Since the province is not a rice-producing region, many of the dishes you'll find here feature potatoes as the starch of choice. Gamja buchingae (potato pancakes) are popular as a snack, appetizer, or anju (drinking snack). Because of the surrounding mountains, wild vegetables and mushrooms from the area find their way into traditional dishes. Be sure to try the sanchae bibimbap (wild mountain vegetable mixed rice), which is a delicious and inexpensive treat, or the local specialty, dotoli mook (savory gelatin made from acorns). One of the popular seafood dishes of the region is hwangtae, whose drying and marketplace is mentioned earlier, and ojing-uh soondae (Korean sausage made with squid instead of pork).
Inexpensive Korean restaurants serving local fare are easy to find, but Western-style cuisine and upscale dining can be found only in the resorts or high-end hotels, although you are more likely than not to get overpriced inauthentic fare. If you get tired of Korean food but don't want to break the bank, there are a handful of fast-food options (like pizza and burgers) in Sokcho.
If you love soon dubu (soft tofu hot pot), head over to Haksapyeong Soon Dubu Chon (Soft Tofu Village), where dozens of restaurants specialize in the dish. A couple of standouts are Gim Yeong-Hae Halmuhni Soon Dubu (tel. 033/635-9520) and Jaelaeshik Chodang Soon Dubu (tel. 033/635-6612). However, you can't go wrong with any of the restaurants here. All of them have comparable menus (with tofu and Alaskan pollack as main menu items). Soon dubu prices generally range from W5,000 to W7,000. From the Sokcho Bus Terminal, take bus no. 3-1 and get off in front of the Hwahwa Resort.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
