Source: https://heyseorak.com/spots/sokcho-jang-kalguksu Last-Updated: 2026-06-16 --- # Sokcho Jang Kalguksu (속초장칼국수) > Say the romanized name when ordering. Staff will understand even if your pronunciation isn't perfect. Category: korean | Type: eat | Area: downtown | Price range: budget Address: 1F, 36 Cheolsae-gil, Sokcho, Gangwon Phone: 033-637-4756 Hours: Mon–Wed 10:00–19:30 (break 15:00–17:00, LO 19:00), Thu Closed, Fri–Sun 10:00–19:30 (break 15:00–17:00, LO 19:00) (Closed every Thursday. Break 15:00–17:00.) English menu available: Yes ## Trust and freshness - Verification: interview / 2026-06-16 - Menu freshness: updated 2026-06-16T00:23:16.552+00:00 A family-run noodle house carrying twenty years of jang-kalguksu tradition. The husband cooks the noodles al dente — firm and chewy, never mushy — in a gochujang-spiked broth loaded with Sokcho clams. Near the Expo tower, easy parking. Pro tip: If spicy is not your thing, order the son-kalguksu (plain handmade noodle soup) instead — same quality broth, zero heat. The jeon-byeong (buckwheat crepe) is a great side. ## Story ### How it started The recipe goes back roughly twenty years to the owner's mother-in-law, who ran the original jang-kalguksu shop. The family has moved three times within Sokcho — from the express bus terminal to Johyang-dong to Gyo-dong — each time because the crowds grew unmanageable. Rather than expand, they downsized and rebranded. The current Sokcho Jang Kalguksu opened on April 3, 2025, in a clean new building near the Expo tower, chosen for its parking, foot traffic from nearby attractions, and a hygienic kitchen the owner could design from scratch. ### Philosophy Hygiene and cleanliness are non-negotiable — the owner chose this specific building partly for its brand-new kitchen. The husband cooks every bowl of noodles al dente, firm and chewy, never letting them go soft the way his mother-in-law used to. If an older guest asks for softer noodles, he'll boil a separate batch just for them. The seafood is all Sokcho-sourced: clams, squid, scallops pulled from local waters. ### Signature Two dishes define this place. The jang-haemul-kalguksu is a spicy gochujang broth swimming with Sokcho clams, squid, and scallops — 'eolkeun' (얼큰), the Korean word for that throat-warming, sinus-clearing heat that still feels clean. The son-mandutguk was added when they reopened: handmade dumplings filled with domestic kimchi, pork, and vegetables, each one folded by hand every morning. ### Finding the place The shop is tucked in the alley just in front of the Expo landmark tower — look for the sign at street level. Free parking available, which is rare for Sokcho restaurants. The Expo park and Cheongchoho Lake are a short walk away. ### Seasonal notes Kongguksu (chilled soy milk noodles) and bibim-kalguksu (spicy mixed noodles with plenty of vegetables) appear only in summer when the weather turns hot. ### For international visitors Foreign guests visit regularly, often with Korean friends who handle the ordering. The owner communicates with simple English — 'spicy,' 'seafood,' 'vegetable' — and there's a picture menu on the wall. Most foreigners eat the jang-kalguksu without trouble; those who can't handle heat switch to the plain son-kalguksu and enjoy it just as much. > 위생이 제일 중요해요 — 'Hygiene comes first. That's the one thing we'll never compromise on.' ## Dietary Summary - Total menu items: 20 - Common allergens: gluten, soy, shellfish ## Menu ### Noodles & Soup (식사류) - **Son-kal-guk-su** (손칼국수) — ₩8,500 Clear broth made from dried pollack head and vegetables, with hand-cut