I visited one of the most famous spots in Gangneung – Donghwa Garden.
Donghwa Garden is best known for its Jjamppong Sundubu, and it’s a place that most Koreans almost always visit when traveling to Gangneung.
Personally, I try to stop by every time I’m in the area, and honestly, I’ve never eaten here without waiting in line – it’s always crowded.
On one visit a few years ago, I even waited nearly two hours before getting a table, haha.
This time, though, I got lucky and only waited about 30 minutes.
Location
I think it’s best to visit by car.
Gangneung isn’t a very large city, and public transportation options like buses aren’t as frequent as in bigger cities.
That said, driving is quite convenient.
The restaurant has a spacious parking lot, and there are staff members guiding cars, so parking shouldn’t be a problem at all.
As soon as you enter the restaurant, you’ll notice a framed sign that reads “Wonjo Jjamsun.”
This means “the original Jjamppong Sundubu,” highlighting that this place is considered the original spot for the dish.
Next to it, there’s also a promotional poster showcasing the restaurant’s appearances on TV programs.
It really shows how well-known and established this place is.
Menu
I ordered the first menu, the Original Jjamppong Sundubu(10.38USD), as well as the fifth item on the menu, Modubu(8.3USD).
The meal comes with three side dishes.
From left to right, there’s chili peppers seasoned with soybean paste (they’re not spicy at all!), pickled radish, and white kimchi.
They pair really well with the bold and spicy flavors of the main dishes and help balance the meal nicely.
This is Modubu, which has a lower water content and a higher soybean ratio compared to sundubu.
Because of that, you can really taste the rich and deep flavor of soybeans.
Even though it contains less moisture than sundubu, it’s not firm at all.
It’s incredibly soft – just touching it lightly with chopsticks is enough to cut it, haha.
To enjoy it, simply cut the tofu into bite-sized pieces with your chopsticks.
On its own, the flavor is clean and mild, almost delicate.
But when you dip it into the soy sauce or pair it with the perilla leaf pickles served on the side, it becomes perfectly balanced and delicious.
While I was enjoying the Modubu I mentioned earlier, the Jjamppong Sundubu arrived at the table.
The moment it was served, I could smell the smoky aroma from the fire, and it instantly made my mouth water, haha.
I was so tempted to take a bite right away, but it was extremely hot – I actually burned the roof of my mouth.
So definitely make sure to check the temperature before digging in!
For my taste, it was quite spicy, packed with smoky flavors, and the broth was rich and intense.
It’s definitely a bold and stimulating dish.
For me, it was definitely spicy. Eating the sundubu underneath does help calm the heat to some extent, but it doesn’t completely take the spiciness away.
My Overall Thoughts
Personally, I found the Jjamppong Sundubu a bit too spicy for my taste.
I did wish it were slightly less spicy, but I still enjoyed it and finished my meal.
The Modubu, on the other hand, was mild and delicious.
To be honest, I personally loved the side dishes even more.
Maybe that’s why they also sell the side dishes separately for takeout.
I’d especially recommend this place to anyone who enjoys spicy food.
As for me, I’m now heading off to try Gangneung’s famous sundubu gelato to cool things down a bit!
I’ll see you in the next post – bye for now!
After finishing this spicy meal, I headed out to try Gangneung’s famous sundubu gelato to cool things down.
You can read about that experience in my next post here.
핑백: Sundubu Gelato: Gangneung’s Famous Tofu Ice Cream – Hey Jin Korea