8 Places Where Locals Love to Eat in Sokcho

Daepohang Port Raw Fish Street is one of the many popular raw fish streets in Sokcho. It's located in Daepo-dong, Sokcho. The best places to eat raw fish in Sokcho are Daepohang (Daepo) Port, Jangsa Port, and Dongmyeong Port, with Daepo Port being the largest. 

Known for casual dining at affordable prices, Daepo Port is always crowded because it's very close to the condominiums in Seorak. Raw fish restaurants, dried and dried fish shops, and local food stalls line both sides of a long road close to the port. Make your choice and enjoy fresh seafood at reasonable prices.

Dongmyeong Port Raw Fish Street is located along a seawall at the end of Sokcho Port. Many tourists visiting Sokcho come to this place to enjoy fresh seafood dishes.

While smaller than Daepogang Port Raw Fish Street, Dongmyeong Port Raw Fish Street has several unique selling points like fresh live fish and seawalls with a view, as well as a large parking lot. Nearby attractions include Yeonggeumjeong Pavilion, which makes for a nice place to take a stroll after your meal.

Abai Village was established in Cheongho-dong by refugees of the Hamgyeong-do province, after following South Korean troops during the Korean War. The most popular dish in this area is Abai sundae (Abai sausage).

Abai sundae, a local dish of the Hamgyeong-do province, is now sold in many restaurants in Abai Village. You can also enjoy Hamgyeong-style traditional sundae and squid sundae, as well as sundae gukbap (Korean sausage and rice soup) and hoe-naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles with raw fish). You can enjoy wandering along Abai Village beach after your meal.

Haksapyeong in Nohak-dong, Sokcho-si is a scenic village in an open field beneath Ulsanbawi Rock of Seoraksan. You can find around 80 soft tofu (sundubu) restaurants along a roadside that leads to Misiryeong Valley. Soft tofu in this village has a great texture and savory taste.

The secret is to use only domestic soybeans and water from the East Sea. You can also enjoy a variety of tofu dishes, including tofu hotpot (dubu-jeongol) and tofu block (mo dubu).

Grilled fish restaurants are conveniently located along Jungangbudu-gil street, near the Gaetbae Pier. A serving usually comes with 5 to 6 kinds of fish, such as Pacific saury, Spanish mackerel, mackerel, lance-fish, sandfish, and toothfish. They're also served either whole or in bite-sized pieces.

This district is famous for grilled fish as local fishermen usually catch them fresh on the same day. The best way to enjoy grilled fish is with a dipping sauce, and each restaurant has its own secret recipe.

The Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market is located in Sokcho's downtown area. With plenty of things to buy and eat, it's a favorite destination for traveling foodies. On the outskirts of the market, there's an alley of restaurants specializing in Korean blood sausage soup (sundaeguk). What makes Sokcho sundaeguk special is that it has a clear clean broth.

You can spice up your sundaeguk with mixed seasoning and perilla seed powder, along with lots of green onions. For added flavor, it’s a good idea to pair Abai-style sundae (Korean sausage) or squid sundae with sundaeguk.

Dakgangjeong Alley, located near the Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market, is a popular destination for tourists in Sokcho. With more than 10 dakgangjeong (spicy-and-sweet chicken) restaurants, including 2 nationally renowned places, this alley is always crowded on weekends and holidays.

Since Gangwon-do has many poultry farms, dakgangjeong is a popular local food in this region, along with spicy stir-fried chicken (dak-galbi). The spicy-and-sweet chicken usually stays crunchy even when it gets cold. Each restaurant has its own secret recipe, so you can experience a different type of dakgangjeong when exploring the area.

Dongmyeong Port Squid Street has rows of food stalls serving a wide range of squid dishes at affordable prices. You can also buy fresh squids on the spot and eat them raw (ojingeo hoe), braised (ojingeo tongjjim), or with a spicy salad (ojingeo hoe muchim).

Squid is a seasonal delicacy, so it might not always be on the menu. It’s best to check availability before you visit. There are always other delicious dishes on the menu, like raw fish rice bowls and fish soup.