Donghwa GardenJjamppong Sundubu in Gangneung's Chodang Tofu Village, Fiery Broth and Cloud-Soft Tofu

Two flavors sharing one bowl

Two things share one bowl. A hot, bracing jjamppong broth with squid and mushrooms in it, and over the top, soft, curd-like tofu. It comes with garlic chives, sesame and black pepper on top.

The appeal is getting the spicy, clear broth and the mild tofu in the same spoonful. If you like sundubu, one taste and you understand why this combination got famous.

What it looks like

The bowl is filled with a red, thick-looking broth, topped with long-cut chives, sesame and a dark powder like pepper. Squid legs, mushrooms and sliced vegetables show in the broth, with the soft tofu submerged beneath. Side dishes stand in the background.

How it became the village's name to know

Chodang-dong in Gangneung has a village where the tofu restaurants cluster together. Chodang sundubu — soft tofu set with seawater, clean and lightly seasoned — is what the neighbourhood is known for. Donghwa Garden is the place inside that village that made its name with jjamppong sundubu.

As famous as it is, it's busy. Go on a weekend or at mealtime and expect to queue. There are several tofu restaurants in the village, so if the wait is too long you can eat Chodang sundubu at another one nearby. But for jjamppong sundubu specifically, this is the flagship.

What foreign visitors should know

• Sundubu is very soft, uncurdled tofu. Jjamppong sundubu puts that tofu in a spicy seafood broth, and it's this restaurant's signature dish.
• It's spicy — roughly the heat of a Korean spicy stew. If you can't take spice, it may be a lot.
• The Chodang tofu village also has many places serving plain, non-spicy sundubu (white broth). If you'd rather avoid the heat, choose one of those.
• It comes with rice. You can tip the rice into the broth.
• Gangneung is about two hours from Seoul by KTX. It pairs well with Gyeongpo or Anmok Beach.
• ✅ Good if you like sundubu, like the combination of a spicy broth and soft tofu, or want a meal in Chodang-dong on a Gangneung itinerary
• ⚠️ Less good if you can't eat spicy food, or want a quiet meal with no wait — it's famous, so it's crowded

Before you go

• Getting there — Chodang-dong, Gangneung, Gangwon, inside the Chodang tofu village. Check the name on the map before you go.
• Ordering — jjamppong sundubu is the signature. If someone in your group can't eat spicy, order a plain sundubu alongside it.
• Hours · prices · closing day — 7:00 AM–7:30 PM (break 4–5 PM), jjamppong sundubu ₩10,000, closed every Wednesday, as of Sep 2026. It's a famous spot so there can be a wait — confirm on the map or by phone before you go.
• Next meal — if the spicy jjamppong sundubu leaves you wanting something different, Little Diner isn't far, with its pancake-bun burger.