noodles, potato, and shiitake mushroom. Light, clean, and comforting. Ingredients: wheat noodles, dried pollack broth, potato, shiitake | Allergens: gluten - **Jang-kal-guk-su** (장칼국수) — ₩9,000 The house signature for twenty years: chewy hand-cut noodles in a gochujang-spiked dried pollack broth with potato and shiitake. Warming and savory, not face-meltingly spicy. Ingredients: wheat noodles, gochujang, dried pollack broth, potato | Spicy: medium | Allergens: gluten - **Hae-mul-kal-guk-su** (해물칼국수) — ₩9,500 Hand-cut noodles in a clear broth loaded with Sokcho clams, squid, shrimp, and scallops. Ingredients: wheat noodles, clams, squid, shrimp, scallops | Allergens: gluten, shellfish - **Jang-hae-mul-kal-guk-su** (장해물칼국수) — ₩10,000 ⭐ Signature The best of both worlds: gochujang heat meets a full spread of Sokcho seafood — clams, squid, and scallops in one steaming pot. The signature "eolkeun" kick that clears your sinuses. Ingredients: wheat noodles, gochujang, clams, squid, scallops | Spicy: medium | Allergens: gluten, shellfish - **Son-man-du-guk** (손만두국) — ₩11,000 ⭐ Signature Handmade dumplings filled with domestic kimchi, pork, and vegetables, simmered in a clear broth. Added to the menu when the current shop opened — each dumpling folded by hand every morning. Ingredients: pork, kimchi, vegetables, dumpling wrapper | Allergens: gluten - **Ong-si-mi-kal-guk-su** (옹심이칼국수) — ₩11,000 Chewy potato dough balls (ongsimi) and hand-cut noodles in a savory dried pollack broth. A hearty Gangwon-do specialty. Ingredients: potato dough balls, wheat noodles, dried pollack broth | Allergens: gluten - **Jeon-byeong** (전병) — ₩7,000 Crispy buckwheat crepe stuffed with seasoned pork, kimchi, and vegetables, pan-fried until golden. A classic Gangwon-do side. Ingredients: buckwheat, pork, kimchi | Spicy: mild | Allergens: gluten - **Gun-man-du** (군만두) — ₩10,000 Handmade kimchi dumplings, pan-fried until the bottom is crispy and golden. Ingredients: pork, kimchi, dumpling wrapper | Spicy: mild | Allergens: gluten - **Jjin-man-du** (찐만두 (기성품)) — ₩9,000 Steamed pork and vegetable dumplings. Pre-made (not handmade), served hot. Allergens: gluten - **Gong-gi-bap** (공기밥) — ₩1,000 ### Appetizers (안주류) - **Je-yuk-bok-keum** (제육볶음) — ₩30,000 Pork stir-fried in a sweet-spicy gochujang sauce. Reservation required. Spicy: hot | Serving: Reservation required (선예약). - **Ko-da-ri-jo-rim** (코다리조림) — ₩35,000 Semi-dried pollack braised in a savory-sweet soy and chili sauce. A popular Korean drinking side. Reservation required. Spicy: medium | Serving: Reservation required (선예약). ### Drinks (주류) - **So-ju** (소주) — ₩5,000 Korea's iconic clear spirit. - **Maek-ju** (맥주) — ₩5,000 - **Ok-su-su-mak-geol-li** (옥수수막걸리) — ₩4,000 Milky rice wine brewed with corn. Slightly sweeter than standard makgeolli. - **Ji-pyeong-mak-geol-li** (지평막걸리) — ₩4,000 A popular Korean makgeolli brand known for its smooth, lightly sweet taste. - **Ssal-mak-geol-li** (쌀막걸리) — ₩4,000 Traditional Korean rice wine. Milky, tangy, slightly fizzy. ### Beverages (음료) - **Eum-ryo-su** (음료수) — ₩2,000 ### Seasonal (계절메뉴) - **Kong-guk-su** (콩국수) — ₩10,000 Cold hand-cut noodles in a rich, freshly ground soy milk broth. Made with domestic soybeans. Summer only. Ingredients: wheat noodles, soy milk | Allergens: gluten, soy | Serving: Summer only. - **Bi-bim-kal-guk-su** (비빔칼국수) — ₩9,000 Cold hand-cut noodles tossed in a spicy sauce with plenty of fresh vegetables. Milder than you'd expect — less spicy than instant ramyeon. Ingredients: wheat noodles, vegetables, gochujang | Spicy: mild | Allergens: gluten | Serving: Summer only.