Seojubang
서주방
A fusion Korean pub that opened on Yeongrang's pojang macha strip in early 2026, built around one idea: any ingredient can taste great with the right sauce. The menu is short and deliberate — spicy octopus-pork stew, Yeonpyeong crab fish cake broth, a corn-butter-cheese kimchi pancake — and everything has a version number in the owner's head, still being refined. Open until 4 AM on weekends.
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Interviewed by HeySeorak on 📖 Owner story included
Best For
Hearty local meals and first-time visitors
Area
Beach
Price
₩₩ Mid-range
Info
1F, 12 Yeongrang-haean 6-gil, Sokcho, Gangwon
강원특별자치도 속초시 영랑해안6길 12 1층
The Story
He grew up in Hongdae — Seoul's neighborhood of artists, late-night bars, and people who reinvent themselves — and never really left the food and beverage world. Eight years ago he moved to Yangyang for the surf and the pace. Then Sokcho called: cleaner infrastructure, better tourism numbers, a summer season that goes vertical. He signed a lease on this narrow room on Yeongrang's pojang macha strip in early 2026, ran the concept as a set-meal restaurant for three days, decided that wasn't it, and pivoted to a full drinking pub by day four. The menu was already in draft form the day the first customers walked in.
“소스 바리에이션이 핵심이에요. 불쭈육이 지금 버전 1.35인데, 버전 2가 될 때까지 소스를 계속 바꿔가고 있어요. 어떤 재료도 맞는 소스만 있으면 맛있게 만들 수 있거든요. — 'The sauce variation is everything. The spicy octopus-pork is at version 1.35 right now — I keep tweaking the sauce until it becomes version 2. Any ingredient can taste great if you find the right sauce for it.'”
— Owner, Seojubang
What They Stand For
The core idea at 서주방 is deceptively simple: any ingredient can be made delicious with the right sauce. This is not the philosophy of someone who coasts on premium product — it's the opposite. The owner's starting point is always the cheapest usable ingredient, then he engineers the sauce that makes it sing. He deliberately chose dishes the neighboring pojang macha stalls don't sell — octopus and pork together, Yeonpyeong crab fish cake stew — so the menu competes on flavor rather than price. Ten more dishes are waiting in his notes app for May. Each one has a version number.
Behind the Signature
The corn-butter-cheese kimchi pancake was the bestseller from week one. The concept is direct: kimchi pancake with corn butter and a cheese pull inside — the three things young Korean drinkers love most in a single bite. But the dish the owner has staked the most on is the 불쭈육: spicy octopus and pork belly, simmered together with bean sprouts until everything collapses into a shared broth. He calls it version 1.35. It started as version 1, it got better, it's still not where he wants it. He won't stop changing the sauce until it reaches version 2. He doesn't know exactly when that will happen.
Local Tip
서주방 is on Yeongrang-haean-6-gil, a few steps from the pojang macha strip beside Yeongrang Lake. Take bus 1 or 3 to the Yeongrang-dong stop and walk toward the water. The kitchen opens at 6 PM every night — Friday and Saturday until 4 AM, which makes it one of the latest-running spots in this part of Sokcho. No reservations needed; walk right in.
Seasonal Note
The owner runs summer aggressively and winter lightly — this is by design. From May onward, new dishes will appear on the menu as the summer season ramps up. The tomato flatfish mulhoe is a natural summer order; the hot stews are better in cooler months. Expect the menu to look different in July than it does in April.
For Travelers
The Yeonpyeong crab fish cake stew has been the hit with foreign guests — Chinese visitors and European groups have both taken to it, drawn in by the visible crab on top and the clean, spicy broth. The spicy octopus-pork (불쭈육) ran too hot for most foreign palates. The owner's goal is pure walk-in friendliness: no reservations, no barriers, just sit down and point. An English menu is in preparation and will arrive once the menu stabilizes in May. Until then, pointing at the Naver photos works fine.
Start with these dishes
The best first order for understanding what makes this place worth visiting.
Spicy Octopus & Pork Belly
불쭈육
Spicy octopus and pork belly simmered together with bean sprouts until the broth becomes shared — the dish the owner is still perfecting. Currently at version 1.35.
Corn Butter Cheese Kimchi Pancake
콘버터 치즈 김치전
The #1 seller from opening week — kimchi pancake filled with corn butter and a molten cheese pocket inside. Three things Korean drinkers love, in one pull.
Refreshing Flower Crab Fish Cake Stew
시원한 꽃게어묵탕
Yeonpyeong Island flower crab in a clear, spicy-clean fish cake stew — the broth is built on house dadaegi that keeps it bright rather than heavy.
How to order here
A simple flow for first-time visitors who want to order confidently.
Step 1
Order one signature first
If it is your first visit, start with Spicy Octopus & Pork Belly. It is the easiest way to understand what this place is known for.
Step 2
Add a second dish for balance
Corn Butter Cheese Kimchi Pancake usually rounds out the meal well, especially if your table wants both a safe choice and something more local.
Step 3
Use the menu as a script
Open the English menu and point to the exact item names if ordering feels awkward.
More from the menu
View full English menu →Coke / Sprite / Zero Coke
콜라 / 스프라이트 / 제로콜라
Classic canned sodas.
Chargrilled Dried Pollack with Cheongyang Chili Mayo
직화 노가리와 청양마요
Dried young pollack chargrilled until the edges crisp, served with a punchy cheongyang chili mayo for dipping.
Helpful guides
Practical reads to help you make the most of your visit.
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