.
The hotteok itself is made well, so for the less adventurous, go for the original flavour and it is still a great hit.
Verdict: HIT
Price: 2,000 to 3,000 won
Address
남포동찹쌀씨앗호떡 외할머니뻥튀기종합분식
강원 속초시 수복로187번길 2 금호동 490-16
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