Abai Gonggal Bread
아바이공갈빵
A one-item snack stop in Abai Village near the Gaetbae ferry. The specialty is gonggal-ppang: a thin, crisp, round bread that is completely hollow inside, with sweetness coming from a sugar-honey glaze on the inner shell. Taste a sample if offered, then buy a KRW 10,000 bag and crack the bread into pieces to share.
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Interviewed by HeySeorak on 📖 Owner story included
Best For
Local dining and first-time visitors
Area
Abai
Price
₩ Budget-friendly
Reviewed by HeySeorak Editorial · Updated
Info
326-1 Cheongchohoban-ro, Sokcho, Gangwon
강원특별자치도 속초시 청초호반로 326-1 아바이공갈빵
Closed every Wednesday and Thursday. Hours may vary by season and batch availability.
The Story
The owner first tasted gonggal-ppang in Incheon Chinatown, where the bread is famous, but felt the crust was too thick and hot for many Sokcho visitors. After years of selling popular tare snacks, she shifted with the food trend and developed a thinner, crisper Sokcho-style version that locals and travelers could enjoy more comfortably. The shop has now operated in this location for more than ten years.
“작게는 내 얼굴이지만 크게는 우리나라 얼굴. - In a small way it is my face, but in a bigger way it is Korea's face.”
— Owner, Abai Gonggal Bread
What They Stand For
The shop is built around one clear product rather than a long menu. The owner keeps the bread thin, crisp, and easy to share, and treats small acts of hospitality toward travelers as part of representing Sokcho and Korea.
Behind the Signature
Gonggal-ppang literally means hollow bread. This version is a brittle round shell with almost no filling space inside; the sweetness comes from a sugar-honey glaze spread along the inner crust. Instead of biting into a soft bun, crack it first and eat the sweet, crisp pieces by hand.
Local Tip
The shop sits by the Gaetbae ferry approach in Abai Village. During busy seasons, people waiting for the ferry or walking over from parked cars naturally pass the storefront. It is not a cafe, so pair the bread with coffee or tea from a nearby shop if you want a better snack break.
Seasonal Note
High season brings more walk-up traffic from the ferry line and Abai Village route. Many regulars from Busan, Gyeongju, Jeolla, and other parts of Korea use the bread as a reason to revisit Sokcho.
For Travelers
Foreign visitors have increased with cruise passengers. Many first notice Koreans tasting samples, then try the unfamiliar hollow bread with curiosity. The owner often offers a piece, or even a small takeaway gift, to interested foreign travelers because she sees that kindness as both her own face and Korea's face.
Start with these dishes
The best first order for understanding what makes this place worth visiting.
Gonggal Bread Bag
공갈빵 1봉
A thin, crispy round bread that is completely hollow inside. The inner shell is brushed with a sweet sugar-honey glaze, so you crack the bread and eat the crunchy pieces.
How to order here
A simple flow for first-time visitors who want to order confidently.
Step 1
Try the free sample
If the owner offers a sample, taste it first. The point is the thin crispy shell and the sweet glaze inside, not a soft filling.
Step 2
Buy one bag
This is a one-item shop, so the basic order is simple: ask for one bag of gonggal-ppang. One bag costs KRW 10,000.
Step 3
Break it and pair it
Crack the hollow bread into pieces before eating. It is even better with coffee or tea; buy a drink from a nearby cafe and enjoy it around Abai Village.
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